Lactation Program Reviews

Lactation Program Review: Healthy Children’s Lactation Counselor Training Course & CLC Certification

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Lactation Program Review: 

Healthy Children’s

Certified Lactation Counselor Certificate Training Program

By Laura Wauford, MSN, APRN, CLC

November 4, 2015

What year did you enroll in the program? 2014

How long did it take you to complete the program? 5 days

Certification or Certificate Offered – Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)

Delivery of Program – In-person

Books & Materials Required – The Pocket Guide for Lactation Management by Karin Cadwell, 2nd edition (can be purchased on Amazon from about $25-$35).

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – About $650 total with class and book.

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 45 Nursing contact hours, L-CERPs, CPEs; 4.5 CEUs for CNMs

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement? Yes, partial (45 hours)

What did you like about the program?

  • After this course, I had a much better understanding of the process of milk production and a pretty good handle on how to get breastfeeding off to a good start.

What did you dislike about the program?

  • The class focused a LOT on what the latch *looks* like, but of course it matters much more what it feels like than what it looks like.
  • They do not teach reverse pressure softening technique.
  • They are not clear on what a CLC’s scope of practice should be.
  • The didactic portion of the course includes a ton of info on breastfeeding immediately after birth and in the first days/hours, but then the role-playing practice portion tackles problems that occur later in the nursing relationship that they have not exactly trained their students to handle.

What would you change about the program?

  • Make it much clearer what a CLC’s Scope of Practice (SOP).
  • Update some things, make sure everything is up-to-date and evidence-based.

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program?

If you can take a week off work, you can do this course.

Would you recommend this program to others?

Yes and no. I believe this program is a fantastic place to start for RN/LPNs who work in labor/delivery/postpartum/newborn nursery as well as outpatient nurses from OBGYN and pediatric offices. Nurses in those settings really need this info. For people wanting to provide solo support to breastfeeding mothers via a private practice or other route, this is not the right education for you.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again? 

I’m not sure, honestly. Probably not. I would probably have been more inclined to do the Breastfeeding Specialist credential (the full 90 hours online) from Lactation Education Resources (LER) or the 90 hour Comprehensive Lactation Course from Breastfeeding Outlook.

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals?

Yes. I learned a lot and really did enjoy it. It also was the push my employer needed to allow me to spend more time with breastfeeding dyads, which I need for my clinical hours toward IBCLC.

Additional Comments/Concerns?

My biggest concern with this course is that I don’t think they are clear with students about what their limitations are after receiving this education. I see so many women finish the CLC course and then immediately start a private practice when they do not yet have the tools in their toolbox that they’ll need to truly support moms and babies. The majority of what is taught is identifying whether something is within expected limits or not, but not much is taught about managing things when they are not within expected limits, and someone who is going to take on a private practice needs to know how to manage a wide variety of problems.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify? My CLC credential lasts is good for 3 years. Recertification takes 18 hours of continuing education.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or online via Google Forms here.

**Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Galactablog. It’s also important to note that these views are not the only source of information about this particular lactation training program. See here for similar Lactation Training Programs. If you’re interested in Lactation Training Programs that offer a clinical practice component, see here.

Lactation Program Review: ASU Lactation Educator Course

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Lactation Program Review: 

Lactation: Educator Course via Arizona State University (ASU)

By Ashley Barrett

October 27, 2015

What year were you enrolled in program? August-September 2015

How long did it take you to complete the program? It’s a 6 week course. I actually finished it in 4 weeks but I wasn’t allowed to take the final exam until the final week.

Certification or Certificate Offered – Lactation Educator Certificate is awarded at end of course upon completion.

Delivery of Program – Completely online. See here for dates of course offerings.

Books & Materials Required – The textbook Breastfeeding and Human Lactation by Karen Wambach and Jan Riordan, which currently costs between $115-144 on Amazon.

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $325 for 1-3 people from same agency. Price goes down to $300 for 4-10 people from same agency. Cost for ASU students is $125.

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 58 Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) contact hours & CERPs. Course is LEAARC approved.

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement?

Yes – partially (58 hours).

If yes, how many hours of lactation specific training are counted for the IBCLC exam?

58 hours are counted towards the 90 hour lactation education IBCLC exam requirement.

What did you like about the program?

  • The program seemed to be pretty up to date.
  • The material was interesting.
  • The assignments were practical to what I would be doing.
  • It looks like the negatives below outweigh the positives but I seriously really liked this course and would highly recommend it.

What did you dislike about the program?

  • There wasn’t any ability to interact with the other students who were also taking the course (outside of the written introduction most of us posted).
  • I also didn’t like that the course specifically said in the first module that if something unexpected came up, you could finish the course early but not after the deadline – but that isn’t true. I had a cross country move come during the course and I wasn’t able to take the final exam early. It would have been nice to have it out of the way before that insane week came (which when I registered and even started the class we didn’t know we would be moving but knew it was a slight possibility).
  • The other annoying thing that was a big issue for me was that we were only allowed to open one module at a time. This means that you can’t see what the next assignments are and you can’t see anything (topic, handouts, assignments, etc.) for the next module until you have submitted the assignment or quiz.
  • There were a lot of computer issues with Blackboard (which the course is hosted on) the first 3 weeks, but fortunately I knew which modules had assignments and I had a reading list because many students were’t able to access any of the videos for the course.
  • Some of the assignments require that you meet in person with a mom. This was hard for me to schedule with someone else in order for me to go on to the next module’s reading and lectures. So do be aware of that signing up.

What would you change about the program?

  • Having full access to all of the assignment information and reading list from the beginning in order to help me plan and allocate my time.
  • Have an open forum to be able to interact with the other students. I know this is a possibility on Blackboard having done online University courses before.
  • Not having to have 100% on every quiz to move on. The way the course is set up is that you can’t move on to the next module until you get 100% on the quiz. If you don’t get 100%, you have to keep retaking the quiz until you reach 100% and only then can you move on to the next module.

How time-consuming and/or rigorous did you find the program?

  • I am a homeschooling mother of 3 and work at home very part-time. I was also preparing for a cross country move for a good portion of the course. My husband defended his PhD thesis, we had two weeks of house guests, and I had to wrap up loose ends before moving as a volunteer with many hats.
  • It was doable but did take some planning and setting aside time for it.
  • I don’t think I could have done my childrens’ full school days and managed all of the household and everything else all at the same time and have done well in the course. It’s a pass/fail except for the final though.

Would you recommend this program to others? 

  • Yes, it’s not super dry. The lectures aren’t horrible to watch. I enjoyed listening to different lecturers each time.
  • Print of the slides to take notes and be prepared for voice-overed slides.
  • I really enjoyed most of the assignments and think that they will help me be an awesome lactation consultant after taking the exam.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again?  Yes.

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals?

Yes. I think that this course helped prepare me for the IBCLC exam (I hope!).

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? No

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

See here for more program details along with comparison of similar Lactation Training Programs.

Lactation Program Review: UCSD Lactation Educator Counselor (CLEC) Training Program

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Lactation Program Review: 

UCSD Lactation Educator Counselor Training Program 

with Lactation Educator Counselor Certificate  

By Anonymous

October 19, 2015

How long did it take you to complete the program? About 1 month.

When did you take the course? April 2014.

Certification or Certificate Offered – At end of course, students are “Certificated Lactation Educator Counselors,” or CLECs.

Delivery of Program – I did the combination course (online and in-person) but there is an completely online option available as well. You can find dates and the delivery medium here of available classes here and read more about the program here.

Books & Materials Required – The textbook Breastfeeding and Human Lactation by Karen Wambach and Jan Riordan, which costs between $115-144 on Amazon right now.

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $625 (for course) + $115-144 (book) = $740-$769 total.

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 45 L-CERPs, 4 CE units in Reproductive Medicine BRN/RD: 45 CE hrs. BRN

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement?

Yes – partially (45 hours).

If yes, how many hours of lactation specific training are counted for the IBCLC exam?

45 hours are counted towards the 90 hour lactation education IBCLC exam requirement.

Trainer: Ginni Baker

What did you like about the program?

  • Gini Baker is amazing! Great public speaker, amazing stories she brought to the course.
  • I highly recommend the combination course-both in person and online certification.

What did you dislike about the program? That I didn’t find it sooner!

What would you change about the program? More courses offered in the Bay Area.

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program?

If you are organized both at work and at home, you can do this. The homework requires a minimum of 1-2 hours of quiet time to work per session.

Would you recommend this program to others? 

Yes. Because it’s real talk. And lastly, to me personally, the name of University California San Diego Extension sounds more professional.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again?  Absolutely!

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals?

Yes. It helped me to get a job with WIC. In my case, it helped me obtain more credentials as a postpartum doula. The certification is beneficial to doulas as well.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify?

The “Certified Lactation Educator Counselor” certificate is good for 5 years, after which, one needs to take the “Refresher Lactation Educator” course.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

See here for more program details along with comparison of similar Lactation Training Programs.

Lactation Program Review: Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) Training through CAPPA

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Lactation Program Review: 

Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) Training Program

through  CAPPA Academy

 Reviewer: Anonymous

        October 15, 2015

How long did it take you to complete the program?  3 months (accelerated program)

What year did you complete the program? 2014

Certification or Certificate Offered – Certified Lactation Educator (CLE)

See Scope of practice for a Certified Lactation Educator (CLE)

Delivery of Program – Combination of an in-person 20 hour Lactation Educator Training over a period of 3 days + certification requirements via CAPPA Academy (now completely online). CAPPA now has traditional, distance and accelerated options for those wishing to certify. See here for details.

CAPPA’s current Lactation Educator Training locations, times and dates

Books & Materials Required – The initial three-day training provided a manual and handouts that corresponded with the PowerPoint. After taking the 20 Hour Course, individuals who certify are required to read the manual (provided) and four additional books from this list and one of the following texts in its latest edition: Hale and Hartmann’s Textbook of Human Lactation OR Jan Riordan’s Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (preferred textbook).

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $400 (early bird) + $55 CAPPA Membership + $35 Hug Your Baby +$175 CAPPA Academy = $665 + cost of 5 additional books. Fortunately for me, my employer paid for the course.

If you don’t want to be certified and just want to take CAPPA’s 20 hour Lactation Educator Training, then you just pay the cost of the 3 day workshop (usually around $400) and all other materials are provided for free.

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 21.5 L-CERPs (guaranteed through 2015).

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement?

Yes, partial (21.25 hours).

If yes, how many hours of lactation specific training are counted for the IBCLC exam?

It counts for 21.25 hours towards the 90 hour IBCLC exam lactation education requirement.

What did you like about the program?

  • Supportive.
  • Good start before diving deeper into IBCLC training.
  • Good basic training for the floor nurse.

What did you dislike about the program?

This program did not always use strong evidence-based practice and interpretation of studies.

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program? Very easy!

Would you recommend this program to others?

Yes, but not as a stopping point. What the CLE knows is nowhere as deep as what the IBCLC has to know.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again? 

Yes. I needed to complete CAPPA Lactation Educator program for my job.

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals?

Yes. I went on to test for my IBCLC credentials and changed my field of expertise in nursing.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify? Yes, my CLE credential is good for 3 years. I need 15 CERPs to recertify – all of which can be earned at the annual conference, which is FREE to all CAPPA members. You can read more on CAPPA’s recertification process here.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

**Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Galactablog. It’s also important to note that these views are not the only source of information about this particular lactation training program. See here for more program details on CAPPA, along with comparison of similar Lactation Training Programs. If you’re interested in Lactation Training Programs that offer a clinical practice component, see here.

 

Lactation Program Review: ASU Lactation Educator Course

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Lactation Program Review: 

Lactation: Educator Course via Arizona State University (ASU)

By Bridget Abramson

October 12, 2015

What year were you enrolled in program? 2014-2015

How long did it take you to complete the program? 6 weeks

Certification or Certificate Offered – Lactation Educator Certificate is awarded at end of course.

Delivery of Program – Completely online. See here for dates of course offerings.

Books & Materials Required – The textbook Breastfeeding and Human Lactation by Karen Wambach and Jan Riordan, which currently costs between $115-144 on Amazon.

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $325 for 1-3 people from same agency. Price goes down to $300 for 4-10 people from same agency. Cost for ASU students is $125.

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 58 Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) contact hours & CERPs. Course is LEAARC approved.

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement?

Yes – partially (58 hours).

If yes, how many hours of lactation specific training are counted for the IBCLC exam?

58 hours are counted towards the 90 hour lactation education IBCLC exam requirement.

What did you like about the program?

  • I learned up-to-date information that I frequently use when working with breastfeeding moms and babies.
  • The activities were helpful for learning the material and you are given more than one chance to pass the quizzes.
  • It is self-paced, so you can decide when to complete assignments.

What did you dislike about the program?

  • There is a large amount of reading. It’s all good information, but can take some time to get through.

What would you change about the program?

A few extra weeks would be helpful to have time to complete the reading assignments.

How time-consuming and/or rigorous did you find the program?

You can complete it with a full-time job or family.  You do need to be self-disciplined to make sure that you get through all the assignments in the 6 week time-frame.

Would you recommend this program to others? 

Definitely. The lectures our interesting and have valuable information that you can actually use.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again?  I wish they had more classes!

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals?

Yes! After taking the courses, I feel more confident to work with breastfeeding moms and babies.

Any additional comments? The courses really helped me prepare for the IBCLC exam.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? No

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

See here for more program details along with comparison of similar Lactation Training Programs.

Lactation Program Review: Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) Training through CAPPA

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Lactation Program Review: 

Certified Lactation Educator (CLE) Training Program

through  CAPPA Academy

 Reviewer: Kay Miller

        October 5, 2015

How long did it take you to complete the program? ~2 months (accelerated program)

What year did you complete the program? 2010

Certification or Certificate Offered – Certified Lactation Educator (CLE)

Scope of practice for a Certified Lactation Educator (CLE)

Delivery of Program – Combination of an in-person 20 hour Lactation Educator Training over a period of 3 days + certification requirements via CAPPA Academy (now completely online). CAPPA now has traditional, distance and accelerated options for those wishing to certify. See here for details.

CAPPA’s current Lactation Educator Training locations, times and dates

Books & Materials Required – The initial three-day training provided a manual and handouts that corresponded with the PowerPoint. After taking the 20 Hour Course, individuals who certify are required to read the manual (provided) and four additional books from this list and one of the following texts in its latest edition: Hale and Hartmann’s Textbook of Human Lactation OR Jan Riordan’s Breastfeeding and Human Lactation (preferred textbook).

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $400 (early bird) + $55 CAPPA Membership + $35 Hug Your Baby +$175 CAPPA Academy = $665 + cost of 5 additional books.

If you don’t want to be certified and just want to take CAPPA’s 20 hour Lactation Educator Training, then you just pay the cost of the 3 day workshop (usually around $400) and all other materials are provided for free.

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 21.5 L-CERPs (guaranteed through 2015).

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement?

Yes, partial (21.25 hours).

If yes, how many hours of lactation specific training are counted for the IBCLC exam?

It counts for 21.25 hours towards the 90 hour IBCLC exam lactation education requirement.

Name of trainer(s): Laurel Wilson

What did you like about the program?

  • I greatly appreciated that the program was comprehensive, current, and evidence based.
  • I appreciated the emphasis on continuing education. I appreciated Laurel being approachable and available to me even after the initial 3-day workshop was over.
  • I loved that the class wasn’t just lecture; there were also various activities, role playing, and practice time incorporated in to the workshop.
  • After completing the full certification process, I feel that I had a very well-rounded foundation, and was excited to continue my education in the lactation field.

What did you dislike about the program?

When I completed the program, it was all in paper format. CAPPA has since gone to a partial online format with CAPPA Academy which streamlines the process and offers great benefits to the certification candidates.

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program?

When I was completing the program, I was working two jobs and homeschooling my two children. I am also a single mother. I was able to carve out time to work on the program requirements, and completed the program in 2 months (accelerated version), but did have up to two years to complete it. While the program does take time, effort, and energy, it can be done, and with the quality of education you receive, it is well worth it!

Would you recommend this program to others?

Absolutely! It is a great way for those just entering the lactation field, those desiring to continue their education, and/or those wishing to enhance services already being offered to patients/clients. I would recommend the course to anyone working with breastfeeding families.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again? 

Yes! I have referred many to the CAPPA Lactation Educator program. I actually took Laurel’s workshop again in 2011 because I enjoyed it so much.

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals?

Yes, I do. I have been able to serve many families by teaching classes both privately and in hospital, birth center, and other settings. It has also served as a stepping stone in my goal of becoming an IBCLC (planning to sit for the IBLCE exam in 2016).

Additional Comments?

I enjoyed the program so much that in 2011, I decided to join CAPPA’s faculty, and I have been teaching the CAPPA Lactation Educator workshops here in the US ever since.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify? Yes, my CLE credential is good for 3 years. I need 15 CERPs to recertify – all of which can be earned at the annual conference, which is FREE to all CAPPA members. You can read more on CAPPA’s recertification process here.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

**Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Galactablog. It’s also important to note that these views are not the only source of information about this particular lactation training program. See here for more program details on CAPPA, along with comparison of similar Lactation Training Programs. If you’re interested in Lactation Training Programs that offer a clinical practice component, see here.

Lactation Program Review: Health-e Learning’s BreastEd Lactation Studies Program

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Lactation Program Review: 

Health-e Learning’s

BreastEd Lactation Studies Program

Reviewer: Kay Miller

June 5, 2015

Year enrolled in Program: 2014

How long did it take you to complete the program? ~12 hours per course (120 hours total), plus additional time for reading/additional study.

Delivery of Program – Completely online

Certification or Certificate Offered? Certificates are provided after the completion of each of the 10 courses; but there is no “certification” given

Name of Instructor – Various instructors available for questions/discussion.

Books & Materials Required – From the Health-e-Learning site: “All reading material is included in the courses or links to helpful websites are provided. We encourage you to purchase a good quality lactation text and perhaps consider adding a new book to your collection each year.”

Reading resource list for the courses: https://www.health-e-learning.com/en/support/faqs/22/175
(note that there are more updated versions for some of the textbooks on that listing!)

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $1,250.00 for full 10 courses if purchased at the same time. The cost is $129 per class if you decide to purchase individually (for cost of $1,290)

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 120 total CERPS offered (12 per each of the 10 courses). Also offers contact hours via the California Board of Nursing.

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement?

Yes, it meets the full 90 hour IBCLC lactation education requirement and goes beyond by offering 120 hours if you take all of the 10 courses. If you take courses individually, you gain 12 hours per course.

What did you like about the program?

  • While I do prefer in-person workshops, that just wasn’t an option for me at this time due to financial and scheduling constraints. I appreciated being able to complete this program completely online.
  • I liked that I could enter and exit the course freely, and it would save where I left off. This made it easy for me to have the freedom to work in just 15 minute increments when I didn’t have much time, but longer periods when I was able to do so.
  • There were facilitators and message boards for each course that the learner could take advantage of for questions and discussion throughout the course.
  • I liked the study guides that were provided for each course.
  • I liked being able to fully print the courses so I could have a hard copy to highlight and make notes in, as well as use to study when I didn’t have internet access. I can also use those to study with and re-read after my subscription to the courses has expired.
  • I appreciated the more “global” perspective, vs just learning the US version of various topics.
  • I appreciated the links to various studies and other sources to continue learning on topics discussed in the courses.
  • Your access to the courses is cumulative. If you order all 10 courses at once, you get a full year of access. If you need to purchase them individually, you have as many months to access them as the number of courses you purchase.
  • If you need more time, purchasing longer access is inexpensive, and applies to all the courses at once.
  • There was immediate feedback on the various quizzes and tests in the courses, which helps the learner know areas they need to refresh their knowledge/understanding of.
  • The courses had activities sprinkled throughout–quizzes (not for a formal grade), cross word puzzles, matching activities, etc.
  • Health-e-Learning admins also send emails at various intervals to check in with the learner and to see if there are questions/concerns.

What did you dislike about the program?

  • It was all slides and reading–no video components. I wish they would have some video teaching by various instructors to break it up and keep the learner more interested and engaged.
  • I was able to access the courses via my iPad, but not all of the features were supported on it, so I would have to switch over to my laptop to complete those portions or save them for later.
  • Also, while I understand that the information in the lactation world is constantly changing and updating and therefore difficult to stay on top of, some of the information in the courses was outdated.

What would you change about the program?

  • The things I mentioned above as not liking: add in video components, make it fully accessible via mobile devices, update more frequently so that the information is as current as possible.

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program?

I am a single mom of two, homeschool my children, and work 2+ jobs of varying hours, and was able to work this program in to my hectic schedule. Because of the flexibility of being able to do short or long periods of time in the program at at time, and it being fully online, I think that this program is very easily incorporated in to a busy life. As with anything, you do have to actually MAKE the time to work on it, sometimes being creative with how you do so.

Would you recommend this program to others? 

Yes, especially to those unable to travel to in-person workshops. I feel that while some information was outdated, much of it was good. It is a great way to complete the required lactation specific hours for the IBLCE exam requirements, and a great learning opportunity even if that is not your ultimate goal.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again? 

Yes, I would take this program again. However, I would also like to take other online courses with various components to round out my learning as well.

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals?

Yes – it provided the education and required hours for the IBLCE exam preparation, in an easy to use and easy to access manner.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify? N/A – this is not a certification program and there was no credential given.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

**Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Galactablog. It’s important to note that these views are not the only source of information about this particular lactation training program.

Lactation Program Review: LEC’s Lactation Specialist Certification Course

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Lactation Program Review: 

LEC Lactation Specialist Certification Course

Though Lactation Education Consultants (LEC)

Reviewer: Janice 

April 16, 2015

Year enrolled in Program: 2015

How long did it take you to complete the program?  1 week

Certification or Certificate Offered – Certified Lactation Specialist

Delivery of Program – In-person (see here for rotating locations of training)

See here for Topical Outline of Certification Course

Name of Instructor(s) – Jan Barger, Linda Kutner & Carol Peterson

Books & Materials Required – The textbook Counseling the Nursing Mother was recommended, but not required. A 730 page notebook was given to each participant. This resource manual included all the classroom PowerPoint presentations along with additional resources and an excellent reference section. A 730 page notebook was given to each participant. This resource manual included all the classroom PowerPoint presentations along with additional resources and an excellent reference section.

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $770.00, $720.00 (early bird)

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 45 CERPs,  45 Nursing CEUs through the State of California Board of Registered Nursing

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement?

Yes, as it provides 45 hours, it meets half of the 90 hour IBCLC lactation education requirement.

What did you like about the program?

  • The LEC Certified Lactation Specialist Course is designed to prepare the participant for the IBCLE Exam so all areas of lactation management are addressed.
  • The speakers have a wealth of practical knowledge as well as dynamic and thorough presentation of their topics.
  • I really enjoyed the ability to ask questions, and I made several new friends from around the country.

What would you change about the program? Absolutely nothing!

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program?

  • Because the course was presented over the course of one week, I was able to focus totally on the information presented.
  • Although the end of the week exam was challenging, I felt well prepared.

Would you recommend this program to others? 

  • I definitely recommend this course to others.
  • I have already seen advantages to becoming a CLS in my place of employment.
  • As a hospital RNC-OB, I use what I’ve learned in my daily practice.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again? Absolutely!

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals? Yes. I am now considered one of our unit’s lactation staff, and soon will be assisting with prenatal breastfeeding classes.

Any additional comments you would like to add? Thank you, Jan, Linda, and Carol. You are an inspiration.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify? Yes, every 5 years. Recertification can be done online.

Did you know that LEC offers other lactation training programs as well? See here for other courses and programs available.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

**Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Galactablog. It’s important to note that these views are not the only source of information about this particular lactation training program.

Lactation Program Review: Lactation Education Resources (LER) Lactation Consultant Training Program & Breastfeeding Specialist Certificate

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LERLactation Program Review: 

Lactation Education Resources‘ (LER)

Lactation Consultant Training Program

with Breastfeeding Specialist Certificate 

Reviewer: Jennifer Black Piszcz

March 23, 2015

Year enrolled in Program: 2014

How long did it take you to complete the program? 2.5 months

Certification or Certificate Offered – Breastfeeding Specialist certificate

Delivery of Program – Completely online

Books & Materials Required – Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, 5th Ed 

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $895 + book = $1,000

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 90 L-CERPs, 90 Nursing Contact Hours and 90 CPE Level II.

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement? Yes, it meets the full 90 hour IBCLC lactation education requirement.

What did you like about the program?

  • The program was very well laid out.
  • It was easy to do at your own pace and to stop and start where you left out.
  • Very user-friendly.
  • Good customer service.
  • Very informative.

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program?

I am a single mom with 4 kids. I am also in school full-time finishing my associates degree and I finished the entire 90 hour program in less than 3 months.

Would you recommend this program to others? Yes! For the very reasons I mentioned above.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again? Yes, I loved being able to get all my hours in one place.

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals? Yes

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify? No, we don’t have to recertify. The Breastfeeding Certificate offered through LER is valid for 5 years.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or directly online via Google Forms here.

See here for more information on LER’s lactation training programs, along with comparison of similar lactation training programs.

**Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Galactablog. It’s important to note that these views are not the only source of information about this particular lactation training program.

Lactation Program Review: Lactation Education Resources’ (LER) Lactation Consultant Training Program & Breastfeeding Specialist Certificate

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Lactation Program Review: 

Lactation Education Resources‘ (LER)

Lactation Consultant Training Program

with Breastfeeding Specialist Certificate 

Reviewer: Dianna Castillo

February 22, 2015

Year enrolled in Program: 2013-2014

How long did it take you to complete the program? I completed the program in 6 months (but LER gives you 1 year to finish)

Certification or Certificate Offered – Breastfeeding Specialist certificate

Delivery of Program – Completely online

Name of Instructor – Vergie Hughes

Books & Materials Required – The textbook Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, 5th Ed is required by LER.

Cost of Program (Including books, materials, application fees, etc.) – $895 + book, so about $1,000

# of L-CERPs, Nursing Contact Hours, CEUs, CPEs, etc. offered – 90 L-CERPs, 90 Nursing Contact Hours and 90 CPE Level II.

Do this program’s hours meet partial or full requirements for the IBCLC exam’s lactation specific training requirement? Yes, it meets the full 90 hour IBCLC lactation education requirement.

What did you like about the program?

  • The course covered almost everything I needed.
  • I was able to listen to the lectures several times to catch things I may have missed the first time.
  • I also printed the power points with the lecture slides to look over the material and take notes while listening to the lectures.

How rigorous/time consuming did you find the program?

I have a full time job as an RN and a family.  Looking back, I realized I waited too long to get started.  I should have given myself the full year that LER allows. I was cramming at 6 months considering my busy schedule.

Would you recommend this program to others?  Yes.  It is a wonderful program.  It prepared me very well.

Knowing what you know now, would you take this program again? Yes, definitely!

Do you feel the course and/or certification helped you obtain your goals? Yes.  Everything was easily accessed from the Internet right from the program.

Does your program/credential require you to recertify? If so, how long does the credential last and what is required to recertify? No, we don’t have to recertify. The Breastfeeding Specialist Certificate granted by LER is good for 5 years.

Would you like to write a review of a Lactation Training Program that you’ve taken? If so, don’t be shy! You can access the review form directly from Galactablog. Or online via Google Forms here.

See here for more information on LER’s lactation training programs, along with comparison of similar lactation training programs.

**Disclaimer – The views and opinions expressed in this review are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Galactablog. It’s important to note that these views are not the only source of information about this particular lactation training program.