HOW LONG IS THE COURSE?

Courses and workshops vary in length. For course details, go to Maternity Courses and Workshops. [back to top]

WHO IS THE FACULTY?

Molly Pessl and Ginna Wall are the primary faculty. Visit our Faculty page for details on their professional background. [back to top]

WHAT KINDS OF EDUCATION CREDITS ARE OFFERED?

For most courses and workshops, CEARPs are provided for nurses through WSNA (the ANA) and The State of CA, for dieticians, through the CDR, and CERPs though IBLCE. [back to top]

WHEN DID THIS COURSE BEGIN?

These programs have been in place since 1986, when the five-day course, Lactation Education for Healthcare Professionals, started under the sponsorship of Evergreen Hospital Medical Center. This course is no longer taught at Evergreen Hospital. [back to top]

WHAT MATERIALS ARE INCLUDED IN THE COURSE?

An extensive course syllabus is provided for the 3-day and 5/6-day workshops. Detailed handouts of lectures and bibliographies are provided for all other lectures and workshops. [back to top]

ARE BOOKS AVAILABLE AT THE COURSE?

Most sponsors of the five-day course, Lactation Education for Healthcare Professionals, try to have a bookstore on site for participants to purchase books, but this is not always possible. Books can also be purchased from a variety of on-line resources. An extensive resource list is provided for the longer workshops. [back to top]

IS THERE EXTRA COURSEWORK OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM?

The only time there are extra course requirements is for the Lactation Educator Track during the five or six-day course, Lactation Education for Healthcare Professionals. [back to top]

CAN MY BREASTFEEDING BABY ATTEND THE COURSE WITH ME?

We welcome babies in the classroom. However, crying babies or noisy, active babies or toddlers make it very difficult for the mother and other participants to concentrate on course material. You might want to evaluate whether this is the best time to take a course. [back to top]

WHAT TEACHING METHODS ARE UTILIZED?

We try to include variety throughout the days ÐPowerPoint lecture/slides, videos, small group work, skills lab, guest mothers where possible, breakout sessions, quizzes (and written project, extra case studies and final exam for the Lactation Educator Track). [back to top]

IS THERE A FINAL EXAM UPON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE?

The final exam is only for those participantswho are following the Lactation Educator Track of the five or six-day course, Lactation Education for Healthcare Professionals. [back to top]

WHAT IS AN IBCLC (INTERNATIONAL BOARD CERTIFIED LACTATION CONSULTANT) AND HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

An IBCLC, is an individual who has met specific eligibility requirements and passed a criterion referenced, independent examination given by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. The stringent prerequisites to sit for this exam include preliminary education requirements, extensive clinical experience, and a minimum of 45 additional hours of lactation education within the three years prior to taking the exam. The IBCLC is the only credential for those offering breastfeeding/lactation care and services which comes from an organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

You will meet all classroom education requirements for IBLCE exam eligibility by following the Lactation Educator track of the six-day course, Lactation Education for Healthcare Professionals. Clinical experience is obtained individually in your work place or by working in a clinical program with an IBCLC mentor. [back to top]

WHAT CAN I CALL MYSELF WHEN I FINISH THE 5-DAY COURSE?

All the names and initials representing breastfeeding help are very confusing to students, healthcare professionals and the new families they care for. "Lactation Counselor", "Breastfeeding Specialist" "Lactation Educator", or any other title offered to individuals following a course or examination, implying expertise in breastfeeding or lactation care and services, is a name created by an individual or organization to promote a specific education program. There is no official recognition or accreditation of any of these titles, and both the course and the individuals become liable for the care they provide. For those reasons, we urge you to pursue the IBCLC credential. Many courses offer excellent education to the participants, but no course or course director is the official information center for the standards of lactation consultant practice or the designated advisor to individuals who provide breastfeeding care and services. To be credible, a certification or credentialing agency must be separate from the education program. For accurate information about the lactation consultant credential, contact the credentialing organization, The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) Ð www.iblce.org or the professional organization for lactation consultants, The International Lactation Consultants Association, (ILCA) http://www.ilca.org. [back to top]