Abstract
LEAARC is committed to publishing curriculum documents for both the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)-accredited programs and the LEAARC-endorsed courses that reflect current standards of care. During the past 2 years the board has devoted many hours to reviewing the curriculum documents and revising them to provide program and course directors with the required curriculum competencies. Each curriculum document is reflective of the depth and breadth of the program or course design. The goal of the curriculum is to produce entry-level lactation professionals that are competent to enter the workforce.
LEAARC-endorsed courses may be either 45 hr or 95 hr in length and include competencies in the cognitive (knowledge) domain of learning. These courses do not require laboratory or clinical experiences. These courses may be taught in a variety of educational settings and use diverse educational methods (e.g., self-paced, distance learning, traditional lecture sessions). CAAHEP-accredited programs are offered at post-secondary academic institutions that are accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. CAAHEP-accredited programs must include classroom (residential or using a learning management system) sessions and sessions where learning in the psychomotor domain is the focus. Psychomotor learning objectives can be taught in laboratory and clinical education courses. LEAARC is currently developing policies and procedures to allow lactation consultant programs offered at post-secondary academic institutions located outside the United States to apply for CAAHEP-accreditation.
The program or course design notwithstanding, all courses and programs are required to provide at least 5 hr of communication and counseling specific to lactation and breastfeeding. To illustrate the differences in depth and breadth of the required competency, 95-hr courses and CAAHEP-accredited programs are required to “Discuss ways to apply the principles of family-centered care while maintaining a collaborative, supportive relationship with breastfeeding families,” (LEAARC, 2022, p. 1) while 45-hr courses are required to “Discuss ways to provide information that is developmentally and culturally appropriate for a variety of learning styles.” (LEAARC, 2022, p. 2) In addition, CAAHEP-accredited programs are required to include psychomotor competencies, including to “Determine the parents’ goals for breastfeeding” (LEAARC, 2022, p.1) and “Use effective counselling and communication skills when interacting with parents, children, their families, and other healthcare providers (LEAARC, 2022 p. 1).”
The curriculum documents are posted on the LEAARC website (https://www.leaarc.org). If you are interested in accreditation, approval, or endorsement for a lactation education program or course, please contact the LEAARC Executive Director at the email address below.
