The Lactation Counselor Training Course

The Certified Lactation Counselor®, (CLC) certification is the premier National Certification in Lactation Management for the United States. CLC certification holders have demonstrated competence in the lactation skills, knowledge and attitudes that are essential to helping women in the United States and have agreed to comply withThe Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice code of ethics.

CLC certification means that a person has received training and competency verification in breastfeeding and human lactation support including assessing the latching and feeding process, providing corrective interventions, counseling mothers, understanding and applying knowledge of milk production including in special circumstances and other commonly encountered situations. All of this give CLCs a strong foundation with which to help moms and babies.

The CLC certification is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and certifies that the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice meets the ANSI accreditation program requirements and those set forth in ANSI/ISOIEC 17024:2003 General requirements for bodies operating certification systems of persons for Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC).

CLCs are members of the health care team who can provide knowledge and counseling about optimal and sub-optimal breastfeeding. CLCs understand that breastfeeding decisions are made by the mother, who may have values and goals different from the counselor. A counseling approach is used to gather information and provide appropriate support to the mother and her family. CLCs work as part of the health care team, assuring appropriate referrals and recommendations. CLCs are qualified to provide education, counseling and clinical management.

CLCs provide breastfeeding counseling and lactation management in:

Research has shown that the education required of CLCs prior to certification is associated with improved breastfeeding outcomes.

Working in a variety of settings, including hospitals, WIC agencies, health departments, clinics, health care provider offices, and private practice, nationally certified  CLCs are key to the US strategy of  increasing breastfeeding rates in our communities, advocating for positive change in societies attitudes and behavior regarding breastfeeding, teaching breastfeeding classes, and assisting mothers to optimally breastfeed. 

This research and competency based lactation management training provides

This comprehensive, evidence-based, breastfeeding management course includes practical skills, theoretical foundations and competency verification. Technical issues are explored within the context of counseling the mother in the hospital and in public health and community settings. This course prepares participants for professional work helping mothers and babies: this program trains participants how to gain insight into clients' problems, with a strong focus on counseling skills.

Contact Hours: RNs: 45; RDs: 45; CLCs: 45 Contact Hours; IBCLCs: 45 L-CERPs; College Credits: 3, MCH 330

Now Available! Additional 175 Contact Hours

Healthy Children Project Inc. is pleased to offer an additional 175 hours of online learning that can be taken in conjunction with the Certified Lactation Counselor Training Course. These hours are only being offered to participants who successfully complete the entire CLC course. The participant has up to one year after taking the training to register for the additional 175 contact hours. Once the participant has selected the optional 175 additional hours, they will have six months to complete the course work.

The additional 175 hours consist of the following topics and areas of concentration:

Lactation Counseling Practice utilizing the Pocket Guide to Lactation Management (Cadwell and Turner-Maffei).

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative including the United States BFHI Standards, the 4-D Pathway to becoming Baby-Friendly, suggestions on getting started and training requirements, and the UK BFHI Standards used as a model of care.

Supporting ongoing breastfeeding with a focus on breastfeeding and the workplace. Resources include; The Business Case for Breastfeeding; the CDC Intervention Guide; and the USBC Background Paper:  Workplace Accommodations to Support and Protect Breastfeeding.

Physiological and emmotional challenges to birth and breastfeeding utilizing Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth.

Cultuarlly sensitive treatment of mothers and families in lactatin care utilizing Cultural Completency for the Health Professional (Rose).

Anatomy and physiology of lactatin utilizing Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (Wambach).

In addition to the above mentioned resources, several supporting videos will be viewed.

There are multiple choice tests administered online in segments throughout the 175 hours.  Participants must pass one segment before being allowed to move on to the next segment.

 

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The Advanced Issues in Lactation Practice – Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant (ANLC) Advanced Lactation Consultant (ALC) Certification Program is accredited by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice.

Contact Hours: RNs: 45; RDs: 34; CLCs: 45 Contact Hours; IBCLCs: 39L and 6E CERPs; College Credits: 3, MCH 431

This interactive course provides IBCLCs and CLCs with the opportunity to earn advanced certification in lactation management while verifying the insight, knowledge and skills essential to the development and implementation of management strategies for complex problems related to breastfeeding and human lactation. Participants will examine cases, and develop management strategies using knowledge of psychology, sociology, infant development, gender studies, professional interrelations and ethics.

Who should attend?
Nurses, lactation consultants and counselors, midwives, physicians, doulas, childbirth educators, volunteer breastfeeding helpers, speech/language/occupational therapists WIC breastfeeding and nutrition staff.

Prerequisite:
For Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant Certification: IBCLC or Healthy Children CLC and current RN license.
For Advanced Lactation Consultant Certification: IBCLC or Healthy Children CLC plus successful completion of the course Maternal Infant Assessment for Breastfeeding and Human Lactation.

Click to download the flyer and registration form.

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Healthy Children Project, Inc. is pleased to announce that on April 5, 2011, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a registration certificate for the certification mark Certified Lactation Counselor®.  The Certified Lactation Counselor® mark  communicates to the public that individuals authorized to use the mark have met the Healthy Children standards of excellence and possess knowledge and skills essential to competent practice in lactation management and counseling.

Certified Lactation Counselor® is a registered certification mark owned by Healthy Children Project, Inc.  CLC is a certification mark owned by Healthy Children, Inc.