I am currently a pre-nursing student hoping to get my RN license in 2013 and I also want to start a pathway to qualify for the IBCLC exam so that when I get my RN license I will hopefully be IBCLC also. I am going to ask about the WIC peer counseling to gain my hours but I will also ask around about having a mentor. I have kind of heard you should pay for these mentorships? - How does that work? Does anyone have this experience? And I'm sure it's the wrong attitude but I feel like a burden following someone around for 1-2 years, even though I will be loving every minute of it I'm sure.
What pathway did you go about and how many hours/year are you getting in?
I'm working toward becoming an IBCLC, but I think it sounds like it's going to be a loooong road. You have to have all requirements done before even applying, and I think you have to apply long before you take the test! And they're adding ed. hours for 2012, and that will be the soonest I'll qualify. I think it's basically college courses you have to take though, so I should be ok, I think.
I'm currently an LPN, finishing up my coreqs for RN this semester, and hopefully will have my ASN Dec. of 2011. OB nursing is my passion, and that's why I want to go back to school to become an RN. I'm also breastfeeding my third baby right now and work as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, so I hope I'm on the right track. It just seems to be such a long list of ever-changing requirements to become an IBCLC!
I'm enrolled in a program that will allow me to sit for the IBCLC exam in 2011. I absolutely love it, I come home from breastfeeding clinical so happy. It can be really frustrating at times, but it makes me happy being able to help moms and babies get a great start to breastfeeding, reassure moms, and solve breastfeeding issues. I'm going to take any RN job I can get when I graduate (would prefer L&D) and do Lactation Consulting on the side until I can enroll in midwifery school.
this may be a "stupid" question, but i can't find any place in my area to be able to take the classes, is there a way i can do it online? (cant find that info on the IBCLC site) I am also wanting to become a certified childbirth educator, would this be worth the cost of the coorifice, i want to specialize in L&D when i get out of school (i also recently had a VBAC and it was the most IMPOWERING experiance in my life, and would LOVE to help other women wanting a VBAC (or just a normal lady partsl delivery) achieve their goals! but can't find a the classes and what not that i need in my area...
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
this may be a "stupid" question, but i can't find any place in my area to be able to take the classes, is there a way i can do it online? (cant find that info on the IBCLC site) I am also wanting to become a certified childbirth educator, would this be worth the cost of the coorifice, i want to specialize in L&D when i get out of school (i also recently had a VBAC and it was the most IMPOWERING experiance in my life, and would LOVE to help other women wanting a VBAC (or just a normal lady partsl delivery) achieve their goals! but can't find a the classes and what not that i need in my area...
If you're asking about what you need to get your IBCLC certification, you cannot do all of it online. A HUGE part of qualifying for the exam is consultancy hours, which must be done in person, helping moms with breastfeeding.
Most (possibly all) of the health courses and breastfeeding-specific education can be done online (I did much of mine through Health E-Learning/BreastEd).
If you're asking about what you need to get your IBCLC certification, you cannot do all of it online. A HUGE part of qualifying for the exam is consultancy hours, which must be done in person, helping moms with breastfeeding.
Most (possibly all) of the health courses and breastfeeding-specific education can be done online (I did much of mine through Health E-Learning/BreastEd).
right, but can i do the "book work" so to speak online? or does that have to be done "in person"? I've been thinking of places around here (our hospital is small and not many babies are born here) to get my hours in...
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
right, but can i do the "book work" so to speak online? or does that have to be done "in person"? I've been thinking of places around here (our hospital is small and not many babies are born here) to get my hours in...
oh didn't see that...lol sorry....(i'm having a tough time these days, husband decided he wants a divorce after 9 yrs, so i'm kinda scatter brained these days, trying to figure out what i'm giont to do before i get into (then out) of school)
right, but can i do the "book work" so to speak online? or does that have to be done "in person"? I've been thinking of places around here (our hospital is small and not many babies are born here) to get my hours in...
Great info everyone. I sooo wish I lived in CA so I could take the LC program. But MN is a long ways away. Maybe I can convince hubby and baby to move there for a year? :)
Is there anywhere anyone knows of that gives a formula for turning actual clinical hours to hours for eligibility for the exam?
I.e., I am a NICU nurse. I work 1000 hrs/yr. (example) What percent of that can be used for experience hours?
I am really having a hard time with finding this on the IBCL site. I looked around the site posted by birth revolution and I still don't see an actual formula. Am I missing it?
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
There's a worksheet that you have to turn in with your application materials.
There is no formula, you just have to estimate how many hours you spend in direct lactation assistance. And you have to have the sheet approved/signed off on by your supervisor.
So if you work three shifts a week, and you estimate that you spend 2 hours a shift assisting moms with lactation, then your estimate would be approx. 300 hours/year (6hours x 52 weeks in a year).
FlipitaLPN
23 Posts
I'm working toward becoming an IBCLC, but I think it sounds like it's going to be a loooong road. You have to have all requirements done before even applying, and I think you have to apply long before you take the test! And they're adding ed. hours for 2012, and that will be the soonest I'll qualify. I think it's basically college courses you have to take though, so I should be ok, I think.
I'm currently an LPN, finishing up my coreqs for RN this semester, and hopefully will have my ASN Dec. of 2011. OB nursing is my passion, and that's why I want to go back to school to become an RN. I'm also breastfeeding my third baby right now and work as a WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor, so I hope I'm on the right track. It just seems to be such a long list of ever-changing requirements to become an IBCLC!