There are three pathways through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) by which individuals can become IBCLCs. Each pathway requires 14 health science pre-requisite courses, 90- hours of didactic lactation education, and a certain number of clinical hours.  We are a CAAHEP accredited Pathway 2 academic program.

Yes, we are a CAAHEP accredited Pathway 2 academic lactation program. Our 36 credit hour program provides 90 hours of didactic lactation education, 300 clinical hours, and the following health science requirements:

• Psychology/Counseling
• Nutrition
• Introduction to Clinical Research
• Professional Ethics
• Medical Documentation
• Occupational Safety and Security for Health Professionals and Universal Safety Precautions and Infection Control
• Communication Skills

Additionally, students have the option to add any of the following 1 credit hour courses to their program of study if needed:

• Biology
• Medical Terminology
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Infant and Child Growth and Development

Yes, we have quite a few students who come to us already holding the IBCLC credential. These students do not need the 90 hours in didactic lactation education nor do they need to 300 hour clinical internship, so their course schedule looks slightly different. These students have the ability to tailor their courses to the specific aspect of human lactation that interests them, so their program of study is more individualized than traditional Pathway 2 Human Lactation Studies students.

Yes, we are an accredited CAAHEP Pathway 2 program, which will provide you the requirements to sit for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) exam.

No, there is no travel needed in our program. The internship is remote and student-identified, so you can choose a preceptor and location that is convenient to you. We have a Clinical Coordinator who works directly with students to help them secure internship sites and secure all of the necessary agreements with the facility.

The 300-hour internship is split between two courses (150 hours per course). Within each course there is a set of competencies that students must complete along with the hourly requirement.

Internships can take place in hospitals, public health clinics, federal Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics, obstetrics offices, pediatric offices, or private lactation practice.

Students must have a preceptor who is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) at their internship site in order to oversee and facilitate their on-sight learning. We encourage students to use the United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) website and the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) website to search for IBCLCs in their area upon admission into the program. Internship courses occur in the students’ third or fourth semester, but it never hurts to get things lined up early.

The internship itself requires a completed Internship Application, background check, proof of health insurance, proof of professional liability insurance, and a completed Affiliation Agreement between UI&U and the internship facility. An Internship Packet, detailing all of this information, is available to all current students.

The internship approval process can take upwards of 6-8 weeks.

Many of our graduates have taken traditional career paths beyond graduation while others have taken nontraditional paths. Many of our graduates go on to work in a clinical setting such as a hospital, obstetric office, or pediatric office. Others have chosen to work in the public health setting for federal programs such as the USDA Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. Still others have gone on to open their own private lactation practice or nonprofit organization.