Welcome in! I would absolutely LOVE to know about your experiences obtaining clinical hours for the IBCLC exam.
Consistently reported as the most difficult part of the process of preparing to apply for the exam, it can be a challenge for some, while others seem to skate through…and yet….
I get so many messages from folks saying that they are new IBCLCs and their clinical experience did NOT prepare them for the work they are now doing.
So let’s chat about it here! Share your story, what you think, what could make it better for people who need clinical hours - whatever is on your mind regarding this subject!
This thread will remain open for our conversation throughout the rest of 2024! Who will post first here?
My clinical hours were completed via pathway 3 and I think it prepared me well for being an IBCLC in private practice. Because I mentored under an IBCLC in private practice I saw dyads of all ages with varying different concerns and challenges. This really helped to round out my education. Of course, we’re never done learning! But I’m grateful I had the opportunity to compete pathway 3.
That's awesome! I highly recommend attending support groups even after you have become an IBCLC because you'll learn. I could go on and on about what you'll learn, but trust me, you'll learn. And you'll connect with the person who runs the group, get to see them in action, etc.
I did pathway 1 and got my hours through being a La Leche League Canada Leader before iblce changed the way you obtain hours. I would say I am well set up for supporting families through the normal course of breastfeeding but I am not as knowledgeable about pumping/ supplementing/ bottle feeding.
I just began, I am doing pathway 1 and will be getting mine through LER HOURS program and Breastfeeding USA. I’ve already completed all training and education to begin both of these. I expect to get most of my hours through the LER HOURS program. I feel like it has been amazing so far, I’ve only been part of it for about two weeks and am getting my site and EHR program set up, but the protocols they provide and case studies you have to do to become part of it were great. They go over everything and there is a private group. I think it’s going to be great.
Fabulous! It sounds very organized. Sometimes people struggle when there isn't a structured way to keep track of what they are learning and check off clinical skills as they master them.
Most of the time, when a licensed healthcare professional is using Pathway 1, they already have access to new mothers and babies through their practice and are able to count the portion of time they spend providing lactation care. They don't generally need to seek out additional clients for consultation because they are able to accumulate their clinical time through the work they already do.
EHR is the electronic health records, you absolutely do not have to have this, but I want to use it once I pass the IBCLC and use it for clients, so I thought it would help while I do my hours to make notes and have intake forms, etc. It's pretty much an online portal that stores all of the documents, you can communicate with your clients, send intake forms, resources, etc.
You do not have to do all 1,000 hours online. You can do breastfeeding support groups, meet with mothers locally who need help, or do virtual online help. I plan on doing the one on one help within the scope of practice of the Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, as well as doing prenatal breastfeeding education classes. I know it's going to be hard to get the 1,000 hours, but I'm determined! I am setting everything up to have a webpage and Facebook and Instagram, and am also networking with local birth workers, such as doulas, midwives, etc., so they can hopefully refer families to me.
Thank you SO much for sharing your experience in such detail!
Last thing I wanna know is if you’ve taken the 14 health science courses from LER too? (I’m assuming here that you do not have a background in healthcare like me)
I do have a medical background but not one that IBCLE recognizes, so I am having to take a few of the courses. I took the 5 additional (medical term, HIPAA, those ones) through LER, but am actually going to go through Arizona State for the other health sciences. They have a package with all of them for $998 I believe, even though I don't need all of them, it's better than pricing individually. To find these, go to ASU website and type in lactation. They have a couple of different programs.
I'm using SessionsHealth, I don't know if it's only US or not, I'm sorry. It's really made for mental health specialists, but can be configured for lactation. They don't have prebuild consent or intake forms for lactation, but it's easy to create them. They were the best price and most modern feeling to me. I liked the portal. I highly suggest doing the trials with all of them to see which you like best. Make fake clients, etc., do a whole run through.
I got my 95 hours through LER and I’ve been considering their HOURS program too. Your comment has made my decision so much easier. I live in Pakistan and we have only one IBCLC in the whole country!
Hi! is the LER HOURS program only available for those who got their 95+ hour lactation education through LER? I got mine through GOLD and I'm still unsure on how to get my clinical hours. By the way, how much did you pay for the LER HOURS program?
Hi Christine! Yes, I have. We only have 1 IBCLC in my state and she mainly serves an area about an hour away. Doing Pathway 3 with her would be challenging in terms of logistics as she is a Pediatrician and is only visiting her breastfeeding clinic near me only once a week.
I'm an RN (though haven't practiced for awhile) so I'm currently reviewing Pathway 1 for Recognized Healthcare Professionals.
I'll be taking GOLD's CLSP exam soon, too. But since its scope of practice is mainly educational and not really clinical (assessment, etc.), I think this is where my RN background will come in handy.
It's all very confusing to me as of now. I plan to email both GOLD and IBCLE for clarification on clinical hours. Like how will I learn IBCLC clinical skills if I can't do assessments, suck training, etc.? Our local baby-friendly hospital doesn't have an IBCLC on staff. There are breastfeeding counselors though.
There are very few IBCLCs in the Philippines, unfortunately. And majority of them are pediatricians/doctors.
Hi again! As an RN in Pathway 1, you do not need clinical supervision, and you already have the scope of practice to put your hands on breastfeeding mothers and babies. That said, you likely do need some instruction on exactly how to do some of the more complex assessments. You can certainly learn about those in an online environment, and perhaps you can arrange a trip specifically to work with the IBCLC one day for a few hours. Though Pathway 1 does not explicitly require an individual to be supervised or mentored, in my opinion and experience, it is really important that Pathway 1 candidates DO spend time working alongside, reviewing cases with, and collaborating with experienced IBCLCs and peer counselors in order to ensure that they are fully integrating the didactic knowledge they have acquired. It also helps tremendously in that it allows some space to explore personal biases and even personal traumas around their own breastfeeding experiences.
Personal trauma – oh yes. I got into this journey because of my difficulties in breastfeeding and realizing the sheer lack of support in my community.
I do plan on working with an IBCLC - she's in my area once a week for a few hours. I also plan on volunteering at the local baby-friendly hospital and be a "lactation nurse" (if that is a thing). I'm still unsure about how to do this though (need to do more research) since I haven't worked at a hospital for years!
A really basic question though: how do you keep track of your hours?
Is there another documentation required by the IBCLE? I already downloaded their spreadsheet but it requires a "name of supervisor" and their email.
The IBCLE wording of "appropriate supervised setting" also throws me off.
Like if I volunteer at our local community health center, there will likely be no one else there who's knowledgeable in lactation other than me. Doctors only come once a week, but not during immunization day. During immunization day (Wednesdays here in the Philippines), only nurses and community health workers are there. How do I document that?
I am so sorry to hear that you experienced breastfeeding trauma, and I hope that your work in the practice of lactation care is helping to heal you. Very great question about the tracking sheet! You can still use that sheet even when you don't require a supervisor. They just put that on there so that anyone can use it, whether or not they need a supervisor. You will use it to document the time you spend directly providing care to pregnant and breastfeeding families about breastfeeding. You will keep that sheet for yourself, and if you are audited you will provide a copy of it. Otherwise, it will simply be yours to keep as a record of how hard you worked on this journey!
Yes, you have to take your training through LER. I am not sure if it's only the 95 or if the 45 hour would also be accepted, but they are incredibly helpful if you email them! To apply for HOURS it is $250, that covers a year, then after that I believe it was $89 for each following year if you haven't done all of your hours.
My clinical hours were completed via pathway 3 and I think it prepared me well for being an IBCLC in private practice. Because I mentored under an IBCLC in private practice I saw dyads of all ages with varying different concerns and challenges. This really helped to round out my education. Of course, we’re never done learning! But I’m grateful I had the opportunity to compete pathway 3.
That's awesome! I highly recommend attending support groups even after you have become an IBCLC because you'll learn. I could go on and on about what you'll learn, but trust me, you'll learn. And you'll connect with the person who runs the group, get to see them in action, etc.
I did pathway 1 and got my hours through being a La Leche League Canada Leader before iblce changed the way you obtain hours. I would say I am well set up for supporting families through the normal course of breastfeeding but I am not as knowledgeable about pumping/ supplementing/ bottle feeding.
I just began, I am doing pathway 1 and will be getting mine through LER HOURS program and Breastfeeding USA. I’ve already completed all training and education to begin both of these. I expect to get most of my hours through the LER HOURS program. I feel like it has been amazing so far, I’ve only been part of it for about two weeks and am getting my site and EHR program set up, but the protocols they provide and case studies you have to do to become part of it were great. They go over everything and there is a private group. I think it’s going to be great.
Fabulous! It sounds very organized. Sometimes people struggle when there isn't a structured way to keep track of what they are learning and check off clinical skills as they master them.
It's very organized! Every topic is tracked. I love it.
What’s an EHR program? Also, how does one get to have so many clients to complete 1000 hours online? That’s what stops me from signing up.
Most of the time, when a licensed healthcare professional is using Pathway 1, they already have access to new mothers and babies through their practice and are able to count the portion of time they spend providing lactation care. They don't generally need to seek out additional clients for consultation because they are able to accumulate their clinical time through the work they already do.
An EHR is an Electronic Health Record - glad you asked for this clarification!
EHR is the electronic health records, you absolutely do not have to have this, but I want to use it once I pass the IBCLC and use it for clients, so I thought it would help while I do my hours to make notes and have intake forms, etc. It's pretty much an online portal that stores all of the documents, you can communicate with your clients, send intake forms, resources, etc.
You do not have to do all 1,000 hours online. You can do breastfeeding support groups, meet with mothers locally who need help, or do virtual online help. I plan on doing the one on one help within the scope of practice of the Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, as well as doing prenatal breastfeeding education classes. I know it's going to be hard to get the 1,000 hours, but I'm determined! I am setting everything up to have a webpage and Facebook and Instagram, and am also networking with local birth workers, such as doulas, midwives, etc., so they can hopefully refer families to me.
Thank you SO much for sharing your experience in such detail!
Last thing I wanna know is if you’ve taken the 14 health science courses from LER too? (I’m assuming here that you do not have a background in healthcare like me)
I do have a medical background but not one that IBCLE recognizes, so I am having to take a few of the courses. I took the 5 additional (medical term, HIPAA, those ones) through LER, but am actually going to go through Arizona State for the other health sciences. They have a package with all of them for $998 I believe, even though I don't need all of them, it's better than pricing individually. To find these, go to ASU website and type in lactation. They have a couple of different programs.
what EHR software do you use, if you don't mind me asking. Is it something specific to the US only or can be used internationally?
I'm using SessionsHealth, I don't know if it's only US or not, I'm sorry. It's really made for mental health specialists, but can be configured for lactation. They don't have prebuild consent or intake forms for lactation, but it's easy to create them. They were the best price and most modern feeling to me. I liked the portal. I highly suggest doing the trials with all of them to see which you like best. Make fake clients, etc., do a whole run through.
I got my 95 hours through LER and I’ve been considering their HOURS program too. Your comment has made my decision so much easier. I live in Pakistan and we have only one IBCLC in the whole country!
Otherwise I would have considered Pathway 3
Pathway 3 hours can also be accumulated using telehealth, so you could conceivably have a mentor in a distant place with whom you work with clients.
Hi! is the LER HOURS program only available for those who got their 95+ hour lactation education through LER? I got mine through GOLD and I'm still unsure on how to get my clinical hours. By the way, how much did you pay for the LER HOURS program?
Hi Gie! Have you reached out to anyone in your community about potentially being your clinical mentor yet?
Hi Christine! Yes, I have. We only have 1 IBCLC in my state and she mainly serves an area about an hour away. Doing Pathway 3 with her would be challenging in terms of logistics as she is a Pediatrician and is only visiting her breastfeeding clinic near me only once a week.
I'm an RN (though haven't practiced for awhile) so I'm currently reviewing Pathway 1 for Recognized Healthcare Professionals.
I'll be taking GOLD's CLSP exam soon, too. But since its scope of practice is mainly educational and not really clinical (assessment, etc.), I think this is where my RN background will come in handy.
It's all very confusing to me as of now. I plan to email both GOLD and IBCLE for clarification on clinical hours. Like how will I learn IBCLC clinical skills if I can't do assessments, suck training, etc.? Our local baby-friendly hospital doesn't have an IBCLC on staff. There are breastfeeding counselors though.
There are very few IBCLCs in the Philippines, unfortunately. And majority of them are pediatricians/doctors.
Hi again! As an RN in Pathway 1, you do not need clinical supervision, and you already have the scope of practice to put your hands on breastfeeding mothers and babies. That said, you likely do need some instruction on exactly how to do some of the more complex assessments. You can certainly learn about those in an online environment, and perhaps you can arrange a trip specifically to work with the IBCLC one day for a few hours. Though Pathway 1 does not explicitly require an individual to be supervised or mentored, in my opinion and experience, it is really important that Pathway 1 candidates DO spend time working alongside, reviewing cases with, and collaborating with experienced IBCLCs and peer counselors in order to ensure that they are fully integrating the didactic knowledge they have acquired. It also helps tremendously in that it allows some space to explore personal biases and even personal traumas around their own breastfeeding experiences.
Thanks, Christine!
Personal trauma – oh yes. I got into this journey because of my difficulties in breastfeeding and realizing the sheer lack of support in my community.
I do plan on working with an IBCLC - she's in my area once a week for a few hours. I also plan on volunteering at the local baby-friendly hospital and be a "lactation nurse" (if that is a thing). I'm still unsure about how to do this though (need to do more research) since I haven't worked at a hospital for years!
A really basic question though: how do you keep track of your hours?
Is there another documentation required by the IBCLE? I already downloaded their spreadsheet but it requires a "name of supervisor" and their email.
The IBCLE wording of "appropriate supervised setting" also throws me off.
Like if I volunteer at our local community health center, there will likely be no one else there who's knowledgeable in lactation other than me. Doctors only come once a week, but not during immunization day. During immunization day (Wednesdays here in the Philippines), only nurses and community health workers are there. How do I document that?
I am so sorry to hear that you experienced breastfeeding trauma, and I hope that your work in the practice of lactation care is helping to heal you. Very great question about the tracking sheet! You can still use that sheet even when you don't require a supervisor. They just put that on there so that anyone can use it, whether or not they need a supervisor. You will use it to document the time you spend directly providing care to pregnant and breastfeeding families about breastfeeding. You will keep that sheet for yourself, and if you are audited you will provide a copy of it. Otherwise, it will simply be yours to keep as a record of how hard you worked on this journey!
Yes, you have to take your training through LER. I am not sure if it's only the 95 or if the 45 hour would also be accepted, but they are incredibly helpful if you email them! To apply for HOURS it is $250, that covers a year, then after that I believe it was $89 for each following year if you haven't done all of your hours.
Thanks for helping out here!
thanks!
Yes, I did ask them. You need to have the 95 hour certification from LER.