The Lactation Consultant Training Program (LCTP) is a certificate program comprehensive Pathway 2 Lactation Consultant Training Program administered through the Metropolitan College of Professional Studies at Johnson C Smith University, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The primary goal of this program is to help diversify the field of lactation to include more people of color, positively impact health outcomes and help address breastfeeding and health disparities and inequities.
The LCTP is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC). The program earned its initial accreditation on May 17, 2019 and is current until 2024.
CAAHEP 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158 Clearwater, FL 33763 (727) 210-2350
At this time, the LCTP is an in-person course only. There are no online components to this training program.
Click here to learn more about the history of the program.
Click here to meet the staff in charge of the program.
Click here to see the infographic with great data and insight about the program.
Overview
The Lactation Consultant Training Program (LCTP) will be launching its first class in the Fall of 2019. It is a CAAHEP accredited Pathway 2 Training Program housed within the Metropolitan College of Professional Studies at Johnson C. Smith University, in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is the first Pathway 2 lactation consultant training program in the country that is housed at a Historically Black College/University (HBCU).
The African American population has the lowest rates of breastfeeding duration, and the highest incidence of infant and maternal mortality. Due to the complexity of the issue of racial/ethnic breastfeeding and health disparities and inequities, and the fact that the solution is multi-factorial, the LCTP is designed to increase the number of International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) of color. This evidence-based strategy to create more inclusive patient-provider relationships also helps meet the demand for diversification in the field of lactation.
Students receive a solid foundation in breastfeeding and human lactation as well as public health and social work perspectives. Content considers equity, population and program-based applications, the social determinants of health, and factors and barriers specifically affecting women of color.
The program consists of both clinical and didactic components; during the program, students complete a minimum of 90 hours of didactic instruction and 300 hours of clinical instruction over the course of two semesters. Clinical hours are earned through the attendance of one clinical day a week. The clinical lactation experience includes primarily direct supervised practice and competency attainment in a hospital or outpatient setting, with the student beginning by observing the preceptor and progressing to providing care under the guidance of the preceptor. In addition, students participate in experiential sharing and topic review, shadowing of WIC breastfeeding coordinators and peer counselors, and attendance at breastfeeding support groups, prenatal education classes and lactation conferences. Students attend a weekly 3-hour classroom session and participate in research presentations, lecture, and clinical case study sharing. The didactic learning also includes project assignments, quizzes and exams.
Didactic Courses Registration Names: HED 395 and 396
Clinical Course Registration Names: HED 495 and 496
Successful completion of all clinical and didactic coursework, competencies, passing grades for HED 395, HED 396, HED 495 and HED 496 AND the attainment of 300 clinical hours and 90 didactic hours are required for graduation from the program. The Program Director then issues a letter of verification of completion of the program that may be submitted to the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) for the student to sit for their exam.
Click here for more information about the IBCLC exam.
Funding/Partners
Technical assistance and initial funding for Year 1 of the Lactation Consultant Training Program was provided by:
- The Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (CGBI), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as a part of project RISE: Lactation Training Model (Reclaiming, Improving, and Sustaining Equity). RISE is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and is a collaboration between CGBI, the National Association of Peer and Professional Lactation Supporters of Color (NAPPLSC), community stakeholders, and University partners.
- Novant Health Foundation in support of their Diversity and Inclusion initiative.
Social Work:
Learn a range of skills and methods to help people: child service, clinical, therapeutic services, and community development. This programs leads to a variety of careers from advocacy organizations and healthcare to government and corporate human relations. Receive traditional class room training, then put theory to practice through our active involvement with surrounding neighborhoods, Charlotte, and beyond. We are connected with the National Association of Christians in Social Work, The National Association of Black Social Workers, and our Field Education program continuously evaluates new partnerships to further our students’ opportunities.