Your Breastfeeding Resource Person will be the person you depend on for breastfeeding help. Breastfeeding resource persons receive their
breastfeeding education from a variety of sources and have different titles and levels of experience. The following description of some of
those titles will help you feel confident that your resource person has the special education and experience needed to guide you.
Lactation professionals include:
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), often called "Lactation Consultant," this person must:
Have a college degree or its equivalent.
Pass an extensive written breastfeeding exam.
Complete an accepted breastfeeding course of study before taking the exam.
Show proof of thousands of hours of experience working with breastfeeding mothers and babies before taking the exam.
To maintain certification, IBCLCs must complete required hours of continuing education in breastfeeding and in working with
breastfeeding mothers and babies every five years. Reexamination must be done at least every ten years. Use of the credential "IBCLC"
is legally restricted.
Certified Lactation Consultant (CLC), also called "Lactation Consultant," this person usually has:
Completed a recognized breastfeeding consultant's course and received a certificate.
Shown evidence of hours of experience helping breastfeeding mothers and babies.
Certified Lactation Educator (CLE), also called "Lactation Educator," this person's education is similar to the CLC but
focuses more on how to teach mothers about breastfeeding.
