Program Accreditation

Requirements for NABBLM Accreditation

List of NABBLM Accredited Programs

There are currently no NABBLM accredited programs. Application for program accreditation opens 12/1/24.

Pathway Requirements

The North American Board of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (NABBLM) establishes the standards for eligibility for board certification in the field of Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine (BFLM) and administers the certifying exam. 

Educational requirements to practice evidence-based BFLM must be rigorous to ensure competency and quality in this emerging field. Applicants who choose to apply using the Fellowship or Alternate Pathways will need to complete an accredited program(s) in order to fulfill the eligibility requirements for board certification. Accredited programs will be assessed initially and every two years thereafter to ensure ongoing compliance.  An accredited program is one that demonstrates:

  • experienced BFLM physician leadership
  • consistency in high quality programming that is for physicians at an evaluation and management level
  • quality improvement processes to maintain excellent programming and consistency
  • course content that is mapped to the NABBLM blueprint to achieve comprehensive education
  • evaluation of learners’ competency

Accredited programs are listed on the NABBLM website and may use the NABBLM approved course seal on their website and marketing materials. NABBLM may revoke approval at any time at NABBLM’s discretion for failure to meet NABBLM’s standards. The NABBLM website is the most current resource regarding currently accredited programs.

Fellowship Program Requirements

General

  • Identifiable experienced BFLM physician leadership
  • Defined selective application process
  • Appropriate internal resources and review
  • Internal processes for quality improvement
  • Final evaluation is individualized and ensures that each candidate has completed their personal individualized self assessments, has completed required assignments, and demonstrated competency with all clinical skills

Didactic education

  • For physicians by physicians or appropriate level educators based on topic
  • Individual self assessment is part of the evaluation process
  • Adult learning style that is interactive and includes some group interaction between participants, in person or virtual
  • Covers all aspects of the NABBLM blueprint
  • Greater than 100 hours of direct or indirect educational time

Clinical skills

  • Individual evaluation to ensure each graduate has appropriate and comprehensive clinical skills and experience (competency is likely to require 1000 hours over 2+ years)
  • Individual self assessment is part of the evaluation process
  • Program will have a defined clinical hour requirement
  • Evaluation will include a clinical skills checklist that covers the blueprint, and may include case logs, standardized patients/cases, direct evaluation of skills, and/or case discussion with mentors/assessors

Alternate Pathway Program Requirements

Comprehensive Course Requirements

General

  • Identifiable experienced BFLM physician leadership
  • Appropriate internal resources and review
  • Internal processes for quality improvement
  • Final evaluation is individualized and ensures that each candidate has completed their personal individualized self assessments, has completed required assignments, and demonstrated competency with all clinical skills

Didactic education

  • For physicians by physicians or appropriate level educators based on topic
  • Individual self assessment is part of the evaluation process
  • Adult learning style that is interactive and includes some group interaction between participants, in person or virtual
  • Covers all aspects of the NABBLM blueprint
  • Greater than 100 hours of direct or indirect educational time
  • Evaluation will include standardized cases and/or case discussions

Component Course Requirements

Educational providers may create a course to cover one of three sections of the blueprint. The sections are General Topics in BFLM, Advanced Topics in Infant/Child BFLM, and Advanced Topics in Maternal/Parental BFLM. Applicants will need to complete courses in each section and submit certificates in order to be eligible for board certification. 

General

  • Identifiable experienced BFLM physician leadership
  • Appropriate internal resources and review
  • Internal processes for quality improvement
  • Final evaluation ensures that each candidate has completed required assignments and achieved competency of the material covered.

Didactic education

  • For physicians by physicians or appropriate level educators based on topic
  • Individual self assessment is part of the evaluation process
  • Adult learning techniques are utilized
  • Covers all aspects of the respective blueprint topicsIndividual evaluation to ensure each graduate has appropriate and comprehensive clinical skills and experience (competency is likely to require 1000 hours over 2+ years)
  • General Topics in BFLM
  • Advanced Topics in Infant/Child BFLM
  • Advanced Topics in Maternal/Parent BFLM

Program Accreditation Application Process

The application for accreditation will open on December 1, 2024. We welcome the opportunity to review applications from any program that satisfies the aforementioned criteria. In order to apply, we will require submission of the following information:

  • Name and location of the organization
  • Details of physician leadership, including CV(s)
  • Description of the program that includes an overview of the program, participant selection criteria, adult learning techniques utilized, and frequency/process of program’s review of instructors and content
  • Syllabus, including instructors’ names, credentials, and CVs as well as NABBLM blueprint topic covered in each lecture/module
  • Sample of presentation slides in PDF format, including reference list of appropriate scientific and medical resources
  • Audiovisual excerpts of presentations
  • Self assessment tool in PDF format
  • Sample of adult learning tools used, such as quiz questions, discussion, homework, etc.
  • For Fellowships and Comprehensive Programs
  • Sample of final evaluation that is individualized and ensures that each learner has completed their personal individualized self assessments, has completed required assignments, and demonstrated competency with all clinical skills (if applicable). Competency means that the individual is able to identify, evaluate, and refer if necessary.
Fellowship accreditation initial application – $2500

Comprehensive program initial evaluation – $2000

Certificate program initial evaluation – $1500

Biennial re-evaluation costs will be released at a later date