Lactation Education Pathway Connecting Noncredit, Credit and Workforce Opportunities
Submitted By: Chrissy Gascon
CAEP Evaluation/Reporting
Website: www.sccollege.edu/ce/
Type of Practice: Learner Transition
Program Area(s): CTE / Workforce Prep / Pre-apprenticeship
Region: Orange County
Consortia Involved: Rancho Santiago Adult Education Consortium
The Program of Practice
Santiago Canyon College Continuing Education developed a lactation education pathway that coordinates entry into the lactation profession and creates clear educational pathways leading to the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential. In Orange County, lactation training requirements have historically been completed across multiple providers with no centralized structure, limiting clear progression. In partnership with BreastfeedLA, SCC Continuing Education created a structured pathway that connects noncredit, credit, and workforce opportunities. One of the partnership's primary goals was to increase representation within the lactation profession and strengthen access to culturally responsive lactation support in historically underserved communities. Research and community experience have demonstrated that many communities with the greatest need for lactation support are often served by a workforce that does not reflect the populations receiving care. By creating accessible entry points into lactation careers, the pathway is helping build a more representative workforce while expanding opportunities for individuals from these communities to enter the field.
The Response
SCC Continuing Education developed a comprehensive lactation education pathway consisting of four coordinated programs aligned with workforce needs. The lactation pathway was intentionally designed as a series of stackable credentials that support continued education and career advancement within the lactation profession. Beginning with foundational noncredit coursework, students build specialized knowledge, earn credentials, and can ultimately complete the programming needed to sit for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant credential (IBCLC). Together, these programs create a coordinated noncredit-to-credit pathway that expands access to lactation careers and supports progression toward the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential.
The stackable credentials include:
• Lactation Educator Specialist (Noncredit) provides foundational knowledge and prepares students for entry-level roles supporting lactation services.
• Lactation Consultant Education (Noncredit) delivers advanced technical coursework and provides the 95 hours of lactation-specific education. This programming also supports current healthcare professionals pursuing IBCLC certification.
• Lactation Practitioner (Noncredit) builds on this foundation through additional courses and hands-on training, When paired with the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Certificate of Achievement, it prepares students to meet the educational requirements for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) exam.
• International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Certificate of Achievement (Credit) provides the required general education coursework aligned with IBCLC standards. When combined with the Lactation Practitioner program, it creates a pathway for students to complete the educational requirements needed for IBCLC exam eligibility.
The Unique Features of the Program
This lactation education pathway is designed around a stackable credential model that connects noncredit education, credit coursework, and workforce preparation. Each certificate builds upon the previous level of training, creating opportunities for students to continue developing specialized knowledge and skills within the lactation profession. Unlike many healthcare pathways that operate independently across instructional divisions, the planned International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Certificate of Achievement will recognize completion of the noncredit lactation certificates as prerequisites. The pathway supports advancement from foundational lactation education through progressively higher levels of training, ultimately leading to eligibility for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) credential. In partnership with BreastfeedLA, SCC Continuing Education developed the pathway in response to documented gaps in lactation professionals serving the region's most vulnerable and underserved communities. Together, SCC Continuing Education and BreastfeedLA sought to create an accessible educational pathway that would remove barriers to entry, expand opportunities for individuals from communities historically underrepresented in healthcare professions, and increase the availability of culturally responsive lactation support within those same communities.
The Outcome
Since its launch in Summer 2024, the Lactation Educator Specialist program has demonstrated strong demand and student engagement, serving 542 students, with 339 students earning certificates and becoming ready for employment. The Lactation Consultant Education program, which launched in Fall 20205, has served 116 students, with 52 students earning certificates. The Lactation Practitioner program will launch Fall 2026 with increased opportunities for students including clinical placements with major healthcare providers and community organizations. These outcomes reflect strong interest among both new entrants to the field and current healthcare professionals growing their skillsets. Courses consistently reach capacity and maintain waitlists, signaling sustained demand and a clear regional need for structured lactation training.
Targeted outreach efforts have also increased local participation, with Orange County residents growing from 18% of enrolled students during the program's initial implementation to nearly 65% of students enrolled in Fall 2025.
Most Importantly, the pathway is achieving one of its central goals: increasing representation within the lactation profession. By expanding access to education and training opportunities, SCC Continuing Education and BreastfeedLA are helping create a more representative workforce equipped to provide culturally responsive lactation support. To date, Hispanic students represent 41.3% of participants and Black or African American students represent 24.3%, together accounting for more than 65% of total program enrollment.