The International Breastfeeding Centre’s Centre for Breastfeeding Education provides the Lactation Medicine Program. The program offers high quality lactation education made up of a theoretical component and an optional practical component.
Our faculty consists of a multi-disciplinary team, specialized in their respective areas of lactation medicine. We welcome students from Midwifery, Nursing, Dietetics, Nutrition, Naturopathic Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and many other health science disciplines. We prepare students 
to write the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) exam to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Our training also provides continuing education for IBCLCs and other health professionals.
The Centre for Breastfeeding Education is an IBLCE long-term provider of Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) and our courses are approved by the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC).
*Courses (Online Study Modules)
All courses are provided as self-paced Online Study Modules, including a recorded webinar video lecture, lecture notes, relevant journal articles and documents, quiz and certificate. Modules are available individually and are accessible all year round and do not expire. CERPs (including L-, R-, and E-CERPs) and Lactation Education Hours are available for each course. In total, the courses provide more than 90 Lactation Education Hours.
*Complete Lactation Medicine Program
The complete program includes all Online Study Modules as well as Clinical Training. The Complete Lactation Medicine Program prepares students to write the IBLCE exam to become certified as an IBCLC.
IBLCE’s Pathway 3 is available at the Centre for Breastfeeding Education.
Click here for detailed information from IBLCE regarding pre-qualification for IBCLC certification.
A critical element of our Lactation Medicine Program is the clinical component held at the International Breastfeeding Centre’s Newman Breastfeeding Clinic under supervision of our faculty and staff. Students are required to commit to a minimum of 2 clinic shifts and a maximum of 3 clinic shifts per week. You are required to complete 500+ hours to complete the program. Clinical Training is usually completed within 18 months.
There are typically three intakes for Clinical Training throughout the year (January, May and September). The number of spaces available are limited, so it is recommended that you apply well in advance of your intended start date.
To apply for Clinical Training, you must schedule an observation at the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic, complete a Clinical Training application form, and attend a Clinical Training interview.
All Online Study Modules and all IBLCE pre-requisites (if not already a Recognised Health Professional) must be completed before starting Clinical Training.
Registration & Fees*:
Immediately Access Online Courses and Print Your Own Certificate – Click Here to access our courses.
Fee is $60.00 per course.
Complete Lactation Medicine Program (Online Study Modules + Clinical Training) tuition fee:
The online modules, are paid individually + $6450.00 (Pathway 3) for Clinical Training.
Please note that this fee covers Clinical Training for a maximum of 18 months. If students are unable to complete the practical requirements during those 18 months, they will be required to pay $200 for every additional month required until completion.
Tuition fees are payable in installments throughout the course of your training.
To apply for the Clinical Training Component of our Lactation Medicine Program:
Please email education@ibconline.ca to be added to the interview waitlist.
Refund Policy:
Once an Online Study Module is started, no refund will be issued. If a Module has not yet started, no charges will be incurred.
Once Clinical Training begins, no refunds will be issued.
Support ibc!
Thank you for your interest in supporting the International Breastfeeding Centre (ibc). Your support helps ibc continue to offer the services for which it has become renowned… empowering mothers to achieve their own breastfeeding goals. Your support also helps ibc bring a variety of education services to your community.
Individual donations represent the single largest source of support for ibc. Thank you!
For a charitable tax receipt please make your donations online at canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org.
Please direct your donation (Fund/Designation) to ibc – The International Breastfeeding Centre