What is the Difference Between a CLC and an IBCLC?

CLC stands for Certified Lactation Counselor. To obtain the CLC credential, you must complete 45 hours of approved lactation education then pass a certification exam. Once certified, recertification happens every 3 years requiring 18 contact hours of continuing education focused on lactation topics. There are no clinical hour requirements for recertification, and one does not need to have a medical background to get certified. You will often notice this certification amongst La Leche League leaders, WIC counselors, Peer counselors, Labor/Delivery Nurses, Public Health Nurses, Doulas, and others committed to improving maternal/child health. This certification does not allow the individual to bill insurance companies for Lactation Services. Even if you decide to pay out of pocket for Lactation Services provided by a CLC, you will not be able to submit a receipt of services to your insurance company to be reimbursed as the CLC is not recognized as an approved Lactation Provider. This certification was primarily developed to get real evidenced based lactation education to those in low resource areas to address gaps in lactation care. Personally speaking, I completed this program in one intense week and passed the certification exam on the last day of that class. I found the quality of education and speakers excellent. It provided me with the jump start in Lactation education hours needed to proceed with my IBCLC.

IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. There are three different pathways to certification, but all three avenues are extremely time intensive. One does not need a medical background but required to complete certain college level courses in biology, anatomy and physiology, psychology, and sociology and complete 90 hours of Lactation Education or obtain a Bachelors Degree in Human Lactation in addition to 500 supervised clinical hours with an approved practicing IBCLC within 5 years of applying for the certification exam. If one has medical training/education (MD, DO, DDS, RN, NP, PA, Registered Dietician), completion of 90 hours of Lactation and 1000 documented clinical hours involving lactation care must be completed within 5yrs of applying for the certification exam. The certification exam takes 2-3hrs to complete. One must recertify every 5yrs by exam or provide documentation of 75 hrs of Continuing Education, at least 200 clinical hours, CPR certification, and completion of a 2-hour self-assessment examination on-line. All IBCLCs can legally provide lactation consultations in any country in the world! IBCLCs even if not a medical provider can be contracted as a non-medical provider amongst some insurance companies, so they are able to bill insurance for their services.

Having both CLC and IBCLC certifications along with almost 24yrs as a practicing Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, you can be assured of having the best possible lactation care and education provided to you and your baby. Go to www.milkwagon.net and see how you can benefit from a lactation consultation today.