Pathway Comparison

All Pathways:

Graduation from an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the United States or Canada, or possession of Final Certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) if graduated from a medical school in a different country. 

Possession of a current, valid, unrestricted license to practice allopathic or osteopathic medicine in a state or jurisdiction of the United States, or province or territory of Canada. 

Current or previous board-certification by a medical specialty board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) for physicians practicing in the United States OR current or previous certification by the College of Family Physicians of Canada or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for physicians practicing in Canada.

Grandparenting Pathway:

45 CME credits directly related to Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine over the past 3 years. 

• Educational credits must be taught at a physician level. Only those taught by MD, DO, MBBS, PhD, PharmD will be accepted. 
• A CME certificate must have been obtained. 
• Education from non-BFLM focused databases such as from Up-to-Date, Medscape are not acceptable (even when CME is awarded). 
• In order to demonstrate consistent and longitudinal ongoing learning, at least 10 CME credits per year must have been earned during each of the last 3 years with a total of at least 45 CME credits.

The applicant must have: 

• Started practicing clinical Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine after residency
• Started practice before January 2020 
• Experience in BFLM practice for at least 3 of the last 4 years

Fellowship Pathway:

Successful completion of a NABBLM accredited fellowship program.

Alternate Pathway:

Comprehensive Program

• Certificate from a NABBLM accredited comprehensive educational program 

Self-Directed Program 

• Certificates from NABBLM accredited educational programs demonstrating successful mastery of content in each of the following:
  • General Knowledge of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine
  • Advanced Topics in Child BFLM
  • Advanced Topics in Maternal BFLM

All Pathways:

The candidate must acknowledge and attest that they have the skills and knowledge to independently practice full scope Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine.  This practice involves both the parent and their infant/child throughout the whole duration of human lactation (2+ yrs) to include all of the following (more comprehensive list at NABBLM knowledge categories): 

• Taking a comprehensive BFL history of both the lactating parent and child 
• Performing an exam of the lactating breast 
• Performing a breast pump assessment 
• Evaluating infant oral anatomy and function 
• Evaluating feeding and assessing milk transfer 
• Evaluating infant and toddler growth
• Ordering and interpreting labs and diagnostic imaging for parent and child
• Documenting on both parent and child 
• Managing parent mental health concerns (screen, refer, treat) 
• Managing treatment for BFL conditions (e.g., mastitis, hyperlactation, vasospasm) 
• Managing milk production issues (e.g., insufficient or over-production

Application fee: $100
Examination fee: $1500

Effective 1/1/25 NABBLM will be changing from a differential cost structure to a universal fee structure. This will apply for both the application and examination fees. In an effort to fulfill a commitment we made during the grandparenting period, we will honor the discounted rate for Canadian applicants in the Grandparenting Pathway for the duration this pathway is open.