Ros Escott, Interim Executive Director of IBLCE asked me to post this for
her. Cathy Liles, IBCLC
Nicky Lee writes that
> According to
> the WHO, this course is equivalent in preparation to that of the
> other credentialed breastfeeding helpers: LLL, IBCLC, CLE, NMC, etc.
> 45 continuing education credits are offered, which at present is
> enough to meet a requirement for the IBLCE exam.
> There are many different ways to earn certification for
> work with breastfeeding; this is one of several.
Ros Escott responds on behalf of IBLCE:
I am not particularly familiar with the program Nikki is referring to,
but I question her general comparisons because they are misleading in
their suggestion of equivalence. Education is only one component of
preparation to enter the breastfeeding support field. Also, the IBCLC
is the only “credential” that is a professional Board Certification
and accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
IBLCE’s pre-exam eligibility requirements are not a statement about
how much you need to do to become an IBCLC. There were developed to
screen potential applicants, while the exam itself sets the standard
for becoming an IBCLC. The minimum eligibility requirements can not be
used as an indication of the amount of preparation candidates actually
do, just as the number of education hours does not reflect the skills
and knowledge required to pass the exam.
Pre-exam education in lactation also needs to be recent (with the
three year period immediately prior to sitting for the exam), relevant
(to the exam blueprint), and reliable (based on current information
and relevant research). Private study - many hours over a one to three
year period - is a major component of exam preparation for all
candidates. Their total education should reflect all disciplines and
chronological periods on the exam blueprint. These days, many
candidates participate in a comprehensive lactation education program
which covers all or most of the blueprint. Such a program is typically
much longer than the required minimum of 45 hours because it is
impossible to cover the entire exam blueprint, at the depth required,
in the minimum time.
The EU Blueprint for Action on breastfeeding, launched in 2004,
identified a set of actions which were supported by evidence of proven
effectiveness. IBCLC is the only credential which met their standards
and is mentioned in several places in the document as the recommended
standard. The following footnote recognises, as all of us should, that
IBCLC represents far more than a 45 hours course.
EU Blueprint footnote: The IBLCE credential is awarded to successful
candidates after a competency-based exam, irrespective of the
lactation management course followed. The IBLCE exam has been
administered worldwide in several languages for 20 years.
Re-accreditation is mandatory every 5 years. Certificants must adhere
to a Code of Ethics and work according to Standards of Practice. An
independent commission for certifying agencies since 1988 has
regularly accredited the IBLCE certification process.
Ros Escott BAppSc IBCLC
IBLCE Interim Executive Director
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