How to Become a Lactation Consultant

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 14th, 2010

What steps should someone take in order to become a lactation consultant?

The steps to take to become a lactation consultant depend on where an individual is starting from and where they’d like to end up. For example, do they already have a bachelor’s degree? Do they already work in a setting with mothers and babies? Do they want to end up obtaining their IBCLC, CLC, CBC, or CLE?

Earning a degree in nursing or a health related field would be a logical first place to start. It also provides a good foundation that will be useful for this profession. Earning a degree is one of the pathways you can take toward candidacy for the IBCLC exam.

Learn more about lactation consultant certification.

For a person new to this field, who has not yet earned their education, a good starting place may be to become a WIC peer counselor since oftentimes they are willing to pay for the lactation consultant training to become CBC certified. Once an individual How to Become a Lactation Consultant

becomes CBC certified she can begin acquiring contact hours as a WIC breastfeeding peer counselor, under the supervision of WIC’s IBCLCs. They can then work toward meeting the requirements to sit for the IBCLC exam. This type of position will also give them an indicator of it they’d enjoy working in this field long term and want to pursue further education.

If an individual is a nurse in a labor and delivery unit, she may be able to quality for the exam much sooner.

What are the most rewarding things about this field?

According to Debbie Green, RLC, “I believe in the power of breast milk and breastfeeding, and our culture offers few resources. I know how frustrating it is when you have breastfeeding problems and can't find the answers. Whenever I can improve a mom's breastfeeding experience, I am just as thrilled as she is.”

What are the greatest challenges in this field?

Fighting against authority figures who don't have any respect for breast milk can be incredibly challenging for lactation consultants. According to Green, “Moms should be able to trust their health care providers when they advise about breastfeeding, but often inaccurate, outdated or incomplete information is offered. This inaccurate information or poor advice can hurt the breastfeeding relationship.

Learn more about lactation consultant jobs.

What skills or personality traits make someone a good fit for this profession?

People with a great deal of patience and strong interpersonal and communication skills would fare well in this profession. Additionally, empathy, the ability to remain calm, and the desire to help others are good traits to possess. This is not a field where you will become rich on the job so to speak, so you have to have intrinsic motivations to help others.