Certified Lactation Professional™ Training

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​​Congratulations on pursing the Certified Lactation Professional™ (CLP) title. Students who successfully complete Lactation University's IBCLC Prep Course can proudly refer to themselves as CLPs. Our unique, hybrid lactation course  prepares students to sit for and pass the IBLCE Exam and our CLP training not only covers every required discipline, but also serves to guide individuals to become a successful community, hospital or private practice Lactation Consultant.

Lactation University's CLP Program meets the lactation-specific education required to pursue Pathways 1 or 3 to become an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

Applying for CERPs 
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Tuition and Investment
Registration: $975 (group rate for 5+ students $925)
​Required Text: Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, Sixth Edition & ​Counseling the Nursing Mother
​Required Resource: The Breastfeeding Atlas
Purchase your textbooks at 30% off from Jones & Barlett Learning ​

​Please Review Our "Terms of Service" Prior to Enrolling in the Lactation University IBCLC Prep Course
Our program is more than a prep course—it’s a comprehensive academic experience. The curriculum includes guest lectures, book reviews, photo assessments, charting examples, policy reviews, case studies, and more. It provides a cohesive review of the IBLCE Blueprint, reinforced by supplemental talks and interviews. Lactation University creates an engaging, rigorous learning environment that equips students with knowledge and connects them to leaders shaping the future of lactation consulting. At Lactation University our goal is to support and develop the next generation of IBCLCs. We are preparing students to excel in a profession not just pass a test. ​
Below is our tentative calendar for our 2025/2026 LU Course. Live sessions will be every two weeks as noted, *with the exception of the change to April 3/5*. This allows completion of the course in time to apply for 2025 exam. 
​IBLCE Application Date for 2025 Exam: 4 to 5 months prior to Exam Dates
Exam Dates September 9 – 18, 2025 IBLCE
Thursday Classes
Saturday Classes
8:30AM-12:30PM PST
9:00AM-1:00PM PST
Orientation: December 19; 8:30am-10:30am PST
Orientation: December 21; 9-11:00am PST
Module 1A; January 16
Module 1B; January 18
January 30
February 1
February 13
February 15
February 27
March 1
March 13
March 15
Module 6A; March 27
Module 6B; March 29
April 3
​*PLEASE NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE*
April 5
​ *PLEASE NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE*
April 17
April 19
May 1
May 3
May 15
May 17
May 29
May 31
June 12
June 14
​Each 8-hour module has a minimum of 4 hours of in-person instruction every other week, and 4 hours of recorded presentations. Classes consist of lectures, discussions, quizzes, exams, videos, activities, projects, picture reviews, homework and reading assignments. In addition to regular weekly assignments, students will be responsible for three projects.
Project 1: Research Paper
Project 2: Book Review
Project 3: Breastfeeding Conference
Course completion results in 96 hours of lactation-specific education.
Below is our 2025/2026 tentative agenda. 
*Endorsement by IBLCE not implied

1st Quarter

Module 1
​January 16 & 18
Module 2
January 30 & February 1
Module 3
​February 13 & 15
​Education & Communication
Public Health & Advocacy  
​Research​
​Guest Lecture:
Karolina Ochoa​
​Guest Lecture:
Confirmed
​Guest Lecture:
Robin Elise Weiss
​​Application Worksheet:
Motivational Interviewing
​Application Worksheet:
​BFHI evaluation and status of local hospital(s)
​​Application Wo​rksheet:
Types of Research
​Discussion Topic: 
What should be included in a care plan?
​​​Discussion Topic: 
What are common barriers to breastfeeding in the workplace?
​​Discussion Topic: 
Where can researchers find funding streams?
​​Image Review
How to evaluate photographs
Image Review
​Breastfeeding Atlas
Image Review
Breastfeeding Atlas
​Group Project:
Conference discussion and planning
​Group Project:
Commercial/PSA
(presented in share drive)
Group Project:
Annotated list of 20 evidence-based websites, journals and/or publications
Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses
​HW: 
Create an outline for a 4-hour prenatal breastfeeding class
​​HW:
​Create a hospital or employment breastfeeding policy
​​​​HW: 
Complete an annotated bibliography for upcoming research paper.
​Required Reading
B&H Ch 22
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 4, 5 & 6
​Sample Test Questions
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 1-2
Suggested Reading
​Counseling Ch 1, 2 & 13
Sample Test Questions​
​​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 21
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 29
​Sample Test Questions
​​Heads up: 
Class presentations begin  Module 5
​Heads up:
Select book for review
Book reviews due Module 8
​Heads up:
Research project topic due ​

2nd Quarter

Module 4
​​February 27 & March 1
Module 5
​March 13 & 15
Presentations
Module 6
March 27 & 29
​​​Physiology & Endocrinology
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Development and Nutrition
​(Maternal & Infant)
Guest Lecture:
​Kathryn Stagg
Guest Lecture: 
Melissa Cole​
Guest Lecture:
Dr. Katrina Mitchell
​​​Application Worksheet:
Compare different protocols for   inducing lactation
​​Application Worksheet:
Drugs of abuse and affects on lactation
Application Worksheet:
Newborn Characteristics
​​​Discussion Topic:
How does infertility affect lactation?
​Discussion Topic: 
Galactagogues
Discussion Topic:
WHO Guidelines for Introducing Complementary Foods
​Image Review
​Image Review
Image Review
​​Group Project:
Conference discussion and planning
​​Group Project:
Conference discussion and planning
​​Group Project:
Conference discussion and planning
​​HW: 
List 5 maternal autoimmune disorders and how they affect lactation​
HW: 
​​Create a list of 25 herbs and their effect on lactation.​
HW:
Composition of Human Milk
Required Reading
B&H Ch 3, 9 & 17
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 7, 15 & 23
​Sample Test Questions
​Required Reading
B&H Ch 4, 5 & 11
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 11
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 15 & 16
Suggested Reading
Counseling 8-10, 14, and 17-19
Heads up: 
Presentations begin in Module 5
3 Presentations 
Nicotine, Tobacco & Cannabis
Contraception
Labor/Birth Medications & Lactation
3 Presentations
Food Intolerances & Allergies
Nipple Modifications (piercings, tattoos, etc.)
Milk Banking (formal and informal)​

3rd Quarter

Module 7
​April 3 & 5
Module 8
​April 17 & 19
​Book Reviews Due
Module 9
​May 1 & 3
​Ethical & Legal Issues
Techniques
Equipment & Technology
Guest Lecture:
​Guest Lecture:
Nikki Lee
​Guest Lecture:
TBD
​​​Application Worksheet:
​State Breastfeeding Laws
​​​Application Worksheet:
The Golden Hour
​​​Application Worksheet:
How to Select a Quality Breast Pump
​Discussion Topic:
Why is it important to avoid Conflict of Interest?
​Discussion Topic:
What would be an effective pumping schedule for someone who works parttime?
​Discussion Topic:
What equipment is needed for a virtual consultation?
Image Review
The importance of photograph consent form​
Image Review
Image Review
Group Project: 
Part I: Decide on study or research project to use to construct a graph
Group Project: 
Part II: create a circle, bar or line graph displaying outcomes or percentages of something related to lactation
Group Project:
Imagine and describe the best fictional product to support lactation 
HW:
Evaluate a recent (within 3 years) research project
HW:
Identify 3 local support programs and 7 online support programs
HW:
Make a list of 15 lactation devices, indications for use, risks and benefits
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 18
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 28 & 30
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 7 & 8
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 16 
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 13 & 14
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 22
5 Presentations
Lactation and Covid-19 
Lactation and HIV
The Process of Making a Law
Birth Practices
​Cultural Awareness
4 Presentations
Safe Sleep
Managing Oversupply
Bottle Refusal
​Maternal Mental Health
​
3 Presentations
Handling and Storing of Human Milk
Wearable Pumps
Scales (accuracy, operation, etc.)

4th Quarter

Module 10
​May 15 & 17
Module 11
May 29 & 31
Module 12
​June 12 & 14
Pathology 
(Infant)
Pathology
(Maternal)
Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology
​Guest Lecture:
Megan Dunn
Melanie Henstrom
​Guest Lecture:
TBD
​Guest Lecture:
TBD
​​​Application Worksheet:
Jaundice & Hypoglycemia Protocols
​​​Application Worksheet:
Identify low and over supply issues
​​​Application Worksheet:
Complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with someone who has recently given birth
​Discussion Topic:
What is the newest protocol for HIV and breastfeeding?
​Discussion Topic:
What are some red flags that may indicate low milk supply?
​Discussion Topic:
What are some cultural traditions and practices centered around lactation?
Image Review
Image Review
Image Review
​​Group Project:
Conference discussion and planning​
​​Group Project:
Conference Presentation​
Group Project:
IBCLC Forms and Application
HW:
Carefully examine the most recent AAP statement on tongue tie and provide your opinion of the article.
HW:
Compare and contrast recommendations for treating mastitis in 2020 compared to 2024
HW:
Watch the last 4 hours of recorded presentations
​Complete the IBLCE Application
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 12, 19 & 20
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 24 & 27
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 6 & 10
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 26
​​Required Reading
B&H Ch 23 & 24
Suggested Reading
Counseling Ch 23
Presentations
​Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Final Presentations
All Homework and Final Exam Must Be Completed by June 17, 2025
The final recordings will be available after June 12. Plan to watch the final presentations and complete homework and submit all requirements by June 17, 2025.

Read our Terms of Service and Enroll in Lactation University's IBCLC Prep Course