Certificated Lactation Educator (CLE) for CSUN Students

Course Description

HSCI 434: Lactation Education: Prenatal and Perinatal Period (3)

Prerequisite: Junior Standing. This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide families in the community with breastfeeding education and support during the prenatal and perinatal period. Available for graduate credit.

Topics covered in this course includes:

• The history of infant feeding
• National and international breastfeeding promotion initiatives
• Careers in lactation
• Counseling skills
• Nutrition during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Anatomy and physiology of lactation
• Common breastfeeding barriers and strategies to overcome those barriers
• Hospital practices that influence breastfeeding and key concepts for getting breastfeeding off to a good start

Is this course recognized?

Yes, HSCI 434-Lactation Education: Prenatal Perinatal Period is recognized by the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Committee (LEAARC) as basic education (under 90 hours) for breastfeeding educators and counselors.

What is a LEAARC Recognized Breastfeeding Course?

Currently there is no international or national certification exam that enables individuals to become certified as a lactation educator. However, the International lactation accreditation agency, LEAARC has developed a process for recognizing courses whose stated mission is to prepare students as lactation educators.

LEAARC recognized breastfeeding courses “are among the leaders in the field of lactation and breastfeeding education. LEAARC endorsement assures students that these programs cover essential topics and skills, have a qualified faculty, and portray themselves honestly in their advertising. LEAARC endorsement provides a reliable indicator of educational quality to employers, insurers, counselors, educators, governmental officials, and the public, based on adherence to established criteria and standards of the profession. Students who seek guidance in the selection of a course look for one their profession endorses.”

Click for list of LEAARC recognized breastfeeding courses

What requirements will this course satisfy?

Minor in Human Lactation program requirements

This course will satisfy one of the course requirements for the Minor in Human Lactation. For more information on the Minor in Human Lactation click here

B.S in Public Health degree requirements

This course will satisfy 3 units of the 12 units of required elective coursework that is part of the B.S. in Public Health degree requirements. Click here for B.S. in Public Health Program Brochure

Master of Public Health Program

This course will satisfy 3 units of required elective coursework that is part of the Master of Public Health Program degree requirements.

Master of Science in Human Nutrition

This course will satisfy 3 units of required elective coursework that is part of the Master in Human Nutrition Program degree requirements.

All other Majors

Contact your department Advisor if you have specific questions on how the course will help you progress toward graduation.

After Taking HSCI 434, what designation may I use

After successful completion of this course, you may call yourself a “Certificated Lactation Educator (CLE)”.

For more information about what lactation educators do, click here