50-hour LCE Foundation Self-Study Course
Lactation Counselor and Educator
This 50 hour professional lactation training provides you with the foundations, the clinical and communication skills needed to help nursing families. It includes Motivational Interviewing, how to best communicate with our clients for effective interactions.
This virtual, self-study course consists of half of the Detailed Content Outline that dictates the skills needed to become an IBCLC. It can serve as a stand-alone credential, part of the required 95 hours of lactation education needed to become an IBCLC or continuing lactation education.
This course uses an online learning system, Thinkific, and live Zoom Meetings. The participants will be covering 13 Sections of the detailed content outline and one assignment. Short quizzes follow each section. A final evaluation will finish this training.
The goal of the course is to be able to take the theoretical clinical knowledge and be able to apply these skills to the actual work with families.
This course has been approved for 50 L-CERPs and 50 Nursing Contact Hours including 5 hours of communication skills.
Cost: $599
Breakdown of Detailed Content Outline:
I + II: 6.5 CERPs
III: 11 CERPs
IV: 7 CERPs
V: 10 CERPs
VI: 11 CERPs
VII: 22 CERPs
What does it mean to be a certified LCE?
Certification guarantees that the person has:
- Completed a top-quality professional training program, focused on lactation and communication skills
- Demonstrated competency regarding core relevant knowledge through an assignment and 13 quizzes.
- Agreed to abide by a defined Scope of Practice for an LCE (see below)
Certification Requirements
- Complete 50-hour training course, focused on lactation and communication skills
- Review and study all lessons and turn in assignment of self-paced pre-work components
- Pass 13 quizzes to show knowledge and understanding
- Agree to Abide by the LCE Scope of Practice
Recertification
In order to maintain your LCE credential, you may choose any of these options within 5 years of your initial certification and subsequent recertification dates:
- Retake the LCE course
- Earn 25 L- or E-CERPs, and pay fee of $75 (include your proof of certs completed)
- Gain CCLS credential through LactaLearning (Send us your IBCLC number upon initial certification. If you do not maintain IBCLC status, you may use either of the above options to recertify as an LCE)
- Gain IBCLC credential
LCE Scope of Practice based upon the Breastfeeding Scope of Practice by WIC Staff Level Three. LCEs may help with:
- Latching and positioning
- Flat or inverted nipples
- Alternative feeding devices
- Engorgement
- Plugged ducts
- Weaning
- Maintaining ongoing milk supply
- Multiples
- Supplemental feedings
- Informal milk sharing
- Bottle feeding
- Pacifier use
- Reflux
- Abrupt weaning
- Inadequate weight gain
- Preterm babies over 34 weeks gestation
- Weight gain issues
- Providing medication information from Hale's Medications and Mother's Milk
- Supporting a baby with infant thrush
- Supporting a baby with allergies
- Supporting a baby with food intolerances
- Supporting a baby with lactose overload
- Supporting lactation with diabetes, thyroid conditions, pituitary dysfunction, being overweight, nursing while pregnant, and HIV/AIDs
- Supporting a baby with jaundice
- Referring to health care provider for persistent nipple pain not resolved with latching and positioning help
- Referring to health care provider and help with mastitis