Lactation Education Program
In an effort to improve the landscape of breast/chestfeeding support for communities of color, provide access to an inclusive environment for lactation education for underrepresented communities, and address the lack of representation of Black, Indigenous and people of color in the birth and lactation profession, BreastfeedLA developed a culturally congruent Lactation Consultant Education Program. Our program has three levels of lactation education:
Step 1: Become a Lactation Education Specialist
Just getting started on your lactation education journey? Start here!
BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Education Specialist (LES) course prepares community health workers and others working to promote health and wellness for families to become lactation educators. This 45-hour course covers basic breastfeeding management such as basic anatomy and physiology of lactation, positioning and latch, common breastfeeding challenges, counseling skills, early postpartum management, alternative feeding methods, creating a prenatal breastfeeding class, local and global public health considerations and more.
Upon completion of the course, graduates may use the title “Certificated Lactation Education Specialist” (CLES). This designation is valid for 5 years from date the certificate is issued. Renewal is offered by application only. Please email for details.
Register for Santiago Canyon College Lactation Education Specialist Course January class here! Registration begins November 1st.
25 – 30 spots available
Location: ONLINE, via Canvas.
Dates: Wednesdays 5:30pm -7:30pm PST Live (with additional self-study modules due weekly)
Price: FREE For California Residents through Santiago Canyon College. Currently not offering courses to individuals living outside of California at this time.
Join our inaugural collaborative lactation educator specialist course in partnership with Santiago College! This trailblazing online class is free for California residents and incorporates weekly live lecture with several modules full of engaging, evidence-based, and culturally informed content. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your knowledge and skills in a truly innovative and engaging setting: Secure your spot by registering with Santiago Canyon College.
Santiago Canyon College 2024-2025 Lactation Course Schedule
** BreastfeedLA is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing. This course offers 54 contact hours of continuing education. BreastfeedLA’s provider number is CEP 16435. Licensee must maintain certificate for a period of four years.
Step 2: Complete your Lactation Consultant Education
BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Consultant Education course is an advanced and comprehensive educational course that provides the additional 50 hours required by the IBLCE to meet eligibility criteria to sit for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification examination. Course content will provide graduates with the background necessary to make the leap from educator to clinician while preparing students to sit for the IBLCE exam for certification as an IBCLC. This course may be utilized to satisfy the lactation education requirements for Pathway 1 or Pathway 3 of the IBCLE requirement — including the IBLCE 2021 updated requirement for 5 hours of counseling and communication skills training.
Prerequisite is BreastfeedLA’s LES course or another comparable 45-hour lactation education training provided in the previous 5 years.
Offered for California Residents through Santiago Canyon College. Registration begins 2025, more information to come soon.
Location: ONLINE, via Canvas.
Dates: March- May and August- September 2025, Wednesdays 5:30pm- 7:30pm PST Live (with additional self-study modules due weekly)
Price: FREE For California Residents through Santiago Canyon College. Currently not offering courses to individuals living outside of California at this time.
Santiago Canyon College 2024-2025 Lactation Course Schedule
** BreastfeedLA is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing. This course offers 54 contact hours of continuing education. BreastfeedLA’s provider number is CEP 16435. Licensee must maintain certificate for a period of four years.
Step 3: Get your Clinical Training hours
BreastfeedLA’s Clinical Lactation Training (CLT) Program is designed to offer graduates of the 95 hour Lactation Consultant Education course (or equivalent) a chance to receive hands-on experience in clinical lactation management. Once admitted to the program, students will be paired with an experienced IBCLC mentor at local healthcare facilities in Los Angeles, CA. During placement, students will have the opportunity to gain exposure to and experience with the clinical competencies set forth by IBLCE, mastering skills and gaining the hands-on experience required to sit for the IBCLC exam. This program supports candidates for pathways 1 & 3, offering opportunities to gain between 500-1000 hours of clinical experience.
* We are currently accepting new applications.
BreastfeedLA’s Clinical Lactation Training Program is a program for lactation educators who have completed a minimum of 95 hours of lactation specific education and seek eligibility through the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) to sit for the IBCLC exam. For a list of full eligibility requirements click here.
Upon acceptance into the program, clinical students will:
- Meet with BreastfeedLA’s Clinical Director and other students in the program to review program expectations, finalize paperwork, brush up on primary clinical skills, and design their individualized program of study.
- Be placed in a variety of healthcare settings throughout Los Angeles County, including maternity hospitals, outpatient clinics, and community centers.
- Be paired with an experienced IBCLC mentor, who will directly supervise students as they provide hands-on, one-on-one care to lactating persons and their infants.
- Be part of an intimate cohort of students who meet regularly to review case studies and provide support and encouragement to each other throughout the program.
- Have the opportunity to review cases as well as clinical placement successes and challenges directly with BreastfeedLA’s Clinical Program Manager during regular weekly office hours.
Bringing exceptional and easily accessible lactation support to our communities is long overdue. Diversifying the lactation workforce in Los Angeles County is long overdue.
At BreastfeedLA, we know what is possible with the right kind of support. We look forward to supporting you on your journey to becoming an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
Program Cost
Tuition for the CLT Program is $150/mo (minimum of 6 months) for as long as students are in an active placement. Tuition starts once the student is accepted into the program and begins to collect their onboarding paperwork. While program length varies by individual, most students complete 500 hours within 18 months of placement.
Ready to apply? Double check you’re eligible first!
Prerequisite Checklist
✅ Highschool Diploma/GED
✅ Completed 95 hours of education in human lactation and breast/chestfeeding within the last 5 years
✅ Commitment to complete 500-1000 hours (depending on pathway) of clinical internship over the course of the program
✅ Completion of the following health courses (by program start date):
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- Universal Precautions & Infection Control
- Medical Documentation
- Medical Terminology
- Professional Ethics
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
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Really really ready to apply?
Follow these 3 steps!
1. Pay your $15 non-refundable application fee
2. Complete online application – applications will require you to upload your resume, two (2) letters of recommendation, and proof of your 95 hours of lactation specific education.
3. Sit back and wait for our call – all eligible applicants will require an interview with BFLA’s Clinical Director & Clinical Placement Committee. While you are waiting you can get to work on the list of program requirements.
*At this time, clinical placements are extremely limited. Due to limited availability, acceptance into this program is highly competitive and only complete applications will be considered.
Still have questions? Please contact Aaliyah Sade at asade@breastfeedla.org
More information
BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Education program was developed in an effort to expand outreach and provide access to an inclusive environment for lactation education for underrepresented communities. Following BreastfeedLA’s 2018 Equity Summit, it became glaringly obvious that one way to address the racial disparities in infant feeding in Los Angeles County was to help train the next generation of lactation professionals. Witnessing the serious deficit of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) birthing professionals, and even fewer BIPOC lactation consultants in Los Angeles and across the nation, BreastfeedLA saw the need for a culturally competent, intersectional, holistic, and financially accessible lactation course. Although unequal care is multi-faceted, research has also indicated that culturally appropriate lactation support can contribute to higher initiation and duration rates among lactating individuals and their babies.
By early 2019, our 45-hour Lactation Education Specialist course was launched welcoming community doulas, midwives, home visitors, family support specialists, nurses, and family advocates from across Los Angeles. In the first year of our program, we successfully graduated over 100 new Lactation Education Specialists in LA County. We knew there was more we could do. After speaking with students, local healthcare facilities, and our community partners, BreastfeedLA decided to create our Lactation Consultant Education course — providing the remaining 45 hours needed for students to complete their 90-hours of lactation specific education required by IBLCE and creating a pathway for students towards IBCLC certification. In 2020, our program received LEAARC approval, the highest recognition of quality lactation education worldwide. To date, we have graduated over 450 students from our didactic program; and in the winter of 2020, we launch our first ever Clinical Lactation Training program.
Our program is designed to meet the unique needs of our community members. Whether your goals include becoming a lactation educator to better counsel and support families on the foundations of breast/chestfeeding or working in clinical lactation management by becoming eligible for certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), we can help!
1. Johnson AM, Kirk R, Rooks AJ, Muzik M. Enhancing Breastfeeding Through Healthcare Support: Results from a Focus Group Study of African American Mothers. Matern Child Health J. 2016 Nov;20(Suppl 1):92-102. doi: 10.1007/s10995-016-2085-y. PMID: 27449776; PMCID: PMC5290044.
2. Thomas EV. “Why Even Bother; They Are Not Going to Do It?” The Structural Roots of Racism and Discrimination in Lactation Care. Qual Health Res. 2018 Jun;28(7):1050-1064. doi: 10.1177/1049732318759491. Epub 2018 Mar 20. PMID: 29557297.
It is the position of BreastfeedLA that infant feeding must be addressed as not solely an individual choice, but an expression of culture. Therefore, our Lactation Education Specialist and Lactation Consultant Education program, like all our programming, is committed to recognizing and celebrating diversity, inclusion, and equity; and grounded by the guiding principle of cultural awareness and relevancy. BreastfeedLA’s lactation education program is proudly taught by women of color Lactation Consultants within a framework of reproductive justice. Our curriculum is culturally responsive, intentionally inclusive, and tailored to the specific needs of our diverse communities.
Following the didactic presentations and skills competency demonstrations, participants will:
- Possess the necessary skills to educate prenatally about breast/chestfeeding in both group and individual settings, including teaching a prenatal lactation class;
- Possess sufficient education in basic lactation management to independently provide information and support to a lactating parent via telephone or in a group setting, and while supervised by an IBCLC in a clinic or hospital environment;
- Possess the necessary counseling skills to provide sensitive and culturally appropriate care to breast/chestfeeding parents and family;
- Possess clinical judgment sufficient to refer lactating parents appropriately to other healthcare providers including but not limited to, IBCLCs in cases where medical issues or complex cases of lactation are present;
- Recognize and discuss solutions to alleviate common barriers to supporting a parent’s choice to exclusively human milk feed.
BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Consultant Education Program meets the specification for lactation-specific education required for all individuals aspiring to pursue board-certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and to supplement the training and education of existing healthcare professionals in the area of human lactation. The course curriculum is approved by the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC). All concepts, skills, and education in human lactation are taught in accordance with the IBLCE Detailed Content Outline (www.iblce.org) and meet the standards for supporting breastfeeding practices advised by the World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Baby-Friendly USA.
In addition to utilizing the most up-to-date scientifically based research regarding lactation, the curriculum incorporates the identification of barriers and disparities in the healthcare system that impact marginalized communities. These disparities are highlighted throughout the course in order to prevent continued discrimination and ignorance in future healthcare settings.
Instructors also concentrate efforts toward changing common language used in lactation to incorporate broader terminology. As the definition of “family” continues to expand, an emphasis on using inclusive language when providing care is interwoven through each session. BreastfeedLA recognizes and respects that not all birthing and lactating people identify as mothers or women.
Lactation Education Specialist course prerequisites include:
✅ High school diploma or GED
✅ A passion for elevating breastfeeding as a public health strategy to improve disparities in health outcomes.
Lactation Consultant Education course prerequisites include:
✅ BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Education Specialist course (or another comparable LEARCC approved 45-hour lactation education training provided in the previous 5 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
BreastfeedingLA’s Lactation Education program is committed to recognizing and celebrating diversity, inclusion, and equity; and grounded by the guiding principle of cultural awareness and relevancy. BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Education program is proudly taught by women of color Lactation Consultants within a framework of reproductive justice. Our curriculum is culturally responsive, intentionally inclusive, and tailored to the specific needs of our diverse communities.
If that doesn’t make us different, good! We hope this becomes the standard for lactation education across the United States.
Lactation Education Specialist Course $550
Lactation Consultant Education Course $1045
Clinical Lactation Training Program $2500-2700
We acknowledge that cost is one of the primary barriers in obtaining lactation education. BreastfeedLA offers financing options for our Lactation Education Specialist and Lactation Consultant Education courses through PayPal. Apply below.
Yes, thanks to our generous donors and community partners we often have scholarships available. In order to learn more about current scholarship opportunities, please sign up for our newsletter. Any scholarship opportunities we have will always be included in our regular mailing.
Meet our 2020 scholarship recipients!
No. In order to become an IBCLC you must qualify for and pass the IBCLC exam administered by the IBLCE. Please carefully read the eligibility requirements HERE. BreastfeedLA offers 90hrs of lactation specific education as well as opportunities for obtaining clinical hours through our Clinical Lactation Training Program.
After you successfully complete your Lactation Education Specialist course, you can use the credentials CLES (Certificated Lactation Education Specialist). This lactation educator designation is equivalent to other 45hr lactation educator credentials such as CLC/CLEC/CLE. After you complete your Lactation Consultant Education course and before you successfully pass the IBCLC exam, you should still use the credential CLES.
Yes. Lactation Education Specialist (CLES) certificates expire after a period of five (5) years from the date issued. You can apply for certificate renewal by completing our 8-hour refresher course and submitting records of an additional 37 hours of lactation specific education completed within the five year time frame. Requests for renewal should be sent to hhalliwell@breastfeedla.org
Lactation Education Specialist course prerequisites include:
✅ High school diploma or GED
✅ A passion for elevating breastfeeding as a public health strategy to improve disparities in health outcomes.
Lactation Consultant Education course prerequisites include:
✅ BreastfeedLA’s Lactation Education Specialist course (or another comparable LEARCC approved 45-hour lactation education training provided in the previous 5 years.
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is the governing body for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). The IBLCE requires completion of 14 health science courses, a minimum of 90hrs of lactation specific education, as well as relevant clinical experience (between 500-100 hours depending on Pathway) to be eligible to sit for the IBCLC exam. Read more…
Please visit the IBLCE information page on required health science classes. Additionally, you might find this visual graph useful.
IBLCE offers three (3) pathways to becoming an IBCLC.
Pathway 1: Recognized Health Professionals & Peer Counselors
Pathway 2: University Lactation Program
Pathway 3: Mentorship
Each pathway is best suited to different students depending on their background and their program goals. Use the links above to learn more about each specific pathway requirements.
BreastfeedLA provides courses that meet the requirements for lactation specific education for pathways 1 & 3; while pathway 1, 2 & 3 candidates are eligible to enroll in our Clinical Lactation Training Program. For more information on what pathway is right for you, check out this helpful guide.
We’re so glad you asked. Our Clinical Training Program launches on November 16th, 2020! Please check back on our website for further information.
BreastfeedLA strives to meet the needs of all our students. If you have a conflict with a scheduled class time, please work with your instructor directly to find a solution. We take pride in offering quality education and expect all course requirements are met prior to issuing your certificate, however we also know life happens. Some of our students need more time than others; that is why you have up to one calendar year from the start of your class to finish all your course requirements. It is our goal to help you reach your goals. Please see our Policies & Procedures for more detailed information on missed classes and course payment.
Lactation educators are an integral part of the healthcare team working alongside doctors, midwives, and dieticians in many settings in our community including hospitals, WIC offices, home visiting agencies, and more. While lactation educators do not provide hands-on breastfeeding support without supervision, the scope of practice for a lactation educator does position the individual to provide prenatal breastfeeding education to groups and individuals, facilitate breastfeeding support groups, and to advocate for breastfeeding in the community and the public realm. BreastfeedLA does not provide job placement assistance however graduates of the LES program have successfully found employment in agencies such as WIC, programs through Healthy Families America, Welcome Baby, Parents as Teachers, Black Infant Health, in hospitals and other community clinics throughout Los Angeles.
Upcoming Classes
Santiago Canyon College: January 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13 Class full, join the waitlist here!
Location: ONLINE, via SCC platforms
Dates: January 16, 23, 30, February 6, 13
Price: FREE For California Residents!!
Join our inaugural collaborative lactation educator specialist course in partnership with Santiago College! This trailblazing online class is free for California residents and incorporates weekly live lecture with several modules full of engaging, evidence-based, and culturally informed content. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your knowledge and skills in a truly innovative and engaging setting: Secure your spot by registering with Santiago Canyon College.
April 2024
Location: ONLINE
Dates: April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28, JUNE 4
Price: $550
Join our renowned Lactation Educator Specialist Course! Immerse yourself in a dynamic 6-week online course featuring weekly live lectures on Zoom, coupled with a series of self-paced, self-study modules bursting with captivating, evidence-based, and culturally informed content.
February 2024
Location: ONLINE
Dates: Feb 20, 27, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9
Price: $850
Interested in taking your lactation knowledge to the next level? Join us for the second 50 hr course required to sit for your IBCLC exam. This is an 8-week online class incorporating weekly live lecture (via Zoom) and self-paced, self-study modules focused on clinical lactation assessment and skills.
Prerequisites include successful completion of a 45 hour lactation education training (i.e. CLE/C/S) within the last 5 years and a passion for elevating breastfeeding as a public health strategy to improve disparities in health outcomes.
June 2024
Location: ONLINE
Dates: June 18, 25, July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, August 6
Price: $850
Payment Plans Available Upon Request! Please email for information.