IBLCE in Asia Pacific and Africa

Education Information

What professional education in lactation must I undertake?

 Can I include private study in my hours?

 What is "lactation specific" education?

Guide to Lactation Courses

What professional education in lactation must I undertake?
You must have completed and documented a minimum of 90 hours of continuing education in lactation reflecting the exam blueprint, within the five years immediately prior to applying for the exam. You may wish to undertake your formal study up to the exam day but to be eligible to sit the exam you must have completed a minimum of 90 hrs at the time of application. IBLCE strongly recommends that all candidates undertake a comprehensive education course, to ensure that each discipline is studied to the depth and breath that is required to be a competent clinician.

If you will be doing the exam in a language other than English, you must also have completed a minimum of 90 hours of professional education in lactation.

Eligibility requirements MUST be completed at time of application

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Can I include private study in my hours?
Private study is a major component of exam preparation for all candidates, but private study is not counted in the 90 hours and no documentation is required.

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What is "lactation specific" education?
"Lactation specific" education refers to education that you have attended where the content is discussing  lactation or breastfeeding care and management. Topics would include mastitis, breast care, pathology, counselling the breastfeeding mother, under or over supply etc. Topics that would not be considered are fetal monitoring, the stages of labour, pain relief during birthing, quality assurance, computer skills, use of ventilators etc. The topic MUST be included in the Exam Blueprint to be considered "lactation specific".

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Guide to Lactation Courses
IBLCE does not conduct courses, nor does it endorse or recommend any particular course. The listing is of courses of which we are aware, and it is provided as a guide only. Inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of the courses by IBLCE or any other body. The Guide to Lactation Courses is provided for the assistance of potential candidates considering taking a course to prepare for the exam, or to satisfy the prerequisites. Although most of the courses are in Australia, there are distance education options, which can be taken from outside Australia.
IBLCE strongly encourages all exam candidates to undertake a comprehensive education course. Before selecting a course, it is your responsibility to ensure that it meets your needs. Doing a course does not make you a Lactation Consultant. For information about the lactation education you can download a copy of the Guide to Lactation Courses.

For the best preparation for the IBLCE exam and hence to be a good practitioner ensure your pre exam education covers all the disciplines in the Exam Blueprint.

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