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Certification specialist vs lactation consultant

The differences between certification specialists and lactation consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a lactation consultant has an average salary of $73,158, which is higher than the $45,265 average annual salary of a certification specialist.

The top three skills for a certification specialist include patients, medical terminology and surgical procedures. The most important skills for a lactation consultant are patients, IBCLC, and patient care.

Certification specialist vs lactation consultant overview

Certification SpecialistLactation Consultant
Yearly salary$45,265$73,158
Hourly rate$21.76$35.17
Growth rate11%6%
Number of jobs43,5655,809
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4444
Years of experience-2

What does a certification specialist do?

A certification specialist is primarily in charge of conducting inspections and assessments, ensuring operations and procedures comply with certification guidelines and requirements. Although their responsibilities may vary upon their industry or organization of employment, it usually entails reviewing certification applications and system plans, arranging schedules and tests, organizing orientations, providing advice or guidance to new members of the workforce, and implementing strategies. Moreover, they also perform administrative support tasks such as processing the necessary documents, facilitating activities, and coordinating with internal and external parties.

What does a lactation consultant do?

Lactation consultants are responsible for assisting new mothers in caring for their newborn babies. Their job includes helping mothers in their breastfeeding sessions and giving pre- and post-natal education to help them recover from giving birth. Before the actual process of giving birth, lactation consultants also provide seminars for couples who want to have a baby to prepare for pregnancy. They provide education to prepare clients physically, socially, and emotionally for the lactation period or the process of breastfeeding.

Certification specialist vs lactation consultant salary

Certification specialists and lactation consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Certification SpecialistLactation Consultant
Average salary$45,265$73,158
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $81,000Between $53,000 And $99,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYPalo Alto, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companyAppleChildren's Hospital of Michigan
Best paying industryInsuranceHealth Care

Differences between certification specialist and lactation consultant education

There are a few differences between a certification specialist and a lactation consultant in terms of educational background:

Certification SpecialistLactation Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorBusinessNursing
Most common collegeWestern Carolina UniversityDuke University

Certification specialist vs lactation consultant demographics

Here are the differences between certification specialists' and lactation consultants' demographics:

Certification SpecialistLactation Consultant
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 26.3% Female, 73.7%Male, 3.7% Female, 96.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.4% Asian, 8.8% White, 70.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 9.1% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%9%

Differences between certification specialist and lactation consultant duties and responsibilities

Certification specialist example responsibilities.

  • Support ISO audits for process documentation and software/ literature distribution, managing follow-up corrective action plans as needed.
  • Pre-Certify and scheduling of MRI's and bone scans.
  • Order supplies, apply cast, splints and other orthopedic equipment.
  • Prepare, apply, remove and adjusts casts and splints as advised by physician.
  • Review medical records to determine ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes according to establish guidelines and submit claims for processing.
  • Assign ICD-9 codes for various clinic types such as physical, occupational and speech therapies, diagnostics and labs.
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Lactation consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage communications with referral source, medical providers, injure worker and other parties involve in the rehabilitation process.
  • Provide clinical lactation support, community breastfeeding education, and CPR instruction
  • Work in outpatient breastfeeding center as IBCLC with occasional floating to inpatient lactation consulting.
  • Provide guidance to birth mothers on proper positions and latch techniques to minimize potential complications.
  • Implement and oversee a maternity services clinic focusing on prenatal education, lactation services, and breastfeeding.
  • Perform nutrition assessment for participants by providing participants with information on healthy eating, nursing assistance, and healthy lifestyle choices.
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Certification specialist vs lactation consultant skills

Common certification specialist skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Medical Terminology, 8%
  • Surgical Procedures, 6%
  • Medicaid, 5%
  • Data Entry, 4%
  • Certification Process, 4%
Common lactation consultant skills
  • Patients, 27%
  • IBCLC, 17%
  • Patient Care, 13%
  • International Board, 8%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Mother-Baby, 4%

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