Lactation Professional Training Programs

updated 2025 July 7th

Before choosing a training program, I recommend looking at the different types of breastfeeding support professionals here. If you’re interested in becoming an IBCLC, read this blog to make sure you choose the right program for your goals.  

Programs designed to train future IBCLCs 

The following programs all have at least 95 hours of lactation education. These programs meet the requirements for lactation education to qualify for the IBCLC exam.
 
LEAARC is the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee. To see which programs are LEAARC approved, visit www.leaarc.org Remember the IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) does not endorse any programs or require students to take certain programs. They do require at least 90 hours of lactation education and 5 hours of communication.
 
 
Birth Arts International
https://www.birtharts.com/breastfeeding-educator-certification/
Hours: 200 with opportunity for more
Cost: $600
Location: online
Certification: breastfeeding educator certificate (BEC)
Length of certification: not clear on their website
 
 
BreastfeedLA
www.breastfeedla.org/lactation-education
Hours: 45 hours in the first course and 50 hours in the second course
Cost: $550 for the first class and $1,045 for the second 
Location: online live and scheduled for specific dates
Certification: Step 1 (45 hours) is to become a certified lactation education specialist (CLES)
Length of certification: 5 years
 
 
Breastfeeding Outlook (Marie Biancuzzo)
www.breastfeedingoutlook.com
Hours: Choose the 95-hour course or the 45-hour course 
Cost: 45-hour is $749, 95-hour starts at $999
Location: online (12 months of access)  
Certification: none listed on the website
 
 
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre (Linda Smith)
https://bflrc.org/
Hours: up to 90 hours
Cost: not listed on website  
Location: in person and independent study
Certification: None listed. This appears to be an exam prep course for aspiring IBCLCs, and does not seem to offer a certificate on its own.   
 
 
Childbirth International
https://childbirthinternational.com/lactation-counselor/
Hours: 204 
Cost: $1,065
Location: online
Certification: certified lactation counselor
Length of certification: lifetime certificate
 
 
Evergreen Perinatal Education
https://www.evergreenperinataleducation.com/course/ibclc-certification-bundle
Hours: 95+
Cost: $950
Location: online (1 year access)
Certification: certified lactation educator (CLE)
Length of certification: 5 years
 
 
Feeding Families
https://feeding-families.com/ifc#/
Hours: 95 hours
Cost: $1500
Location: online, cohort
Certification: certified infant feeding counselor
Length of certification: not clear on their website
 
 
Gold Lactation Academy
https://www.lactationacademy.com/pages/clsp-certified-lactation-support-provider
Hours: 95+
Cost: $999
Location: online, self-paced (1 year of access)
Certification: certified lactation support provider (CLSP)
Length of certification: not clear on their website
 
 
Healthy Children’s Project
www.centerforbreastfeeding.org and www.alpp.org
Hours: 95 hours, self-paced, up to 6 months to complete  
Cost: The online course is $625 and they charge $120 to take the exam. The textbook is about $75.
Location: This is now available only online.
Certification: Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)
Length of certification: 3 years. To recertify, you’ll need 18 hours of continuing education.
 
 
International Breastfeeding Institute
www.internationalbreastfeedinginstitute.com
Hours: 45 hours in the first course and 50 in the second
Cost: $1,430 if you enroll in both
Location: online
Certification: certified breastfeeding counselor
Length of certification: not clear on their website
 
 
LactaLearning
www.LactaLearning.com
Hours: Choose between a 50-hour course or 95-hour course.
Cost: The 50-hour is $599. The 95-hour is $1,000.  
Location: online
Certification: The 50-hour program offers certification as a lactation counselor and educator (LCE). The 95-hour course offers certification as a Clinical and Communication Lactation Specialist (CCLS).
Length of certification: 5 years
 
 
Lactation Education Consultants
www.lactationeducation.com
Hours: There are two programs to choose from. There’s a 45-hour initial course. There are additional hours available to reach the 90 required in the CLS Plus course.
Cost: $770 for the 45-hour course or $1,120 for the Plus course.
Location: The 45-hour course is a 5-day in-person course or online via Zoom. The 95-hour course requires additional home study.
Certification: certified lactation specialist (CLS)
Length of certification: not clear on their website
 
 
Lactation Education Resources
www.lactationtraining.com
Hours: They offer two different courses. The enriched program is 95+ hours and meets the requirements to become an IBCLC. They also offer a 52-hour program. Both receive the same credential of certified breastfeeding specialist (CBS). 
Cost: The 95-hour program is $1,025. The 52-hour course is $675.
Location: online, start anytime and work at your own pace (1 year access)
Certification: certified breastfeeding specialist (CBS)
Length of certification: 5 years
 
 
Lactation University
www.LactationUniversity.com
Hours: 95+
Cost: $1,275
Location: virtual with some live classes
Certification: certified lactation professional (CLP)
Length of certification: not clear on the website
 
 
North Carolina State’s Maternal and Infant Lactation Knowledge (MILK) Research and Educational Group
https://breastfeeding.cals.ncsu.edu/education/
Hours: 110 hours (not for college credit)
Cost: There is a part 1 and part 2 class for $425 each.  
Location: online (6 months of access)
Certification: They choose to only offer a certificate of completion because this is intended for students going on to the IBCLC certificate.  
 
 
Riverside University Health System – Public Health
https://calwic.org/wic-agencies/ibclc-training/
Hours: 106 hours
Cost: $1700
Location: California  
Certification: This Grow Our Own Lactation Consultant/IBCLC prep course does not appear to offer a certification of its own.  
 
 
University of California San Diego, extended studies
https://extendedstudies.ucsd.edu/courses-certificates/healthcare/lactation-perinatal-education
Hours: There are multiple courses to choose from. There is an online 45-hour course to become a lactation education counselor. There is also a 95-hour course to qualify students to take the CLC exam through The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice.
Cost: University class
Location: online or hybrid depending on the class  
Certification: lactation education counselor (CLEC)
Length of certification: not clear on their website  

Different lactation credentials 

These are in alphabetical order, not in order of the highest scope of practice.
 

• BEC – breastfeeding educator certificate, Birth Arts International

 

• CBC – certified breastfeeding counselor, Prepared Childbirth Educators

 

• CBS – certified breastfeeding specialist, Lactation Education Resources

 

• CCLS – Clinical and Communication Lactation Specialist, LactaLearning (95-hour program)

 

• CLC – certified lactation counselor, Healthy Children’s (ALPP)

 

• CLE – certified lactation educator, Evergreen Perinatal Education

 

• CLEC – certified lactation education counselor, UC San Diego

 

• CLES – certified lactation education specialist, BreastfeedLA

 

• CLP – certified lactation professional, Lactation University

 

• CLS – certified lactation specialist, Lactation Education Consultants

 

• CLSP – certified lactation support provider, Gold Lactation Academy

 

• LCE – lactation counselor and educator, LactaLearning (50-hour program)

 

• Certified breastfeeding counselor – International Breastfeeding Institute

 

• Certified infant feeding counselor – Feeding Families

 

• Certified lactation counselor – Childbirth International

 

• The IBCLC credential is for professionals that have passed the board exam from The International Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE).

Programs designed for entry-level support

Some doula programs have created additional training for breastfeeding support. A few childbirth educator programs have as well. Look through each program or contact the school to learn about their scope of practice.
 
 
A Woman Who Serves
https://www.awomanwhoserves.com/postpartum
Hours:
Cost: $550
Location: virtual
Certification: postpartum doula and lactation specialist
Length of certification: does not expire
 
 
CAPPA
https://cappa.net/training-certification/certified-lactation-educator-cle/
Hours:
Cost: $750 in person or $800 online
Location: in person or online
Certification: certified lactation educator (CLE)
Length of Certification: 3 years
 
 
CAPPA
https://cappa.net/training-certification/certified-lactation-educator-cle/
Hours:
Cost: $750
Location: in person
Certification: community lactation educator LE(C)
Length of Certification: 3 years
 
 
Charis Childbirth
www.charischildbirth.org
Hours: unknown
Cost: $1100+
Location: hybrid
Certification: certified lactation counselor
Length of certification: not specified
Note: This is a Christian program
 
 
Lifespan Doulas
https://lifespandoulas.com/breastfeeding-classes-for-doulas/
Hours: There are two classes available and both are 8 hours.
Cost: Each class is $100.
Location: online, self-paced
Certification: none  
 
 
Maternity Wise Institute
https://www.maternitywise.com/lactation-support-educator
Hours: unknown
Cost: $575 for online training, in-person may vary
Location: in-person or online
Certification: certified lactation support and educator (CLSE)
Length of certification: not clear on their website
 
 
Prepared Childbirth Educators
www.childbirtheducation.org
Hours: unknown
Cost: $325 plus exam fee
Location: online
Certification: breastfeeding counselor certification (CBC)
Length of certification: 3 years
Note: This program is only for nurses.
 
 
ProDoula
https://www.prodoula.com/infant-feeding-educator-training/
Hours: 20 hours
Cost: $645
Location: virtual
Certification: certified infant feeding educator
Length of certification: not clear on their website
 
 
There are lactation training classes specifically for doulas. For example, Lactation Education Resources has a lactation management for doulas class here https://www.lactationtraining.com/lactation-management-for-doulas
 
You may need a class that is approved by your doula training organization such as a DONA approved class.

Which program should you do? 

With so many schools to choose from, how do you decide what’s the best option for you? Here are some things to consider.
 
Do you want a credential with this training or are you just looking for the education? If you want to add credentials to your profile, choose a program that offers a title such as CLC, CBS, CLS…
 
What are your long-term goals? Do you want to become an IBCLC? Choose a program that meets the requirements and provides at least 95 hours of comprehensive training. Do you want to be at an entry-level? Choose something introductory and more basic.
 
Will you be offering lactation support on its own or is this something you want to add on with another role? For example, a doula may only want to take a training so she can better support her doula clients. A labor and delivery nurse may want to gain education in lactation support so she can support those early hours of breastfeeding. Or you may want to open your own practice.
 
What scope of practice do you desire? If you want to work with any situation, become an IBCLC. If you want to be able to have more freedom in what you support, become a CLC. If you only want to do entry-level support and don’t desire to get into medically complex cases, choose a training or credential that only allows support of normal breastfeeding situations such as CBS. If you are someone who wants to be able to offer lactation consultancy on its own, make sure you look at the scope of practice with each program.
 
What restrictions are you comfortable with? If you choose a program that doesn’t allow you to handle complicated cases and that’s something you want to be able to do, don’t choose a program that’s going to restrict your practice.
 
How do you learn best? Most of these programs are online. Some are in person.
 
Do you have any preferences on language, inclusivity, or political alignment? Some of these programs take a stand on political issues. Others don’t. Some choose inclusive language and others choose traditional. Is that something that matters to you?
 
Do you want to be able to teach classes? I noticed some of these programs specify teaching classes is within their abilities and others are not.
 
If you plan on working at a facility or teaching classes in a hospital, what programs do they require employees to choose from? They may require IBCLC or CLC. They may have a certain number of hours required or CEUs.
 
Do you have a program you’re leaning towards? We tend to gravitate towards programs that feel like a good fit to us. I always look at curriculum, who is teaching and what are their credentials, if their website seems well done and informative, and what the reputation of a program is.

If you have done any of these lactation training programs, tell me your review in the comments below.