Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
•   Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
•   Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
•   Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
•   Scheduling Work and Activities Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.

Working Life

Lactation Consultants are professional breastfeeding specialists trained to teach mothers how to feed their baby. They help women experiencing breastfeeding problems, such as latching difficulties, painful nursing, and low milk production. A lactation consultant also helps babies who aren't gaining enough weight.

Lactation Consultants work in private practice or in designated positions, though many use their skills in their roles as midwives, medical practitioners, child health nurses and nutritionists. 

This is a rewarding profession, but it can be difficult to earn the required certification unless you are already a health care professional in a field related to maternal child nursing.

IBLCE stands for International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners - the organisation that administers the international certification programme for Lactation Consultants. Almost all IBCLCs are women, and the majority of them are also fully qualified nurses.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Prepare and distribute health education materials, such as reports, bulletins, and visual aids, to address smoking, vaccines, and other public health concerns.
• Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with agencies and organisations interested in public health care.
• Maintain databases, mailing lists, telephone networks, and other information to facilitate the functioning of health education programmes.
• Document activities and record information, such as the numbers of applications completed, presentations conducted, and persons assisted.
• Develop and present health education and promotion programmes, such as training workshops, conferences, and school or community presentations.
• Collaborate with health specialists and civic groups to determine community health needs and the availability of services and to develop goals for meeting needs.
• Develop, conduct, or coordinate health needs assessments and other public health surveys.
• Supervise professional and technical staff in implementing health programmes, objectives, and goals.
• Develop operational plans and policies necessary to achieve health education objectives and services.
• Provide program information to the public by preparing and presenting press releases, conducting media campaigns, or maintaining program-related Web sites.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

 Investigative

The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

To qualify as a Lactation Consultant (LC) you will be required to achieve a passing grade on the IBLCE examination.

List of healthcare transition occupations:  

HSE Lactation consultants List Dentist/ Dietician/ Midwife/ Nurse/ Occupational Therapist/ Pharmacist/ Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist/ Physician or Medical Doctor/ Speech Pathologist or Therapist Explore Careers

Professional Development 

There are a 3 pathways to becoming an accredited LC, depending on your educational background. 

1. Recognised Health professionals and recognised mother support counsellors can undertake further specialised training
2. Candidates that do not hold a recognised Health professional qualification and are not recognised mother support counsellors can complete 14 Health Sciences Foundation Courses together with lactation specific education and clinical practice
3. A Mentorship option

Full details are available  Association of Lactation Consultants in Ireland ALC Ireland

IBCLC is a standalone qualification (i.e. you do not need pre-existing qualification to become an IBCLC) but you do need to meet the criteria in one of the pathways to be eligible to sit the exam.IBLCE stands for International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners, the organisation that administers the international certification programme. IBLCE’s primary purpose is to certify individuals who provide quality care to babies and mothers worldwide.

IBCLCs adhere to a Code of Ethics and work within professional Standards of Practice. They are required to keep their knowledge and skills current, and must re-certify every 5 years through continuing education or re-examination to remain registered.

For further information on the IBCLC credential or certification exam, visit: www.iblce-europe.org

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €34k - €64k

Salary relating to Nurses and Midwives specialising in this area. Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
HSE/ Payscale

Last Updated: July, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Nurses and midwives.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).

This occupation is the second largest (after sales assistants) across all occupations. Employment growth was above average, with particularly strong growth between 2021 and 2023 (an additional 20,500 persons employed). There was also a high number of recent job hires for this role, reflecting both the employment growth and turnover in roles with short-term contracts. Almost all employed were female (90%) and 37% were non-Irish citizens. This is also reflected in the high number of employment permits, the highest across all occupations, with staff nurses the most common role where permits were issued.

There was a relatively high volume of jobs advertised online (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) and of posts notified to DSP for nurses; difficult-to-fill vacancies in the Recruitment Agency Survey included for staff nurses, theatre, ICU, oncology, and nurse managers. Recent changes to the education/training for nurses has seen additional places on existing courses and new routes (e.g. tertiary programmes and allocated places for students from the Republic of Ireland to study in Northern Ireland) which will go some way to alleviating issues with sourcing nurses in the coming years.

A high demand for nurses is likely to persist and replacement demand alone for such a large occupation will also contribute to continued job openings.

• La Leche League (LLL)

  • Click Here

• ALCI The Association of Lactation Consultants

  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Health and Safety Executive

  • 1G Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS, UK
  • +44 (0)845 345 0055
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• CORU - Regulating Health & Social Care Professionals

  • Infinity Building, George’s Court, George’s Lane, Smithfield, Dublin 7, D07 E98Y
  • (01) 293 3160
  • [email protected]/ [email protected]/ [email protected]
  • Click Here