Lactation consultants are
allied health care providers who specialize in all aspects of mother baby care as it relates to
breastfeeding. Our
professional certification is "International Board Certified Lactation Consultant" commonly known as IBCLC. Many IBCLCs originally came from other
medical backgrounds including but not limited to nursing, medicine, physical, occupational and speech therapy. Many
IBCLCs may also come with a background in
volunteer mother to mother breastfeeding assistance organizations.
IBCLCs work in a
variety of
settings; private practice, offices with other health care providers, hospitals, clinics, and teaching.
"The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is a non-profit corporation established to develop and administer a voluntary certification program for lactation consultants. Founded in 1985, it has administered annual examinations, offered in several languages, at numerous sites around the world."
"The IBLCE credential certifies attainment of the appropriate standard of
competency that has been set by experts in the
lactation field. It is designed to protect the interests of babies and mothers."
"
Certification is intended for
health professionals
experienced in lactation consultation, graduates of lactation consultant education programs, and breastfeeding counselors. Because competency as a
lactation consultant requires
practical skills and
clinical judgment as well as
knowledge,
lactation consultants are required to have extensive practical experience as a breastfeeding consultant before they take the exam."
Reference: http://www.IBLCE.org.