Become an IBCLC with an LER Lactation Internship
Earn your Pathway 3 clinical hours at a site near you with LER’s expert support
- Designed for aspiring IBCLCs using Pathway 3
- Fulfills the clinical hours requirement for IBCLC exam eligibility
- Offers a wide range of clinical experiences working with experienced lactation consultants
Our Internship Program
- We work with you in facilitating an internship at an existing hospital setting
- We guide you through the process of finding an internship site close to home when possible
- We work with your clinical site's education department to establish an affiliation agreement between the hospital and our school
Start-to-Finish Support
- Support and guide you through the process with regular check-ins
- Offer monthly Google Meet meetings with other interns
- Keep you on track with IBCLC Commission requirements
- Advocate for you as needed
Eligibility Requirements
- Complete 95 hours of lactation-specific education
- To ensure an educational background appropriate for a clinical setting, we only accept students that have completed all or a significant portion of their training through Lactation Education Resources
Take the First Step
Using Pathway 1?
500-hour Clinical Internship Program FAQs
- Q. How do I sign up for an LER 500-Hour Clinical Internship?
A. The first step is to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Together, you will determine whether the internship program is right for you and begin working through the process.
- Q. How does the LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship work?
A. Our Clinical Internship Program connects you with lactation professionals in your area and helps facilitate a Pathway 3 internship agreement. Lactation Education Resources will work with you in facilitating an internship at an existing hospital setting or guiding you through the process of finding a local internship site close to home when possible. Our clinical internship director will work with your clinical site's education department to establish an affiliation agreement between the hospital and our school.
- Q. In addition to helping me establish an internship agreement, what else does LER do to support me during my internship?
A. The director of the internship program is there to support and guide you through the internship process, remind you of IBLCE requirements from the beginning to end of the internship, complete regular check-ins, offer monthly Google Meet meetings with other interns in the program for learning education, and advocate as needed.
- Q. Who is eligible for an LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship?
A. Students must complete 95 hours of lactation-specific education prior to starting an internship. To ensure that your education is appropriate for a clinical setting, please note we can only accept students that have completed all or a significant portion of their training through Lactation Education Resources.
- Q. How long does it take to complete the 500-Hour LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship?
A. Internships must be completed within 12 months.
- Q. How much does the LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship program cost?
A. Tuition to complete an LER Pathway 3 clinical internship is $2,000 USD. A $200 non-refundable pre-registration fee is due once your internship site/hospital agrees to take you; the remaining $1,800 balance may be paid in one lump sum at the beginning of your internship or in five equal payments, to be completed before the end of your internship.
- Q. How do I apply for an LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship?
A. The first step is to contact Amy Black, LER Internship Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Amy will assist you in finding or establishing a site for your internship. ONLY once you have established a clinical site with Amy, complete and submit the Intern Pre-Registration Form. Once an agreement is set up, complete the Intern Application Form and the Background Check Form (additional fee applies).
- Q. Will I need to complete an interview at my internship site?
A. Yes. Interviews are required at each site to determine the suitability of the candidate, internship schedules, and expectations for each specific site.
- Q. Will I definitely be able to find a site placement in my local area?
A. We are here to facilitate internships for students in hospital settings but cannot guarantee placement. Internships are currently only available in the United States.
- Q. Does my LER internship need to be approved by the IBCLC Commission?
A. Yes. Your Pathway 3 internship MUST be pre-approved by the IBCLC Commission (formerly IBLCE) BEFORE you start your clinical hours. In addition, all IBCLC mentors will need to be approved prior to working clinical hours with each mentor. However, the first step is to contact LER Internship Director Amy Black to begin exploring an LER Internship, and IBCLC Commission approval is a later step. LER can help with this step once you are working with us.
- Q. How do I sign up for an LER 500-Hour Clinical Internship?
A. The first step is to contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Together, you will determine whether the internship program is right for you and begin working through the process.
- Q. How does the LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship work?
A. Our Clinical Internship Program connects you with lactation professionals in your area and helps facilitate a Pathway 3 internship agreement. Lactation Education Resources will work with you in facilitating an internship at an existing hospital setting or guiding you through the process of finding a local internship site close to home when possible. Our clinical internship director will work with your clinical site's education department to establish an affiliation agreement between the hospital and our school.
- Q. How does the LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship work?
A. Our Clinical Internship Program connects you with lactation professionals in your area and helps facilitate a Pathway 3 internship agreement. Lactation Education Resources will work with you in facilitating an internship at an existing hospital setting or guiding you through the process of finding a local internship site close to home when possible. Our clinical internship director will work with your clinical site's education department to establish an affiliation agreement between the hospital and our school.
- Q. In addition to helping me establish an internship agreement, what else does LER do to support me during my internship?
A. The director of the internship program is there to support and guide you through the internship process, remind you of IBLCE requirements from the beginning to end of the internship, complete regular check-ins, offer monthly Google Meet meetings with other interns in the program for learning education, and advocate as needed.
- Q. Who is eligible for an LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship?
A. Students must complete 95 hours of lactation-specific education prior to starting an internship. To ensure that your education is appropriate for a clinical setting, please note we can only accept students that have completed all or a significant portion of their training through Lactation Education Resources.
- Q. How long does it take to complete the 500-Hour LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship?
A. Internships must be completed within 12 months.
- Q. How much does the LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship program cost?
A. Tuition to complete an LER Pathway 3 clinical internship is $2,000 USD. A $200 non-refundable pre-registration fee is due once your internship site/hospital agrees to take you; the remaining $1,800 balance may be paid in one lump sum at the beginning of your internship or in five equal payments, to be completed before the end of your internship.
- Q. How do I apply for an LER Pathway 3 Clinical Internship?
A. The first step is to contact Amy Black, LER Internship Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Amy will assist you in finding or establishing a site for your internship. ONLY once you have established a clinical site with Amy, complete and submit the Intern Pre-Registration Form. Once an agreement is set up, complete the Intern Application Form and the Background Check Form (additional fee applies).
- Q. Will I need to complete an interview at my internship site?
A. Yes. Interviews are required at each site to determine the suitability of the candidate, internship schedules, and expectations for each specific site.
- Q. Will I definitely be able to find a site placement in my local area?
A. We are here to facilitate internships for students in hospital settings but cannot guarantee placement. Internships are currently only available in the United States.
- Q. Does my LER internship need to be approved by the IBCLC Commission?
A. Yes. Your Pathway 3 internship MUST be pre-approved by the IBCLC Commission (formerly IBLCE) BEFORE you start your clinical hours. In addition, all IBCLC mentors will need to be approved prior to working clinical hours with each mentor. However, the first step is to contact LER Internship Director Amy Black to begin exploring an LER Internship, and IBCLC Commission approval is a later step. LER can help with this step once you are working with us.
