Yes, Laurie, the BSC program still exists! You're right, the course does
involve extensive communication and support from an instructor (by email or
phone), as well as extensive reading, written assignments, documented
clinical experiences, observing and critiquing classes. You're correct that
the counseling aspect is a strength of the course and students usually take
18 to 24 months to complete it, although some take longer. Because it is a
distance learning course students may pace themselves. Shorter courses
applicable for recertification are also available.
Pamela Allyn, RN, BSN, LCCE, IBCLC, RLC
Executive Director
Breastfeeding Support Consultants
1613 Burning Trail, Wheaton, IL 60187
Phone: 630-547-5057
email: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.bsccenter.org
-----Original Message-----
Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2005 13:01:46 +0000
From: laurie wheeler <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re IBCLC process
Very good points being made about the IBCLC process, the testing, supervised
hours etc. Below I will describe a model that seemed to work very well and
could be used by many students:
I have a good friend who took the BSC course via distance learning.
(Breastfeeding Support Consultants, I believe). She took the course many
years ago and I am not sure if the program still exists. She is an RN,
however, she had worked a few years, then had her family and had not
practiced nursing for over 20 yrs. After the program, she re-entered nursing
via work as an RN/IBCLC once her children were older. Anyway, as I recall,
the course involved extensive reading, documented clinical hours (she worked
at a bf-friendly peds office), recorded transcripts sent to and critiqued by
the instructor, observing classes and critiquing them, and many many
conversations with the instructor by phone. I am sure I am not doing the
program justice because it was a very comprehensive course that took a long
time to complete. The counseling part was very strong. The final test, as I
recall, was taken by my friend at a university library where it was
proctored. This lady is an excellent IBCLC and her counseling skills are
excellent. The course was not inexpensive, but not prohibitive, and a
student can pace themselves doing the work. For example, a student could
take 1 yr or 3 yrs to complete, if I am not mistaken. I think some of these
former instructors may be on lactnet and could comment.
One important thing I would like to mention is that this LC often comments
that she feels at a disadvantage because she does not have a really strong
clinical background in neonatal. She has often stated that having been an RN
in a nicu is a real advantage (myself and another one of her colleagues). I
think this would be especially true for hospital-based LCs. So that those
types of clinical experiences, and others, would be very valuable.
Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN
Tupelo MS, s.e. USA
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