Academy of Lactation Programs
Lactation support is a fundamental health care responsibility. It serves as a high value care option, steeped in cultural heritage, and impacting our community’s health. Now you can start your path to be a member of this passionate profession by joining the ASU Academy of Lactation Programs.
This non-credit lactation program is ideal for anyone working with childbearing women and their families, or those aspiring to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Students receive accessible and inclusive lactation education through research-based teaching, which is ethically grounded. A mix of normal and complicated lactation situations ensure students are comfortable using evidence-based best practices in a variety of breastfeeding settings.
Program graduates are armed with tools and techniques to support breastfeeding, while being adaptable to multiple health care roles including nurses, healthcare providers, clinic specialists, childcare providers, public health professionals, and policy makers.
Participants have the option to enroll in the full 95-hour program, or individually select any of the three courses that make up the full program (Fundamentals of Lactation, Advanced Lactation, and Communication and Counseling for the Lactation Consultant).
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Lactation Education Program (95-hour course)
This 95-hour course is a bundle of three courses: Fundamentals of Lactation, Advanced Lactation, and Communication and Counseling for the Lactation Consultant. Self-study, self-paced.12 month course access. Perfect for those aspiring to become International Board Certified Lactation Consultants and those eager to add breastfeeding to their professional practice.
Start: Anytime 
Duration: 95 hours 
100% Online 
$995 + textbooks
Key program topics
- Breastfeeding as a normal physiologic process that can be complicated by medical and iatrogenic factors.
- Learning to triage and set a plan of care using evidence-based practice.
- Maternal and infant anatomy and physiology as it relates to breastfeeding.
- The inter-relational impact of physical, mental, and emotional domains.
Need some flexibility? Take the 3 courses separately.
Fundamentals of Human Lactation
Students gain a fundamental understanding of the maternal and infant anatomy and physiology as it relates to breastfeeding. This course fulfills 45 hours of the 95 hours requirement of lactation-specific education eligibility criteria.
Start: Anytime Duration: 45 hours 100% Online $550 + textbooks
Advanced Human Lactation
Those who have previously completed Fundamentals of Human Lactation or an equivalent. This course fulfills 45 hours of the 95 hour requirement of lactation specific education eligibility criteria
Start: Anytime Duration: 45 hours 100% Online $550 + textbooks
Communication and Counseling for Lactation Consultants
Course content includes non-verbal and verbal communication skills, online communication considerations, therapeutic communication techniques, and elements of counseling techniques.
Start: Anytime Duration: 5 hours 100% Online $75 + textbooks
Lactation Clinical Internship
530+ hour clinical internship for the International Board of Lactation Consultants Examiners (IBLCE) lactation consultant certifying exam. Successful completion of this internship/course meets the IBLCE supervised clinical internship requirement for clinical hours. It is overseen by experienced lactation consultants and educators. There are 3 phases to the internship: Observation of IBCLC Mentor and Skills lab, Transition to Clinical Practice, and Supervised Independent Practice. Interns have up to 18 months to complete the internship.
Start: Anytime Duration: 530+ hours On-site $2,500 + fees
Lactation Education Program Director
Angela Lober, PhD, RNC-MNN, IBCLC
Dr. Angela Lober is an experienced educator and clinician. She has been an IBCLC since 2005, providing evidence-based care within an academic medical center and her community. Angela is the director of the Academy of Lactation Programs at Arizona State University and the Lactation Program Manager at Banner University Medical Center – Phoenix. She is currently the president of the Arizona Breastfeeding Coalition, a member of the editorial board for the journal Clinical Lactation, and serves on the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) board of directors. Angela completed her PhD at ASU College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation focusing on the breastfeeding complexities of late preterm infants. She is dedicated to assisting families achieve their breastfeeding goals. Angela is also committed to education and mentorship as a means of upholding and uplifting the lactation profession.
Meet the Lactation Team
 | Gini Baker |
 | Dr. Cara Riek Dr. Cara graduated from Arizona State University with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree. She is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner in addition to having her IBCLC certification. Dr. Cara is also a diplomate of the American Board of Laser Surgery, specializing in “Oral Surgery in Infants, Toddler, and Adults.” She holds a certification as a Certified Specialist in Orofacial Myology (CSOM). Dr Cara describes her career as a diversifying adventure: research, teaching, nursing, and now breastfeeding medicine specialist. She strives to provide meaningful, evidence-based care to mother-baby dyads. Her mission is to support mothers where they are at and help them journey into the breastfeeding relationship they desire. She strives to make sure that each patient is able to reach their desired goal and have an amazing breastfeeding relationship. |
 | Dr. Danielle Lewis Dr. Danielle Lewis is a Naturopathic Doctor whose goal is to constantly reinvent herself so she can lead by example and empower her patients. She is a believer in the fact that we all have the power to heal ourselves if we are equipped with the right knowledge and have the will power. Dr. Lewis is skilled in treating common conditions that effect women of all ages. She is certified in Holistic Pelvic Care (TM), which is a technique she uses to help women with pelvic pain, incontinence, postpartum healing, and painful sex. Dr. Lewis conducted medical research on the clinical applications and effectiveness of botanical therapies in treating common digestive issues such as SIBO. Dr. Lewis combines her background in physical therapy with her knowledge of injection techniques that restore normal function and decrease pain in joints. |
 | David Klein David Klein graduated with his Master’s degree in Social Work in 1999 from Arizona State University. David is currently the Grant Per Diem liaison for homeless Veterans. David has worked within the Phoenix VA Health Care System for the past 15 years in various positions including homelessness, mental health, and suicide prevention. David has also worked in the Regional Behavioral Health Authority and Child Protective Services for five years. He has been involved in research related to suicide and suicide prevention in the greater Phoenix area. David has provided continuing education training and been a key note speaker on the subject of mental health and suicide prevention at the national, state, and local level. David enjoys weight lifting, bike riding, and Jeeping. |
 | Debbie Hallock Debbie Hallock is the Program Coordinator Senior for Global Health Collaboratory within Arizona State University’s Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. She manages logistics for events and educational programs, designs and oversees registration processes, coordinates catering and facility reservations, and develops online surveys and reports. Her work has included the 2019 Health Innovator Program where she assisted in creating a one-week health innovation program for 22 students from Sichuan University in China. Debbie enjoys helping others learn, reading, stitchery and cooking. |
Continuing health education is provided through the ASU Office of Interprofessional Continuing Health Education which is accredited by JAICE (Joint Accreditation for Interprofessional Continuing Education). Nursing Continuing Professional Development – NCPD - 95 credit hours can be taken separately and commensurate credit hours will be awarded.
In support of improving patient care, Arizona State University is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
This program is approved by the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee (LEAARC) and qualifies as the lactation specific education required for the qualifying exam of the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE).