Certification Playbook: Getting Your Health Science Courses

For some IBCLC Exam candidates, the 14 required health science courses are easy to check off. If your background includes an RN or another science or health career, chances are, the classes are already on your transcript.

But what if you fell in love with lactation support via a different route and some–or many–of the science courses aren’t in your background? It can feel like a barrier.

We’re here to help you remove barriers and find your way to the IBCLC Exam. This installment of The Certification Playbook brings you all the facts on the health sciences requirement so you can plan your next steps.

Your guide is Angela Love-Zaranka, BA, IBCLC, RLC, FILCA, LER’s Program Director.

The Health Science Education Requirements fall into two categories.

There are several courses you must take from an accredited college or university.

You must obtain a passing grade (or a “pass” in a pass/fail class), and the course must be at least one academic session in length (defined by IBLCE as 25 or more hours).

There are six more courses, which you will not find at a university, but still need to complete.

These courses can be taken as continuing education courses. (LER offers a course here that combines five out of the six here, just leaving you to find a local Basic Life Support class.

It’s important to remember that all of these courses need to be completed before you apply for the exam—which is significantly earlier than the exam date itself.

Why do IBCLCs need these courses?

Are your clients really going to ask you the function of an alveoli, or quiz you on research methods?

Probably not.

So why are college courses in topics like anatomy and research required for the IBCLC exam?

Love-Zaranka, who was serving on the IBLCE Board when the college health science requirements were established, explains it like this: “It has to do with playing in the same sandbox. Healthcare professionals have common subjects they study during their training. The language and terminology is different from the language utilized when speaking to parents. If you want to talk to a physician, it’s helpful if you know what ‘hyperbilirubinemia’ means.”

Not to mention, the knowledge you gain can come in handy during the exam. “For example, if you know your Latin derivatives, you may be able to figure out a term on the exam that you’ve never heard before!” Love-Zaranka notes.

"I know many people experience these requirements as a barrier to entry to the field. The requirements weren't intended that way,” she adds. “They are designed to make sure you are fully prepared to be an allied healthcare professional--a valued member of the team.”

Do my previous classes count?

The short answer is, probably yes!

If you have already earned some college credits, start by looking over your transcript. Courses you’ve already taken may fulfill some—or all—of the requirements.

Courses have different titles and vary slightly in content, but many classes people take as undergraduates do count.

“Don’t stress about it!” says Love-Zaranka. “If it says something in the title about Biology, or Nutrition, chances are, it counts for that area.”

The IBCLC Commission offers very helpful guidance on this topic, including titles of typical courses that meet the requirements. We also discuss this in our regularly occurring live sessions, Real Talk: The Realities of Being and Becoming an IBCLC. Register for the next LER Live or watch a recorded session here.

The answer is yes — and at a very low cost!

Our exclusive partnership with Walden University allows LER students to take all the required health science courses for less than the typical cost of one college course. If you already have some courses completed, you can also take individual courses for a very low cost. And credits taken at Walden can be applied toward a BS degree.

If your life is already full, enrolling in a college course can feel daunting.

Setting realistic goals is key. “Knowing what you have time for is the first step,” Love-Zaranka says. “Get out your planner and figure out how many hours in your week you can spend on coursework.”

Expect the unexpected and allow for extra family needs, illness, and other contingencies. Only commit to as many courses at a time as you can comfortably do.

What if you need a few courses … or more than a few? What if you need all of them?

Don’t give up.

“Break down what you need to do and plan it out,” Love-Zaranka says. “And then, continue to feed your passion in the meantime. Hold open that space in your mind and in your heart.”

Can you check in with your local WIC and see if you can volunteer? Or find another option for connecting with and helping lactating families in your area?

“If that gets discouraging because you can’t find an opportunity, pivot and go online,” Love-Zaranka urges. “Find an online mentor—many people are willing to do more online mentoring now because of Covid-19.

“Any time you hit a wall,” she says, “go back and find a place where the path is a little clearer. Then, keep going.”