How to Become a La Leche Nurse

La Leche is a nonprofit organization. La Leche provides breastfeeding information, education, and help to nursing mothers. La Leche League started in 1956 with 7 women and has grown to be in 68 countries and territories around the world. In order to become a La Leche nurse you must first become a lactation nurse.

Instructions

Prepare to take the Iternational Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBCLE) certification exam

1

Graduate from a lactation program. People who choose this method must have a minimum of one year of lactation education, at least 90 hours covering the IBCLC certification examination material, must work with at least one certified IBCLC who has re-certificated. A minimum of 300 lactation specified hours, plus completing one course in each of the six health disciplines, is required of an IBCLC program administrator.

2

Be a licensed health care provider. People who choose this method must have a minimum of 45 hours of lactation specific education and 1000 lactation specific clinical hours in the five years prior to the exam.

3

Provide nursing information, either paid or volunteer, in a supervised position. People who choose this method must have a minimum of 45 hours of lactation specific education and 2000 lactation specific clinical hours in the five years prior to the exam. They are encouraged to complete one course in each of the six health disciplines recommended by IBLCE.

4

Finish a mentored lactation education program. This program is for people with little experience with breastfeeding mothers. This also helps people currently in heathcare change specialties. Both groups will be supervised by a mentor that is already IBCLC certified.

Get ceritfied and staying certified

5

Take your boards to become a lactation nurse. The certification exam is given worldwide once each year on the last Monday in July. The exam consists of two sessions of 100 questions each. This exam is designed to test application of the knowledge.

6

Keep your license current. Certification as an IBCLC is good for five years. After five years IBCLC's may recertify by retesting or by earning 75 Continuing Education Recognition Points. These are pre-approved professional education units awarded by the IBLCE to sessions at conferences and other programs to educate continuing learning. After 10 years, you must retest.

7

Contact La Leche to work as a nurse educator. There are few paid positions; however, there is a need for volunteers.