Two articles recently appeared online at American Chronicle and Pregnancy Period. Titled “Seek Breastfeeding Help from Professionals” and “Breastfeeding Help: Turn to Professionals in Time of Need,” both highlight the need for better understanding of the designation “lactation consultant” and associated credentials.

According to the American Chronicle, “It's important to check the credentials of the lactation consultant and you should look for the credentials IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant) or CLC (certified lactation consultant) after the name.”

Pregnancy Period asserts, “To find a lactation consultant in your neighborhood, talk to your childbirth educator, health-care provider, or obstetrical hospital. Always check with the LC’s credentials. She usually has the credentials CLC (certified lactation consultant) or IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant) after her name.”

In an effort to clarify the distinction between the two credentials, the following letter-to-the-editor was submitted by the President of the International Lactation Consultant Association.

It was brought to my attention that your website describes lactation consultant credentials as CLC or IBCLC. I would like to clarify that the IBCLC is the only true credential for lactation consultants.

ILCA is the professional association for lactation consultants and as such, we recognize the IBCLC because it is the only true credential fully accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This accreditation process involves compliance with rigorous standards established by the National Organization for Competency Assurance, including an international criterion-referenced examination which is revised annually in light of emerging new evidence.

In addition, qualifying to take the exam requires a certain amount of college level education, lactation-specific courses, and thousands of hours of clinical practice. The credentialing body also provides a disciplinary process to deal with unethical or incompetent practice and requires recertification by exam every 10 years. The IBCLC credential has been in place for over 20 years now and is recognized worldwide as the standard for lactation consultation competence.

There are a wide variety of training courses offered by various organizations and individuals, some of which provide various types of certificates at the conclusion of the course, such as the CLC. However, these certificates are not the same thing as an accredited credential. ILCA encourages people who have received some of these certificates to use them as a stepping stone to eventual certification as an IBCLC.

I am sure you would want visitors to your website to be directed by you to the most appropriate health care professionals, IBCLCs, when faced with breastfeeding challenges.

Sincerely,

Becky Mannell

President, ILCA

For more information on this important topic, please visit ILCA and IBLCE, and see the Feature Article in the June 2006 issue of Feeding Times.

It is to the benefit of the families served and the professionals who serve them that there be a clear understanding of the term International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and of the IBCLC credential.