IBLCE in Asia Pacific and Africa

• Minimum of 90 hours of lactation specific education within the 5 years immediately prior to exam application.
• 1000 lactation specific clinical practice hours within the 5 years immediately prior to exam application.
• Mother support counsellors must provide evidence of completing the required education in the identified subjects.

• mother to mother breastfeeding counselling is provided by volunteer counsellors
• structured training programs are provided for their counsellors which includes comprehensive education in breastfeeding and lactation management
• have a Code of Ethics
• provide structured supervision for counsellors, with an appropriate level of training
• have requirements to stay current by participating in continuing education

• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• Biology
• Infant and Child Growth and Development
• Nutrition
• Sociology or Cultural Sensitivity or Cultural Anthropology
• Introduction to Research
• Psychology or Counselling or Communications Skill

• Basic life support (e.g. CPR)
• Medical terminology
• Medical documentation
• Universal safety precautions and infection control
• Occupational safety, including security
• Professional/legal ethics (e.g. Code of Ethics)

N.B. Health Professionals - The above subjects would be covered in a health professional’s training/degree. Evidence of completed individual subjects is not required of health professionals. A copy of the completed training/degree or professional registration is required with the exam application.

Tertiary or further education refers to education acquired after completion of compulsory school education. It is typically provided at academies, universities, colleges, institutes of technology, trade schools and career colleges that award academic degrees or professional certifications.

Lactation specific education hours:
Education hours acquired by completing courses or programs that provide evidence based instruction in the disciplines and chronological periods listed on the IBLCE Exam Blueprint and/or training in the clinical skills listed on the Clinical Competencies for IBCLC Practice.

Lactation specific clinical practice hours/breastfeeding counselling:
Clinical practice hours accumulated while providing direct care to pregnant and lactating women and their infants/children within a paid or volunteer capacity.

Direct supervision:
A gradual process which begins with observation moves to clinical practice experience under direct observation until the skill is mastered, and culminates with independent practice with the mentor or supervisor physically nearby to assist and offer advice and support. In order to demonstrate mastery of a skill, the candidate is expected to complete all three phases of directly supervised clinical practice:
1. observation of the mentor, which is not included in the 500 hours of directly supervised clinical practice
2. clinical practice, i.e. working directly with breastfeeding mother-baby dyads, under the mentor’s direct observation and supervision
3. independent clinical practice with the mentor available on-site and able to assist if needed.