Lactation Consultant: Pathway 2

We are currently accepting applications for Spring 2025 for students who wish to complete clinical hours via the use of technology.  If you are interested in completing clinical hours in our immersive simulation lab, please submit an application prior to February 15, 2025. If you would prefer to complete clinical hours in-person, the next opportunity will be in Fall 2025.

Great news!  The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) has approved the use of simulation to complete clinical hours through September 2025! This is an excellent opportunity become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), especially for international students, students who live in rural areas, and students who have a hectic schedule and may not be able to complete clinical hours in-person. 

The Spring 2025 Pathway 2 course will run from March 3 - August 16, 2025.  The cost to enroll is $7500.

With the exception of the Foundations of Lactation Education (FLE) course, all prerequisites must be completed at the time you submit an application.  The FLE class must be completed prior to the start of the Pathway 2 program. Enrolling in the FLE class that begins on January 2, 2025 is acceptable.

This Lactation Consultant Pathway 2 professional certificate program expands the clinical knowledge of the breastfeeding professional who interfaces with the breastfeeding client by understanding problems of clinical management.

Certification as a lactation consultant is approved preparation for healthcare providers who interact and triage infant nutrition problems and concerns. The course of study is based on objectives, guidelines and competencies established by LEAARC.

Although UC San Diego does not issue the credential of Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), this program complies with the IBLCE guidelines.

Pathway 2 Qualifications:

Pathway 2 candidates are defined as having completed all of the requirements below, prior to the start of the program in March:

• Completion of all 14 “General Education Courses” as defined by the IBLCE –or– be an approved Health Professional (IBLCE Approved Health Professions: Dentist, Dietician, Degreed Nutritionist, Midwife, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist, Physician or Medical Doctor, Speech Pathologist or Therapist)

• These course requirements can be reviewed at IBLCE.org 

• Completion of the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Foundations of Lactation Education, Course Number: RMED-40040

• AP classes are accepted on a course-by-course basis

Pathway 2 Required Courses

Pathway 2: Didactic                                                     RMED-40032                             12 Units 
Clinical Competencies Internship I                       RMED-40033                             15 Units
Clinical Competnecies Intership II                        RMED-40034                             15 Units         

To receive the certificate, students must complete 42 credit hours.     

UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies uses Canvas as our learning platform for all courses. Canvas is not compatible with smart phones or tablet devices. We recommend students plan to use a lap top or desk top for our courses.    

IBCLC Exam Pass Rates
 

The IBLCE code for our program is 164875

Please note that the IBLCE exam is administered only twice a year, typically during the spring and fall. However, you must apply for the exam 4-5 months before the exam dates when the IBLCE exam application window opens. Students are not eligible to apply for the exam until they have graduated from the Pathway 2 program. For more information about the exam schedule, please refer to the IBLCE Commission.

Pathway 2 Process for Clinical Site Placement
 
Once an intern has been accepted into the Pathway 2 Lactation Consultant Education Program, it is time to start looking for a preceptor! The clinical requirement for Pathway 2 is for the intern to complete at least 300 hours working directly with breast/chestfeeding dyads under the supervision of an IBCLC. Some of the hours completed in the beginning of the internship will be observation only and are not counted towards the final 300 hours. Below is a list of things to consider regarding clinical sites:

1. The first step is for interns to submit their top three options for a clinical site - please make sure the facility has a lactation department! We will work to secure a placement at one of the interns’ choices. However, there are a lot of factors that go into placements, so this is not a guarantee. 
2. If an intern is interested in working with a private practice lactation consultant, please be sure that they can provide at least 8-10 hours/week working directly with breastfeeding dyads.
3. The process of securing a clinical site starts once the intern has paid the Clinical Placement Fee.
4. The UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Lactation Program has relationships with hospitals, clinics, and private practices all over the country. If Extended Studies does not have an Affiliation Agreement with a site in your area, every attempt will be made to find a new site and establish a relationship and execute an Affiliation Agreement. This process can take several weeks to months to be completed.
5. Once a clinical site is secured, the intern will get an email with the location. Our goal is to place an intern at a site within 100 miles of their home. If the intern declines the site, they will be responsible for finding another site.
6. The intern’s clinical schedule is determined by the preceptor’s work schedule. It is important for the intern to be flexible with their availability. Evening and weekend clinical hours are very rare and should not be expected.
7. In addition to a clinical placement, there will be mandatory Zoom meetings once a month. The first meeting will take place during the first week of the program. The schedule with all meeting times will be released a few weeks before the start of the quarter.

 
Once the intern is matched with a clinical site they will start the onboarding process, which is specific to each clinical site. Extended Studies uses a third-party platform to upload these requirements. Any costs incurred for onboarding are the responsibility of the intern. Before the program begins, find your immunization documentation and compare it to the list below.  Please get any immunizations or titers you are missing.  If you are missing vaccines, you can’t necessarily get them all in one visit.  There can be a time interval between vaccines, which is why it is recommended to start the process before the program begins.  Onboarding requirements include, but are not limited to the following:

• TB (Tuberculosis) – Quantiferon or T-SPOT blood test preferred OR two separate PPD (Purified protein derivative) skin tests one to three weeks apart.  Two PPD skin tests will require multiple visits to your health practitioner's office.  PPD skin tests are also know as TB skin test, Tuberculin skin test, or Mantoux test.
• Hepatitis B - Three shot series or titer
• MMR (Measles, Mumps & Rubella/Rubeola) - Titer, physician’s diagnosis, or two doses of vaccine
• Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis) – Vaccine within last 10 years
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) - Titer, physician’s diagnosis, or two doses of vaccine
• Flu vaccination - Obtain the shot when available in the fall.
• COVID-19 vaccine and booster
• Health examination by healthcare provider (MD, DO, NP, PA).  The letter should state you received a physical examination, are free from communicable diseases, and are able to perform daily activities as a Lactation Consultant intern.  The provider should include the date of the exam, their address, phone number, and signature.
• American Heart Association Issued BLS (Basic Life Support) for Healthcare Providers (Adult, not Neonatal or NNRP)
• Background check – Instructions will be given once a clinical site is secured.
• Drug screening- Instructions will be given once a clinical site is secured.
• Learning modules specific to the facility

Map of Clinical Sites

The map below shows cities of clinical sites.  If your region is not listed, we will work with you to find a clinical site.

Contact Hours: 120 hours. Contact hours are awarded for the completion of assignments and a final grade of Pass/80% (B-) or higher.

The instructors for this course have no conflicts of interest to disclose.



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