Lactation consultant courses?

[~Kate~]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to ask this but I'm interested in becoming a lactation consultant and was wondering if anyone knows what I would need to do. Are there online courses or is it a inhouse course somewhere?
TIA

[Janie]

I'm not sure that there is an actual course? As far as I am aware there is a requirement of spending something like 2000 hours working with lactating women, and then sitting a mammoth exam, to be qualified. Most women who become LCs are or have been midwives (or the like) as they are the ones spending lots of time with lactating mums.

If you're interested in helping breastfeeding mums have you thought about becoming involved with the ABA, and even training as a breastfeeding counsellor? There are a few LCs who paved their way to that profession through ABA. But really, just being involved is very rewarding in itself

[allycat06]

This is something I'm very interested in too.
You can do a postgraduate course, the prerequisite is either a nursing/mid degree or a least 3 years experience with the ABA or La Leche League working with breastfeeding women (as a breastfeeding counsellor). I know RMIT in Melbourne offers it.

Then to become board certified with IBLCE this is the criteria....
Eligibility for the exam from 2012

I'm toying with the idea of doing midwifery in 2012 and getting my breastfeeding councellor certificate whilst completing the degree. I think it would be such a rewarding career

[feeb]

If you are involved in local ABA you could be become a counsellor. (must have BF for min 6 months) An LC needs to be a medical professional eg GP, midwife, neonatologist etc to be able to do the study required to sit the exam.

Was a thread not that long ago on this.

[~Kate~]

Thanks ladies...feeb do you know where that thread was? I wasn't sure where to begin looking (and my 3 yr old is not making long searches easier lol)

[allycat06]

You don't have to be a medical professional to be an LC, but it's probably the quickest way to clock up the hours required to sit the exam. There are 2 other pathways, either being a counsellor or have academic qualifications in human lactation (like the RMIT course I mentioned above).

[feeb]

Thanks ladies...feeb do you know where that thread was? I wasn't sure where to begin looking (and my 3 yr old is not making long searches easier lol)

I cant find thread it must have been lost when the server crashed, as I can find a few posts on email but cant get to thread. Sorry

[CinderToriella]

Iv had a quick look on ABA website on becoming a LC councellor , does anyone know off hand what is required to do this?

[feeb]

To become a BF consultant with ABA you need to be an active member in your local group and BF for minimum of 6 months.

[allycat06]

:yeahthat: It is a recognised TAFE qualification. Cert IV is breastfeeding counselling or something like that.

[~Kate~]

Thanks for the info ladies...I'm off to my local ABA meeting soon to look into this further