How to Become a Certified Lactation Nurse

A certified lactation nurse helps counsel parents in all things breastfeeding. For patients who are struggling with low milk supply, pain, or infant nutrition issues, these professionals are a lifeline. If you enjoy patient education, supporting families, and putting people at ease, you might be a great fit for this role. Learn more about becoming a lactation nurse.

Breastfeeding is a key public health measure that benefits infants (as well as mothers) and their development. But while it’s recommended, breastfeeding can often be challenging in practice. Many families can’t breastfeed for as long as they intend to, and there are major disparities in breastfeeding between ethnicity and race.

Lactation counselors and nurses assist families in the journey of breastfeeding, working in the following settings:

• Hospital birthing units
• Stand-alone birthing centers
• Pediatric clinics
• OB-GYN and midwifery practices
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs
• Private practices
• Community health centers
• Telehealth providers
• Breastfeeding support groups and nonprofits

What Is a Certified Lactation Nurse and What Do They Do?

Lactation nurses and consultants serve as expert coaches for mothers and families as they navigate breastfeeding in the first years of their infants’ lives. In the first hours after birth, a lactation counselor may assist in skin-to-skin facilitation and latching. Families may seek support from lactation consultants for issues like difficulty feeding, nipple pain, and troubleshooting.

These are some responsibilities of this role:

• Assess the breastfeeding (also called chestfeeding or bodyfeeding) dyad of mother and infant.
• Educate families on breast pumps or expressing milk by hand.
• Conduct prenatal and postnatal education in nutrition, schedules, and weaning.
• Coordinate and manage care between other nurses, speech-language pathologists, neonatologists, and others.
• Evaluate patients’ responses to care and education.
• Accurately document assessment findings, interventions, and responses.

Essential Skills in a Certified Lactation Nurse

• Sensitivity: This role requires serving patients of various cultural, religious, and economic backgrounds during a time that is turbulent for many families.
• Communication: Consultants must explain feeding techniques and complex concepts in simple, reassuring language that families can understand and act on.
• Emotional support: Many families experience stress, guilt, or frustration related to infant feeding. A lactation consultant must offer empathy and encouragement without judgment.
• Patience: Feeding issues can be slow to resolve, and parents may need repeated support over multiple visits or calls.

Lactation Nurse Salary

The average lactation consultant salary is about $112,000 per year. Many professionals in this role earn more or less than this amount. You can boost your earning potential by pursuing certification, gaining experience, and relocating to an area with higher pay.

How to Become a Lactation Nurse: 4 Steps

How long does it take to become a lactation consultant nurse? Completing the training and education requirements for this role takes at least two years, and often more. If you’re already a nurse, you may be able to begin lactation-specific training in just a few months.

Step 1: Nursing School

To become a lactation nurse, you’ll first need to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or registered nurse (RN). LPN training takes as little as a year and is a faster way to enter the profession. If you want a broader scope of practice, you’ll need either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Learn more about choosing between LPN vs. RN credentials.

During nursing school, you’ll take classes in women’s health, pediatric care, and much more. You’ll also take part in clinical placements, and depending on your school, this may include a rotation in neonatal or birthing care. Nursing school helps you build the foundational knowledge to serve patients, but many of the specialty skills in this role are learned after graduation.

Step 2: Licensure

After graduating from nursing school, you’ll need to pass the NCLEX exam to become licensed in your state. This standardized test is designed to assess whether newly graduated nurses have the essential knowledge to practice nursing at the entry level. LPNs will take the NCLEX-PN, while RNs will take the NCLEX-RN.

Depending on your area, there may be an additional license application process, including a background check, a fee, and submitting your college transcripts. Once you’re licensed, it’s up to you to maintain your credentials through licensure renewals.

Step 3: Gain Experience

Once licensed, you can begin working in clinical settings where lactation care is part of your role, such as labor and delivery, pediatric clinics, or public health departments. Most certifications require hands-on experience working with breastfeeding families, so make this a goal as you build your nursing career. You may also consider pursuing certified lactation nurse training for a more formalized education.

Step 4: Become a Certified Lactation Nurse

To advance your career, choose a lactation certification that aligns with your experience and goals. There’s more than one breastfeeding certification for nurses and lactation counselors. See a few of the most popular certifications below:

• Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC): Offered by a range of training programs, the CBC is an entry-level certification equipping counselors with basic skills to support breastfeeding families.
• Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC): Offered by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP), CLC is for professionals who want foundational training. CLCs can assist with common breastfeeding issues and provide evidence-based counseling.
• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC certification): Administered by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE), this credential is offered to professionals who are considered clinical experts in lactation.
• Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultant (ANLC): Also provided by the ALPP, ANLC is the only breastfeeding credential designed specifically for nurses who hold CLC or IBCLC.

Lactation Nursing FAQ

Do you have to be a nurse to be a lactation counselor?

No. A certified lactation nurse may also be called a lactation or breastfeeding counselor, but other professionals can become certified in this role as well. These include:

• Doulas
• Nutritionists
• Dietitians
• Midwives
• Physicians
• Social workers
• Public health workers
• Public administrators

What’s the difference between CLC and IBCLC certifications?

CLC is a more basic credential that shows a foundational level of knowledge, while IBCLC is an advanced credential that shows expertise in lactation care.

Find Roles as a Certified Lactation Nurse

Whether you’re a nurse pursuing a career in lactation consulting or elsewhere, IntelyCare can help you find your next role. Our personalized job notifications bring the right roles to your inbox. Learn more today.