Clinical Experience - Pathways
The eligibility criteria is changing from 2010 onwards. For details on the New eligibility criteria click here. If you have concerns about your eligability for 2009 please contact the IBLCE Office just click here .
How much clinical experience providing breastfeeding counselling must I have?
The amount of post-secondary education you have completed, in any field, determines how many hours of experience providing breastfeeding counselling (BC hours) you are required to have completed before you are eligible to be a candidate for the IBLCE exam. Over many years, IBLCE has collected data that shows that candidates with more education, and in some cases candidates with specific backgrounds, require less experience (fewer BC hours) to pass the exam and be ready to practice competently as an IBCLC. This information has enabled IBLCE to group applicants with certain backgrounds together in pathways, and determine how much prior experience (BC hours) is required for each pathway. Your pathway is just one component of exam eligibility, and relates only to BC hours.
Standard Pathways up to 2009
You should determine which of the five standard path-ways A, B, C, D E or F is applicable to you. You must also read the Candidate Information Guide for information about BC hours and how to calculate them.
Pathway A – 2500 BC hours required.
This pathway is available only if you have a bachelor or higher degree (in any field), OR you are a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife or you are Registered Nurse and Registered Maternal and Child Health Nurse OR you have successfully completed at least four years of tertiary education.
Pathway B – 4000 BC hours required.
This pathway is available if you are a Registered Nurse (including NZ Plunket Nurse) OR you have successfully completed at least two years of tertiary education.
Pathway C – 900 precepted clinical hours in human lactation required
That is directly supervised by a recertified IBCLC. This pathway is available only if you have a bachelor or higher degree with a concentration in human lactation from an accredited institution.
Pathway D – 900 BC hours required.
This pathway is available only if you are a Medical Practitioner (Doctor).
Pathway E – 6000 BC hours required.
This pathway is available if you are an Enrolled Nurse or similar OR you have completed less than two years of tertiary education.
Pathway F
This pathway requires you to complete a pre-approved program covering all the Clinical Competencies over at least 500 directly supervised clinical hours. Stringent conditions apply. You must contact IBLCE for further information. Please note that IBLCE cannot assist you to find a clinical placement to do this pathway.
Supplementary Pathways
For applicants using pathways A, B or E only, one or both of supplementary pathways G and H can also be used.
If your standard pathway requires 2500 BC hours or more (pathways A, B or E), you may reduce your required number of BC hours by meeting the requirements of one or both of the following supplementary pathways G and H. The maximum reduction is a total of 1000 BC hours if both pathways are fully completed. Pathways G and H should be used only if you do not otherwise have enough BC hours for your applicable standard pathway.
Pathway G.
You may reduce by 500 the number of BC hours required for your standard pathway if you have completed 150 hours of comprehensive education in lactation. The education must address the breadth of the exam blueprint and it must be within the three-year period immediately prior to sitting for the exam. You are encouraged to meet this requirement using a program accredited by International Lactation Education Accreditation Council - ILEAC (for more information, go to www.ilca.org). Note: 150 hours of education is 105 more than the 45 hours otherwise required (or 90 more if 60 hours is required).
Pathway H.
You may reduce by up to 500 hours the number of BC hours required for your standard pathway if you have completed up to 100 hours of planned, directly supervised clinical practice in a setting other than your usual experience setting and with an IBCLC who has been certified for at least five full years and has been recertified at least once. The reduction is at a ratio of 1:5, up to a maximum reduction of 500 BC hours: e.g. 10 supervised hours equals a reduction of 50 BC hours. Please note: this pathway does not include generalized supervised experience and the plan must be approved in advance by IBLCE. (Further information is available from IBLCE). Please note that the IBLCE does not maintain a list of recertified IBCLCs who are willing to mentor pathway H students.
Recertification Pathway - Pathway R
If you are an IBCLC whose certification is still current and who is recertifying by exam, you are not required to provide references, information on BC hours or CERPS, or documentation of qualifications. The fee is the same whether you are recertifying by exam or by CERPs. Please read the Recertification Application Supplement. As a recertifying IBCLC, you must use the buff coloured Application to Recertify form, rather than the standard exam application form included in the Candidate Information Guide.
Lapsed Pathway for former IBCLCs - Pathway L
If you were previously an IBCLC and your certification lapsed more than one year ago, you must meet all requirements and pay the normal fees.
If your certification lapsed less than one year ago, you are eligible for the “Repeat” fee discount rate and you are exempt from having to provide information on BC hours, a qualification certificate, references or lactation education hours (CERPs). It is your choice how you prepare for the exam and whether you participate in education programs. Please note that your certification period will not be continuous; once your certification had lapsed, you are not eligible to “recertify”.
