Lactation Consultant Schools in California - CA
By Allison Skoglind, allied health world contributing writer
Published: May 24th, 2010
Lactation consultant training in California usually consists of two components: academic education and clinical experience. Most professionals enter into this occupation by first gaining a college degree in a health care related field. Luckily, California is home to literally dozens of state colleges and universities that offer degrees in nursing, vocational nursing, medical assistance, human services, health administration, health care education and surgical technology. Most lactation consultants possess at least a bachelor degree in health care, although a master degree is preferred.
In addition, training should also include lactation and breastfeeding specific education. Organizations like Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Breastfeeding Support Consultants, and the Center for Breastfeeding and Health e-Learning offer 45-200 hour distance learning courses in lactation consulting. Some examples of courses found in these programs include: Management of Breastfeeding, Mechanics of Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Devices and Feeding Alternatives, and Communication and Counseling Skills. After earning a degree in health care and completing a lactation specific education program, students must gain clinical work experience (paid or unpaid). Often, academic programs will provide clinical experience as part of the curriculum. However, supervised clinical experience can also be gained through internships, job shadowing, peer counseling, and volunteering in maternal health care facilities like hospitals and medical clinics throughout California.
Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Lactation Consultants in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and San Francisco, California may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including Laguna Honda Hospital, Community Regional Medical Center, L.A. County & USC Medical Center, and Huntington Hospital.
Online / Distance Programs
Degrees: Doctor of Nursing Practice - Executive Leadership, MS Nursing - Case Management, MS Nursing - Education, MS Nursing - Infection Prevention and Control, MS Nursing - Management and Organizational Leadership,
and more...
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Degree: M.B.A. and M.S. in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems (Bridge)
Degrees: BS - Nursing, MS - Nursing Administration
Degrees: MS in Nursing, MS in Nursing - Informatics, MS in Nursing - Nurse Administrator, MS in Nursing - Nurse Educator, RN to BS in Nursing,
and more...
Degrees: Legal Nurse Consulting, Legal Nurse Consulting - Accelerated
Degree: Nursing, MS (Online)
Degrees: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN), Master of Science in Nursing
Degrees: LPN/LVN to RN - AS in Nursing (Licensed LPN/LVNs only), LPN/LVN to RN - BS in Nursing - Indiana St. - (Licensed LPN/LVNs only), RN to MS in Nursing - Regis University (Licensed RNs only)
Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, M.S. in Nursing, M.S. in Nursing/Health Care Education, M.S. in Nursing/Informatics, M.S. in Nursing/Master of Health Administration,
and more...
Degrees: Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) - General, M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - BSN Track, M.S. in Nursing (MSN) - RN Track, Post-Masters Certificates in Nursing - Nursing Education
California
American Career College
Degree: Vocational Nursing
Degrees: Acute Care Nurse Assistant - ANA, Certified Nurse Assistant, Restorative Nurse Assistant - RNA
California College San Diego
Degrees: Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing (Online), Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration, Bachelor of Science Completion in Nursing Administration (Online), Master of Science in Nursing Administration (Online), Master of Science in Nursing Education (Online)
Degree: Vocational Nursing
Degree: Vocational Nursing
Kaplan College - KHE
Degrees: Associate of Science: Nursing, Diploma: Nurse Assistant, Diploma: Nurse Assistant Training Program, Diploma: Vocational Nursing
Degree: Vocational Nursing
University of Phoenix Campus
Degrees: BS in Nursing (RN Required), Licensed Practical Nurse/ Licensed Vocational Nurse to BSN, MS in Nursing (RN Required), MS in Nursing - Nursing/Health Care Education, MS in Nursing/Family Nurse Practitioner, MS in Nursing/Informatics, MS in Nursing/Master of Health Administration, MS in Nursing/MBA/ Health Care Management
Degrees: Entry Level Nursing, Master's of Science in Nursing
West Coast University
Degrees: Bachelor Degree in Nursing (RN to BSN), Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree program