PORTLAND, March 1, 2017– The Lactation Consultation Program at Birthingway College recently learned that it achieved full accreditation by CAAHEP, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.  The accreditation allows students to sit for the international certifying exam and earn the credential International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).  To date, Birthingway students have a 100% pass rate on this qualifying exam.

“This accreditation is a huge achievement for us,” said Sarah Longwell, Birthingway’s Lactation Program Coordinator. “It shows that the education we provide our students is truly preparing them for the lactation consulting world. We’re the first school in the state– and only the third in the country– to reach this level. We have to thank our advisory committee as well as our faculty, staff, students, and program graduates for their dedication to the program.”

Alimah Hall, a current Lactation Consultation student, added that “this program has been such a good experience for me. To know it has this level of accreditation makes me feel even more excited.  As I piece together what I want to do after completing the program, I’m becoming interested in starting my own breastfeeding center and helping low-income mothers. The accreditation is giving me more confidence to move forward with whatever I choose to do. It validates my decision to choose Birthingway.”

To achieve accreditation, programs must meet rigorous standards developed by professionals in the field and integrate a lengthy list of curricular components. The Birthingway Lactation Consultation Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Lactation Education Accreditation and Approval Review Committee. The Committee has determined that Birthingway’s program will “help assure a well-prepared and qualified workforce providing health care services.”

ABOUT BIRTHINGWAY COLLEGE
Birthingway College is a Portland-based non-profit college offering degree and certificate programs in Midwifery, as well as programs for Lactation Consultants, Childbirth Educators, Labor Doulas, Postpartum Doulas. Professional continuing education is also offered. Birthingway’s mission is to set the standard for educating excellent entry-level and continuing practitioners of the midwifery arts and sciences within the biodynamic model, integrating a solid framework of traditional knowledge and practices with a variety of therapeutic approaches.

For more information on Birthingway’s courses and programs, visit https://birthingway.org/.

MEDIA CONTACT
Elaura Dunning
Outreach and Development Coordinator, Birthingway College
elaura.dunning@birthingway.edu

###