IBCLC stands for International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. IBCLCs have extensive lactation specific training and clinical hours spent supporting actual families. IBCLCs are also required to complete college level health science courses and then sit for the International Board Exam and are then required to re-certify every 5 years. For more information on the specific requirements click here.

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding states this:

“International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are health care professionals who specialize in the clinical management of breastfeeding. The only health care professionals certified in lactation management, they carry certification by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE). Like all other U.S. certification boards for health care professionals, the IBLCE operates under the direction of the U.S. National Commission for Certifying Agencies and maintains rigorous professional standards. IBCLC candidates must demonstrate sufficient academic preparation as well as experience in supervised, direct consultation on breastfeeding to be eligible to take the certification exam.”

Did You Know?

There are 35,707 IBCLCs in the world and 19,218 in the United States as of the end of 2023!