The Infant Feeding Counselor® Certification
The IFC® credential is awarded to individuals who complete a LEAARC-approved 95-hour course in lactation and communication education — plus hands-on training and a proctored oral exam. It’s designed to prepare you for real-world feeding support and set you up for the next step toward becoming an IBCLC.
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is a globally recognized specialist in lactation care, known for their advanced clinical training and expertise. They provide all the foundational support that CLCs or similar credentials cover — such as helping families with latching, feeding plans, and early postpartum care — but they’re also equipped to manage more complex feeding challenges and coordinate care as part of a healthcare team.
An IBCLC credential is considered the gold standard of lactation care – and how you earn yours matters as much as earning it.
The IFC® is the only stepping stone credential that completely prepares you to make a smooth transition toward your IBCLC exam and career.
Unlike other stepping-stone credentials (like the Certified Lactation Counselor and Certified Lactation Specialist options), the IFC® gives you all 95 of the required lactation-specific and communication hours you’ll need to then become an IBCLC.
In other words:
With other options, you’ll complete a program and still have to fill in as many as 40 education hours on your own.
With the IFC®, the ONLY thing you’ll need to do to become IBCLC exam-eligible is complete your practice hours.
Complete the 95-hour Infant Feeding Counselor® Course
Complete a skills workshop with the Feeding Families Education & Consulting Team
Pass a proctored verbal examination
How to become an IFC®
As an Infant Feeding Counselor®, you’ll be able to provide basic counseling to parents as they feed their infants.
An IFC® can:
Provide families with basic support and education on infant feeding topics including breast/chestfeeding, bottle feeding, expression and storage of human milk, formula feeding, introducing solids, and weaning.
An IFC® cannot:
Provide families with advanced, hands-on support unless appropriately supervised by an IBCLC or other insured healthcare provider whose scope of practice includes advanced, hands-on lactation support.
The IFC® Scope of Practice
FAQs
Do I need to take additional courses after earning the IFC® to become IBCLC exam-eligible?
Nope — the IFC® is a complete stepping stone credential. Once you finish the course and earn your IFC® credential, the only thing left to do is complete your clinical hours and apply for the IBCLC exam.
How is the IFC® different from a CLC or CLS?
The IFC® includes everything other stepping-stone programs offer — and everything they leave out. That means 95 full hours of lactation and communication education, a hands-on skills workshop, and a proctored oral exam that actually prepares you to work with families.
Can I work independently with families after earning the IFC®?
Yes — within your scope of practice. IFCs® can offer basic lactation counseling and education in both clinical and community settings. You can’t offer advanced, hands-on interventions (like supporting infant oral dysfunction) unless supervised by an IBCLC or licensed provider whose scope includes those services.
In our upcoming mentorship program, working for yourself could be counted towards supervised hours.
We don’t mess with boring, unhelpful courses that take up time and still leave you on your own to piece together the rest of your hours – with The IFC® Course, you’ll complete all of your lactation-specific education requirements with total support, and leave completely ready for your supervised practice hours and IBCLC exam.
Ready to take the next (and smartest) step in your lactation career?
