Request Information
Ready to find out what MSU Denver can do for you? We’ve got you covered.
The Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program is housed in the Department of Nutrition and allows students to meet the eligibility requirements to complete the International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Exam and, once students pass the exam, work as a credentialed IBCLC.
There are three pathways to become qualified for the IBCLC exam, according to the International Board of Certified Lactation Examiners (IBCLE).
International Board Certified Lactation Consultants function and contribute as members of the maternal-child health team. They provide care in a variety of settings while making appropriate referrals to other health professionals and community support resources. Working together with mothers, families, policymakers and society, IBCLCs provide expert breastfeeding and lactation care, promote changes that support breastfeeding and help reduce the risks of not breastfeeding.
IBCLCs typically work with patients as advanced practice clinicians. They work independently and as members of the maternal-child health team to manage clinical lactation concerns for mother, baby, and family units.
More information can be found on the IBLCE website.
A new lactation-training program at MSU Denver prepares students to support nursing moms
Professor | Lactation Program Director
[email protected] 303-615-0990Lactation Certificate Program Coordinator
[email protected] 303-615-0990The MSU Denver Baby Cafe’s are lactation support groups in the community and free to any community members who would like to participate. We offer groups in both Spanish and English, lactation support and community for postpartum parents. MSU Denver partners with these sites to provide a well-rounded experience to our lactation students as well as serve our community.
Day: Fridays Starting January 13th, 2023
Time: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: 1100 E 18th Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Day: Fridays
Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
Location: 11292 Oswego St. Henderson, CO 80640
The mission of the Lactation Program at MSU Denver is to prepare diverse students for successful careers in maternal and child health and wellness as well as eligibility for the IBCLE credentialing exam to become an IBCLC through quality education that is culturally sensitive and instills a desire for life-long learning.
To prepare competent entry level lactation consultants in the cognitive, psychomotor, and affective learning domains.
Prepare graduates for a career using their knowledge of lactation support.
Prior to applying for the IBLCE exam, all candidates must complete education in 14 health science corequisites. This general education must be completed prior to applying for the exam.
For more information please review the Health Science Education Guide.
Content Requirements |
MSU Denver Undergraduate Courses |
MSU Denver Graduate Courses |
Biology |
BIO 1080: General Biology I (3) |
N/A |
Human Anatomy |
BIO 2310: Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4) |
N/A |
Human Physiology |
BIO 2320: Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4) |
N/A |
Medical Terminology |
ITP 1700: Medical Terminology (2) |
N/A |
Basic Nutrition |
NUT 2040: Introduction to Nutrition (3) or
|
NUT 5010: Macronutrients in Health & Disease (3) or
|
Cultural Sensitivity |
NUT 3300: Cultural Aspects of Nutrition (3) or
|
NUT 5050: Global and Cultural Nutrition Topics (3) |
Counseling or Communication Skills |
NUT 3700: Nutrition Education & Counseling (3) or
|
NUT 5060: Nutrition Communication Strategies (3) |
Infant and Child Growth Development |
NUT 4200: Lifecycle Nutrition (3) |
NUT 5020: Maternal & Child Nutrition (3) |
Clinical Research |
NUT 4040: Nutrition Research Design & Evaluation (3) |
NUT 5040: Nutrition Research Design & Evaluation (3) |
Medical Documentation |
NUT 4800: Medical Nutrition Therapy (4) |
N/A |
For Summer 2023, the priority deadline is April 15, 2023. Acceptance after the priority deadline is only granted if space in the program is available. The final application deadline for Spring 2023 is May 1, 2023.
To apply for the Undergraduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training complete the online Undergraduate Admission Application.
To apply for the Graduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
Here are the steps to complete an application:
Students admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training are non-degree seeking students. Non-degree seeking students do not qualify for financial aid. If you are enrolled in the MSND or another graduate program, you may qualify for financial aid.
The proposed tuition for the Undergraduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training is $400/credit hour for residents and $450/credit hour for non-residents.
The proposed tuition for the Graduate Certificate in Lactation Consultant Training is $400/credit hour for residents and $450/credit hour for non-residents.
Pathway 1 is primarily meant for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), Registered Nurses (RNs) or other recognized health care professionals.
This pathway requires a minimum of 95 hours of lactation-specific education including 5 hours of communication skills and a minimum of 1,000 hours of lactation-specific clinical practice. Lactation-specific clinical practice hours can be obtained in an appropriate setting to include hospital, birth center or community clinic. More details on Pathway 1 can be found on the IBLCE website.
*Pathway 1 can be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level.
To see how MSU Denver meets this pathway requirement, please review the curriculum below.
Pathway 2 is the lactation education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The requirements for this pathway include meeting key educational requirements, a minimum of 95 hours of lactation-specific education including 5 hours of communication skills, 12 credit hours, and a minimum of 300 hours of directly supervised lactation-specific clinical practice.
*Pathway 2 is primarily meant for existing nutrition undergraduate and graduate students as well as students pursuing other careers in health care.
To see how MSU Denver meets this pathway requirement, please review the curriculum below.
Pathway 3 is a mentorship program established with an existing IBCLC that requires a minimum of 95 hours of lactation-specific education including 5 hours of communication skills within the five years prior to IBCLC examination application, 12 credit hours, and a minimum of 500 hours of directly supervised lactation-specific clinical practice.
*Pathway 3 can be completed at the undergraduate or graduate level.
To see how MSU Denver meets this pathway requirement, please review the curriculum below.
In the Pathway 1 program, the Department of Nutrition at MSU Denver will provide 95 hours of lactation-specific education through two courses (NUT 4950 and NUT 4970. Students in this pathway will gain their lactation-specific clinical practice in their healthcare-related places of employment under the coordination and direction of the Department of Nutrition.
In the Pathway 1 program, the Department of Nutrition at MSU Denver will provide 95 hours of lactation-specific education through two courses (NUT 590F and NUT 590D. Students in this pathway will gain their lactation-specific clinical practice in their healthcare-related places of employment under the coordination and direction of the Department of Nutrition.
In the Pathway 2 program, students will complete the courses outlined in the document below as pre-requisites before enrolling in the Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program. In Pathway 2, an additional 95 hours of lactation-specific education will be provided through two courses (NUT 4950 and NUT 4970). The supervised practice hours will be provided through existing partnerships that the Department of Nutrition has established with Colorado HealthONE hospitals (NUT 4990).
Pathway 2 – Pre-Requisites/Advising Document
The IBCLC Exam is offered twice per year.
Spring Offering – Apply in the Fall, registration opens mid-September to October
Fall Offering – Apply in the Spring, registration opens mid-April to May
Eligible for exam after all education courses and supervised hours are complete.
For initial candidates the cost is $660.
Want more information?
For more information on the Lactation Consultant Training Certificate Program, please contact the Department of Nutrition. Click below to send us an email!
Email UsDepartment of Nutrition
Phone:
303-615-0990
Office Location:
West Classroom 240
Office Hours:
8:00am – 5:00pm
Mailing Address:
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Department of Nutrition
Campus Box 33N
P.O. Box 173362
Denver, CO 80217-3362