95 Hour Lactation Course: CCLS

Clinical and Communication Lactation Specialist (CCLS)

Logo-Passion-to-Practice

We're Growing!

Breaking news! All of our professional trainings have moved to our new sister site, LactaLearning. Find all of offerings and pay for courses on this new site.

Reasons to take this course:

You want more concrete, hands on experience to really work with breastfeeding families

  • You want to get all of your required 95 lactation CERPs in one place including the required 5 communication skills credits
  • You want instructors who work with breastfeeding families everyday
  • You want the convenience of some online learning combined with the community of in-person work
  • You want the experience of working with real breastfeeding families
  • You want passionate, knowledgeable instructors who use the latest education methods for effective learning
  • Can use this course for IBLCE's Pathway 1 and 3

Learn more about how to become an IBCLC and our trainings on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at 7 PM EDT. Email barbara@bfcaa.com to register!

Dates for CCLS in the Fall
Pre-work opens August 1, 2022
Live Zoom days:
Part 1- September 30, October 1, and 2, 2022
Part 2- November 11-13, 2022

 

Online pre-work
Live Zoom 3 day weekends
Working with breastfeeding families
Pre-work is self paced
Zoom meeting check-ins

Fall 2022 Dates:
Part 1 Live Zoom Weekend:
September 30-October 2, 2022
Part 2 Live Zoom Weekend:
November 11-13, 2022
Part 1 Pre-work opens
August 1, 2022

 

Full Price $1200
Early Bird Price for Fall $1000
Ends August 15, 2022!
Three Payments of $350 for
$1050 total

CCLSprocess

Amanda, Fall 2020

Don't Miss This Great Opportunity!

Do you want to become a lactation consultant or to be able to better help your breastfeeding families? Let Barbara walk you through this process! For more information join us for a Zoom meeting on October 25th, 2022 at 7:00 PM to discuss the process and how our course is part of becoming a lactation professional. Just email barbara@bfcaa.com so she can send you a meeting invitation.

A certificate of completion will be provided. We offer a Clinical and Communication Lactation Specialist, CCLS, certificate for those who complete our course. For most, this certificate is considered a stepping-stone towards certification as an IBCLC and we encourage all of our students to apply for the IBLCE certification exam as soon as they are eligible. Nurses, doulas, dieticians, OTs, PTs, midwives and other health care providers may find this credential be helpful in their work and in finding employment.

This 95-hour course is comprehensive and designed to cover most aspects of the IBLCE Exam Blueprint. This will help you not only be prepared to offer mothers and babies quality breastfeeding support but will also help you to prepare for the IBLCE exam. At this point and time all of our attendees have passed the IBCLC exam!

Registration is OPEN!
Specific information for Fall 2022:

Part 1
Pre-work: Opens August 1, 2022- 23 hours of pre-work assignments will open. Optional live webinars will be offered every other week for discussion of assignments and questions.

In-person- NOTE Due to COVID our in person meetings will be moved to live Zoom meetings: 3 Days 8:30 AM-5:30 PM- Friday, September 30, 2022,-Sunday, October 2, 2022- 22.5 hours of live Zoom meeting clinical work.

Part 2
Pre-work: October 4, 2022- 25 hours of pre-work assignments will open. Optional live webinars will be offered every other week for discussion of assignments and questions.
In-person- NOTE Due to COVID our in person meetings will be moved to live Zoom meetings: 3 Days 8:30 AM-5:30 PM- Friday, November 11, Saturday November 12, 2022,-Sunday, November 13, 2022- 22.5 hours of live Zoom meeting clinical work.

The goal for the pre-work is to about 3-5 hours per week which needs to be completed before the in-person portion of the course.

All the pre-work must be completed and turned in and all the in-person portion of the course must be attended in order for the participant to receive the CCLS Certificate of Completion.

Registration is open for Fall!

For our payment plan of three payments go the 4th choice. You will make the first payments by Paypal or check now, the second payment by the first day of live Zoom meetings, 2022, and the last one by the first live Zoom meeting day of Part 2, 2022.
Early bird pricing now ends 8-15-22 for fall 2022! If you want to pay by Visa, Master Card, or Discover, please email Barbara@bfcaa.com and we can make these arrangements.

Refund policy/terms and conditions

Cancellation Policy: A full refund minus a $75 cancellation fee will be provided upon request up to 45 days before the In-Person portion of Part 1 of the training begins OR until the time a participant submits at least one assignment for the pre-work section of Part 1 to be graded. To be clear, once a participant has turned in at least one assignment for the Pre-Work section, no matter how many days before the In-Person portion of Part 1 this is, no refunds will be issued. After either of these terms, no refunds will not be issued.

Transfer/Make-Up Policy: Should you need to transfer your registration to another training in the future when it is available, you may do so without penalty up until four weeks before a training begins. Once we are within four weeks of a training, we cannot guarantee you a spot in a future training but will accommodate you IF there is a training scheduled and the training is under-enrolled and we have a spot available for a $75 fee. In this case, you may receive very short notice of a make-up opportunity and should plan accordingly. Illness, family emergencies, last-minute babysitting or transportation challenges, and so on, are not our responsibility but we will make every reasonable effort to accommodate your situation.

Winter Storms. We will not issue refunds due to winter storms and other conditions beyond our control. Please allow plenty of extra time for travel if bad weather is threatening. If extreme blizzard or ice conditions coincide with the onset of a workshop and make driving hazardous, we may delay the start time or otherwise adapt the parameters of the training (check your email for updates). We will make every effort to accommodate everyone should conditions be extreme or impossible (this has never happened in 20 years, fingers crossed). If driving conditions become hazardous in the middle of a training weekend and you are driving back and forth a fair distance each day, you are welcome to bring some portable bedding/change of clothes and stay at the Center overnight. We have two couches and a queen-size air mattress on hand, as well as floor cushions, pillows and blankets. We cannot be held liable for airfare costs accrued due to circumstances beyond our control. 

Attendance Policy. In order to provide you with proof of having completed the CCLS certificate requirements, you will need to attend the course and complete all assignments in their entirety. Should you become ill or otherwise unable to complete a training you have started, the Transfer/Make-Up Policy (above) will apply.

Some of the topics that will be covered:

  • Benefits of breastfeeding
  • Communication skills: Motivational Interviewing
  • Breast anatomy and development
  • Biochemistry of breastmilk
  • Birthing and breastfeeding
  • Mother and baby assessment
  • Breastfeeding assessment
  • When to supplement
  • Low breastmilk supply
  • Breast and nipple pain
  • Ethics in lactation
  • Communication skills revisited
  • Working and breastfeeding
  • Medications and breastfeeding
  • Nursing older babies
  • Twins and preterm babies|
  • More clinical practice with breast and nipple pain
  • Inducing lactation
  • Milk banking and milk sharing
  • Tools of the trade
    And more...

PLEASE READ OUR REFUND/TERMS AND CONDITIONS DOCUMENT

Frequently Asked Questions

No, but it is highly recommended and required to receive your CCLS credential.

The course is offered in small groups only. Plenty of chances to ask questions!

During the Covid pandemic, all sessions are virtual via Zoom. Once we can offer in-person sessions, our location is at 2300 Washtenaw Ave, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI.

  1. Part 1:
    • 20 hours of pre-work with assignments and an optional bi-weekly webinar with Barbara Robertson, IBCLC, to discuss the assignments and ask questions
    • 25 hours, 3 days, of in-person education with homework
  2. Part 2:
    • 20 hours of pre-work with assignments and an optional bi-weekly webinar with Barbara Robertson, IBCLC, to discuss the assignments and ask questions
    • 25 hours, 3 days, of in-person education with homework
  1. IBCLCs who need Lactation CERPs for re-certification.
  2. Aspiring IBCLCs who are acquiring their lactation education CERPs as a stepping stone to becoming an IBCLC.
  3. RNs or other health care professionals who want to increase their breastfeeding skills or acquire 20+ hours of breastfeeding education for the “Baby Friendly” hospital initiative.
  4. Peer Counselors, La Leche League Leaders, anyone, who wants to be able to better help mothers and babies with breastfeeding concerns.
  5. Birth and post-partum Doulas who are interested in being on the cutting edge of breastfeeding support.

Everything!

  1. We promise that you will not sit and just listen to powerpoint lectures for 45 hours.
  2. This extremely interactive course focuses on utilizing educational techniques research has shown to be effective for adult learning.
  3. In order to truly learn something, you have to use it in some way, not just hear it.

We will do small group work, work with actual mothers and babies, role play, case studies, large group discussions, problem-solving, and practice, practice, practice the skills we are using focusing on how to effectively communicate with our families.  With breastfeeding, social and emotional support are just as important as your technical knowledge.

  1. You will be able to understand the normal course of breastfeeding
  2. You will be able to identify breastfeeding problems
  3. You will be able to help identify the underlying causes of breastfeeding problems
  4. You will have direct exposure to clinical strategies and gain enhanced confidence
  5. You will be able to offer practical solutions in a compassionate, easily understandable way

Early Bird Prices

$1000 for Part 1 and 2 one payment

$1050 for Part 1 and 2 three payments

Late Registration Prices

$1200 for Part 1 and 2 one payment

$1050 for Part 1 and 2 three payments

Payment plans are available. All payments must be made before the first day of the Part 2 in-person portion of the course.