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Human Lactation Consultant Certification How to Apply

Deadline for application submission for Fall 2024 Semester is May 31, 2024.

For Current Drexel Students

Students who are currently matriculated in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at Drexel may enroll during their designated enrollment period.

For Those Interested Who Are Not Current Drexel Students

To apply online, please complete an application for the Certificate in Human Lactation:

  1. Visit Discover Drexel
  2. Create a Discover Drexel account (required)
  3. Select Start a New Application
  4. Select 2024-2025 Graduate Round – please note, this program is offered through the College of Medicine
  5. Select Fall 2024 through Summer 2025

For information on the Lactation Program’s virtual open houses or assistance with applying, please reach out to the program director (sdf63@drexel.edu).

COMPLIANCE

The College of Medicine has a compliance process that may be required for every student. Some of these steps may take significant time to complete. Please plan accordingly.

As soon as students have formally been accepted into the Human Lactation program and are registered into the program, they will be contacted by the clinical compliance coordinator to set up the CastleBranch account to clear the student to begin clinical hours on clinical sites. This process can take a few weeks to a few months. Compliances the students must meet include:

  • Background checks including Pennsylvania Volunteer, Child Abuse Clearance and Fingerprint background check
  • Health physical
  • CPR certification
  • BioRaft/Online safety training
  • HIPAA module/certificate
  • Vaccine verification including:
    • MMR
    • Varicella
    • Hepatitis B
    • TB
    • Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis (Tdap)
    • Influenza
    • COVID 19

These compliances allow students to learn on clinical sites and are set in conjunction with Drexel University, LEAARC and the clinical institutions our students are placed in. Please contact the program director with any questions before applying.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

Transcripts: Official transcripts must be sent directly to Drexel from all the colleges/universities that you have attended. Transcripts must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the college/university seal over the flap. Please note that transcripts are required regardless of number of credits taken or if the credits were transferred to another school. An admission decision may be delayed if you do not send transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.

Prerequisites: The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) requires that applicants have completed at least one academic credit (25 hours or more) and earned a passing grade at an accredited institution of higher learning in five the following eight areas:

  • Biology (for example: Introductory Biology, General Biology, Fundamentals of Biology or Life Science)
  • Human Anatomy (for example: Introductory Human Anatomy, Principles of Human Physiology, Fundamentals of Human Anatomy and Physiology or Human Biology)
  • Human Physiology (may be combined with Anatomy; see above)
  • Infant Child Growth and Development (for example: Childhood Growth and Development, Early Childhood Development, Development of Infants and Toddlers or Developmental Psychology)
  • Clinical Research (for example: Introductory Statistics, Introduction to Critical Inquiry and Research, Health Sciences Research Methods, Statistics for Health Professionals, Public Health Research and Methods or Ethics and Responsible Conduct of Research)
  • Nutrition (for example: Principles of Human Nutrition, Introduction to Nutrition Sciences or Biochemistry)
  • Psychology or Counseling Skills or Communication Skills (for example: Basic Concepts in Psychology, Introduction to Psychology, Applied Psychology, Foundations of Interpersonal Communications, Health Communication or Consumer-Provider Health communication)
  • Sociology or Cultural Sensitivity or Cultural Anthropology (for example: Introductory Sociology, Elements of Sociology, Cultural Competency or Introduction to Cultural Anthropology)

Applicants must have completed at least five of the eight prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in the program. The final three prerequisite courses may be completed concurrently in the first semester but must be completed before the student begins second semester. The content of the above courses must include the topics outlined in the IBLCE Health Sciences Education Guide. The Health Science Education Courses at Drexel and Philadelphia Area Community Colleges Guide provides a listing of courses that may be used to fulfill the prerequisite requirements.

For help determining which prerequisites may be met with courses applicants have previously completed, please contact Susan Fuchs, MS, IBCLC, program director/clinical instructor at sdf63@drexel.edu.

In addition, the IBLCE requires that applicants have completed a course offered by an institution of higher learning or a continuing education course in the following subjects:

  • Medical Documentation
  • Medical Terminology
  • Professional Ethics for Health Professionals

Three additional IBLCE requirements (Basic Life Support, Occupational Safety and Security for Health Professionals, and Universal Safety Precautions and Infection Control) will be fulfilled during completion of Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions Compliance process prior to beginning supervised practice.

CV/Resume: Required.

Licenses: Nurses, dietitians, physician assistants, and other health care professionals who hold licensure or a certificate must submit a copy of their current license.

Personal Statement/Essay: Personal statement (no more than two pages and no less than one page double-spaced) that will give the admissions committee a better understanding of the following:

  • Why you are choosing this particular program of study
  • Your plans upon completion of the certificate
  • How your current work experience will enhance your experience in this program

References: One letter of recommendation.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International applicants, as well as immigrants to the United States and U.S. permanent residents whose native language is not English and who have not received a bachelor's degree or higher in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, must show proficiency in English speaking as well as listening, writing and reading. American citizens born on U.S. military bases abroad may be waived from the TOEFL requirement after providing documentation of this status. Otherwise, applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

If you take the TOEFLiBT exam, you must have: a minimum combined score for listening, writing, and reading sections of 79 plus a speaking section score of 26 or higher; a minimum score of 550 or higher and a Test of Spoken English score (TSE) of 55 or higher.

TUITION AND FEE RATES

Students participating in the certificate program are considered part-time undergraduate students. Tuition is based on the number of credits taken each term; the part-time student fee is fixed per term. Current part-time undergraduate tuition and fees are posted annually on the Undergraduate Tuition and Fees page of Drexel Central. Please visit the Tuition and Fee Rates page on Drexel Central for more information.

 
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