The ALC certification is valid for three years. At the beginning of your third year of certification, you will receive a courtesy post card to remind you that your certification will soon expire. You may renew your ALC certification with 25 hours of continuing education in evidence based breastfeeding education.

Many ALCs work in hospitals, birthing centers, WIC offices, doctor’s offices, health departments, and in private practices as well. Every ALC must work within their Scope of Practice. This document can be viewed as a “job description.”

ALC is an advanced level certification.

Every ALC should obtain advice regarding liability insurance. Two types my be needed: a) professional liability (malpractice) insurance; b) general liability (if you are self-employed – this covers business exposures such as clients being injured by a slip and fall on the premises, etc.)

If the ALC already carries liability insurance in the context of other licensure/certification (e.g., RN, doula, etc.), we recommend checking with your current liability insurance carrier to see if lactation can be added to any existing policy. Make sure you find out about any limitations of insurance - for example, if your insurance covers your work in a hospital it may cover you only on hospital grounds, but not for phone calls made from home, home visits, etc.

CM&F Liability Insurance for Lactation Counselors, Advanced Lactation Counsultants, Advanced Nurse Lactation Consultants

The credentialing process for insurance companies is separate from professional credentialing. It refers to the insurance company accepting care providers whom they will reimburse. Insurers establish their own rules about whom they credential, which is challenging for individual providers who have to deal with each insurer separately.

Regarding the superbill, while insurance billing and reimbursement always a complex topic, is currently in a state of near chaos given the status of discussions in Washington. As a result, we are not comfortable offering advice. It would be best to go to a billing expert in your state who knows the ins and outs of your insurance market.​

The ALC final exam lasts for 2 hours. However, there are competencies throughout the week that must be passed as well.

Yes. Although the course content remains the same, different subtopics are covered and new cases are examined each time the Advanced course is taught. You do not have to take the exam again. If you choose to retake the exam, you must pass in order to remain an ALC. If you do not pass, you will lose the right to the ALC credential.

Approved continuing education offerings are ones that focus on evidence based breastfeeding research, updated management training, advocacy, practice, counseling, promotion, protection and/or support. There are many options for your continuing education, including home study modules available through https://store.healthed.com/?action=store&category=modules

The regular recertification fee is $126.00 (if completed recertification packet is received within the last two months prior to expiration). Early recertification fee is $102.00 (if completed recertification packet is received more than two months before expiration).

ALPP is NOT an approved provider of nursing contact hours, continuing education units, or CERPs. However, we are able to review your course, workshop, or conference and determine how many hours it counts for only for the purpose of ALC recertification. Please contact our office at: info@alpp.org and include all relevant information, such as the description, agenda, and any accompanying materials.

You may take the Advanced course if you are a current CLC or IBCLC. If your CLC or IBCLC has lapsed within the last recertification period (3 years for CLC, 5 years for IBCLC), you must first satisfy the continuing educational requirements (18 hours for CLCs, 75 hours for IBCLCs) before you can take the Advanced course. This documentation, along with your expired certification and the form Petition to Accept Continuing Education for Lapsed Certification (located in the ALPP Advanced Lactation Consultant Candidate Handbook, page 38), must be submitted to the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice a minimum of 6 weeks prior to taking the course. Please refer to the instructions for submission located on the form.