certified lactation consounelor

[snugglebug14]

I work as a peer breastfeeding counselor at WIC and they are sending me to get my CLC. I'm wondering if with my clc I can do private lactation consultations? I'm starting up an herbal/homeopathic practice this fall and would love to do breastfeeding consultations too! How much is reasonable to charge as a clc? (I know its pretty region specific) I plan to charge $60 for initial visit and $30 for followups for the herbal/homeopathic consultations. That's what the going rate is here. But I have no idea how much bfing consults run and don't know how clc vs ibclc vs uncery=tified run in terms of cost. thanks so much

[Maggi315]

I am on a webgroup called Lacnet, we had a discussion about this about 1 year ago. As a clc, you can only do "well visits" meaning education and guidance, not problems. That falls under the scope of an IBCLC.

Now, no one can stop you from doing visits and treating problems such as mastitis, low milk supply, etc. but you have to think about liability if something comes from that, a doctor complains, baby gets sick, etc. you wouldn't have any backup and could potentially be considered "practicing medicine without a license". An an IBCLC, our scope is set out in writing, so we have that backup and most IBCLC's have liability insurance.

your fees seem high for a counselor, I only charge 50-75 for a visit, but it very well may be a regional thing. Someone else had asked on another board how to set fees, and according to Linda smith (she wrote a private practice LC book) you should look at other professionals in your area, your length and degree of experience, and the need. So if nurses are making 15-20 (thats in my area for a new graduate), then you wouldn't want to charge double or triple that as a new counselor.

That's just my opinion and relaying the opinion of the professional group, you might get more information from others.

[snugglebug14]

thanks for that info! I was having a very hard time finding the scope of practice for a laction counselor there just doesn't seem to be a ton of info out there!
as far as fees...the prices i listed are for herbal/homeopathic consultations. i had absolutely no idea what to charge for a breastfeeding consultation.