The Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC®) certification identifies a professional in lactation counseling who has demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to provide clinical breastfeeding counseling and management support to families who are thinking about breastfeeding or who have questions or problems during the course of breastfeeding/lactation. The integrity of the credential and what it represents in the lactation support provider landscape is important to families seeking professional lactation care and to the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP). CLCs are dedicated to the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding and human lactation in their work to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems. They understand that breastfeeding works best when it is the cultural norm and when the provider of lactation support and services is culturally competent.
The CLC® certification program is accredited by the prestigious American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and upholds the best practices that come along with such accreditation. ANSI accreditation represents a significant accomplishment and signifies a commitment to excellence. Our ANSI accreditation means that the CLC® certification program undergoes a rigorous review every year focusing on key components of the program including, sound governance and financial practices, management by professional certification staff, involvement by subject matter experts (SMEs), annual psychometric review of the certification examination, and a secure examination administration.
These accreditation standards are also of increasing importance when utilizing Live Remote Proctoring for the CLC® examination. ALPP began remote proctoring of the CLC® examination in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ALPP is proud to announce that this new mode of CLC® examination administration has been added to the ANSI-accredited CLC® certification program, meaning that all ANSI certification standards now apply to remotely proctored CLC® examinations as well as those examinations administered in-person when it is safe to resume to do so.
ALPP will continue to ensure that all CLC examinations are confidential, secure, valid, fair, and reliable across all modes of administration so that each newly certified CLC® and all of the families they support feel confident in their abilities, knowledge, and skills as a professional lactation care provider.
The Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC®) certification identifies a professional in lactation counseling who has demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to provide clinical breastfeeding counseling and management support to families who are thinking about breastfeeding or who have questions or problems during the course of breastfeeding/lactation. The integrity of the credential and what it represents in the lactation support provider landscape is important to families seeking professional lactation care and to the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice (ALPP). CLCs are dedicated to the promotion, protection, and support of breastfeeding and human lactation in their work to prevent and solve breastfeeding problems. They understand that breastfeeding works best when it is the cultural norm and when the provider of lactation support and services is culturally competent.
The CLC® certification program is accredited by the prestigious American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and upholds the best practices that come along with such accreditation. ANSI accreditation represents a significant accomplishment and signifies a commitment to excellence. Our ANSI accreditation means that the CLC® certification program undergoes a rigorous review every year focusing on key components of the program including, sound governance and financial practices, management by professional certification staff, involvement by subject matter experts (SMEs), annual psychometric review of the certification examination, and a secure examination administration.
These accreditation standards are also of increasing importance when utilizing Live Remote Proctoring for the CLC® examination. ALPP began remote proctoring of the CLC® examination in May of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ALPP is proud to announce that this new mode of CLC® examination administration has been added to the ANSI-accredited CLC® certification program, meaning that all ANSI certification standards now apply to remotely proctored CLC® examinations as well as those examinations administered in-person when it is safe to resume to do so.
ALPP will continue to ensure that all CLC examinations are confidential, secure, valid, fair, and reliable across all modes of administration so that each newly certified CLC® and all of the families they support feel confident in their abilities, knowledge, and skills as a professional lactation care provider.