Join our international community of over 700 alumni passionate about providing culturally effective evidence-based breastfeeding and lactation support!
The Art and Science of Breastfeeding Course (formerly known as the Breastfeeding London Course) consists of 13 monthly or bi-monthly study days delivered at a postgraduate level. It is designed to prepare candidates for the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) exam and provides a total of 116 hours of education—exceeding the required 90 hours of lactation-specific education and 5 hours of communication skills education exam prerequisite set by IBLCE. The course includes:
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91 hours of contact lactation-specific education (including 12 hours focused on communication and counselling skills)
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5 hours on the International WHO Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes
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20 hours of independent study (an academic presentation or poster), bringing the total to 116 hours
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Optional: An additional 40 hours of independent study (e.g. an academic essay), for a total of 156 hours
Our Course is the only one in the UK that is taught by a multidisciplinary faculty and we have an outstanding IBLCE exam passing rate from students that have taken the full Course. We have become an approved Open College Network London centre and the course has held in the past the former professional accreditation by the Royal College of Midwives. We have been teaching the Course for the past 13 consecutive years.
The content applies to best practice issues in the clinical setting; it includes didactic, practical clinical and counselling skills, as well as independent study modules (including a presentation or a poster and an optional essay). We use real clinical cases to help students develop clinical thinking and problem-solving skills. The Study Days are interactive, they enhance multiple kinaesthetic learning styles and they include:
- Lectures using principles of transformative learning
- Small group sessions that enhance active learning
- Practical activities
- Clinical skills
- Clinical cases to enhance critical thinking
- Games
- Roleplays to develop empathetic counselling
- Quizzes
- Arts-based learning
- Mindfulness based practices
When taking our course, you become part of a diverse network of students, alumni, and professionals from around the world. This community fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange and mutual support.
Online International Community
Our online International Community Platform is a hub for ongoing discussion and learning. Here, students and alumni can delve into current topics in breastfeeding and human lactation, share experiences, and stay updated on the latest research and best practices.
Prepare for the IBCLC Exam
We offer a free, online IBCLC exam preparation session for students and alumni. This session is designed to reinforce your knowledge, address exam strategies, and boost your confidence as you approach certification.
Dive into Research with Our Online Research Hub
For those interested in the research aspects of lactation, our Online Research Hub is open to all. It provides a platform to discuss recent studies, explore emerging trends, and engage with peers passionate about advancing lactation research.
A material booklet is posted at the beginning of each course and a Course Certificate, will be issued upon completion; this includes the topics covered from the IBCLE Exam Blueprint.
We offer 2 modalities of Course delivery with synchronous, asynchronous and hybrid options: fully live online and a hybrid option (mixture of live online and in-person). We use a blended learning approach which includes live interactive online sessions, pre-recorded webinars, in conjunction with a learning management platform. Each Study Day runs from 9.00-16.00 pm and there is a pre-recorded webinar to watch too.
For those wanting to sit the IBLCE exam, our Course exceeds the required 90 hours of lactation-specific education and 5 hours of communication skills education criteria from Pathway 1. If you are not a HCP our Course does not cover the 14 subjects set forth as part of the Health Science requirements. It is your responsibility to check directly with IBLCE all pathways and requirements, prior to applying to our course. It exceeds the 5 hours of education in Communication and Counselling skills requirement, with a specific focus on lactation and breastfeeding care.
This is a popular Course with more applicants than available places. We are proud to say that our international students numbers are growing in our fully Online live Course; with people joining us from Jordan, France, Sweden, Iceland, Spain, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Bermuda, Australia, Hong Kong and Belgium to name some.
Our Course is intended for:
- All health professionals with an interest in supporting breastfeeding dyads that want to update their knowledge
- Midwives and student midwives
- Infant Feeding Coordinators/Lead
- Health Visitors
- Doctors, Paediatricians or GPs
- Dieticians and Nutritionists
- Nurses (including NICU)
- Dentists
-Speech and language therapists - Breastfeeding counsellors or breastfeeding support workers
- Osteopaths/chiropractors/craneo-sacral therapists
- Complementary Alternative Medicine Practitioners supporting breastfeeding dyads
- Community and children centre's staff
- Birth and postnatal doulas
- NCT/Birth preparation educators
- Maternity nurses
- Anyone passionate about providing breastfeeding support