United States Lactation Consultant Association

What United States Lactation Consultant Association does

The United States Lactation Consultant Association (USLCA) is a non-profit professional membership association serving International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and other lactation care providers in the United States. Founded in 2005-2006 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. (with an operational mailing address in Helotes, Texas), USLCA is approaching its 20th anniversary in 2025. Its functional mandate is continuing education, clinical resource curation, professional advocacy, and peer networking for the U.S. lactation consulting profession. The organization also operates a public-facing directory that connects parents seeking lactation support with credentialed consultants.

USLCA's product surface is organized around four individual membership tiers (Digital Access, Basic, Standard, Enhanced) and includes recorded and live paid webinars, the peer-reviewed Clinical Lactation journal (published with Springer), the Amplify blog, Find an IBCLC Directory, Mentorship Directory, Speaker Database, Job Board, Marketplace, scholarship programs (Minority IBCLC Scholarship, Changemaker Award), an Event Calendar, Chapter Membership, the Affinity Program, and the Member Benefits Wizard. Recent additions include the Lactation Lounge, Clinical Day, the IBCLC Hub, and a Monograph Series. The technology stack is conventional web-based membership and content delivery; no proprietary AI/ML capabilities are described.

Revenue is generated through individual membership dues, chapter membership dues, paid webinars, journal subscriptions and advertising (Clinical Lactation), directory and job board listings, marketplace transactions, event registration, scholarships funded externally, and donations. USLCA partners with ILCA, WHO, the United Nations/World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), Lactation Education Resources, Praeclarus Press, Springer Publishing, and the Melanated Mammary Atlas. The organization operates with 1-10 employees under new Executive Director Dawn Baltz and Board President Stacy Davis.

Name

United States Lactation Consultant Association

Legal name

United States Lactation Consultant Association

Website

https://uslca.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

USLCA is a U.S. non-profit professional membership association for IBCLCs and lactation care providers, delivering four-tier individual membership, continuing education, the Clinical Lactation journal, directories, and advocacy partnerships, serving practitioners nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Business Associations (813910), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHACAA

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies)

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Professional Conference Organizers (PCOs) & Meeting Planners

Keywords

• Lactation consultant association
• Professional membership organization
• Continuing education lactation
• Clinical lactation journal
• Breastfeeding professional services

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers (Digital Access, Basic, Standard, Enhanced) with varying benefits. Dues increased in 2023 and 2025 for certain levels.
2. Webinar Sales: Revenue from recorded and live webinars with tiered pricing based on membership level. Enhanced members receive free monthly webinars; non-members and Digital Access members pay $30/credit hour.
3. Chapter Membership Dues: Annual dues from local chapters structured by size: Less than 50 members ($175), 50-99 members ($225), 100+ members ($300) as of 2026.
4. Advertising: Discounted advertising opportunities on the homepage and in newsletters for members, with full-rate options for non-members seeking to reach the lactation professional audience.
5. Journal Subscriptions: Clinical Lactation peer-reviewed journal subscriptions included in membership. Printed copies provided to higher-tier members; digital access for lower tiers. Previous journals available for purchase at $10 each.
6. Donations: Donations supporting scholarship programs, membership grants, and advocacy initiatives. The IBCLC Scholarship fund aids marginalized communities in becoming IBCLCs; Membership Grant Fund provides dues assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

USLCA is a nonprofit national professional membership association for lactation care providers, offering tiered individual and chapter memberships (Digital Access, Basic, Standard, Enhanced), continuing education through live and recorded webinars (CERPs/CNEs), the peer-reviewed Clinical Lactation journal and monograph series, the annual New Horizons in Clinical Lactation conference and Clinical Day events, professional resources including Find an IBCLC directory, mentorship directory, speaker database, job board, and marketplace, plus scholarship and advocacy programs.

Product overview

USLCA is a professional membership organization serving lactation care providers, not a unified software product. The organization offers a platform of interconnected services including Individual and Chapter Membership tiers (Enhanced, Standard, Basic, Digital Access), educational offerings (Recorded and Live Webinars, Clinical Lactation Journal, Monograph Series), professional resources (Find an IBCLC Directory, Mentorship Directory, Speaker Database, Job Board, Marketplace), and member benefits (Affinity Program, Member Benefits Wizard, Melanated Mammary Atlas). Key programs include the IBCLC Scholarship Program, The Lactation Lounge monthly gatherings, Clinical Day events, and the Amplify Blog. These services work together to support lactation professionals through education, networking, advocacy, and career development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Membership (Digital Access, Basic, Standard, Enhanced) Tiered annual individual membership for IBCLCs and lactation care providers offering educational opportunities, career resources, networking, journal access (Clinical Lactation), discounted webinars, Affinity Program discounts, and member directory listings. Open to anyone who supports breastfeeding; IBCLC certification is not required. Annual cycle January 1 - December 31.
• Chapter Membership Annual organizational membership for local USLCA Chapters providing print Clinical Lactation journals, free annual webinars, discounted pricing, and USLCA Elite Member status. Chapter dues scale based on chapter size.
• Recorded Webinars On-demand educational webinars offering CERPs and CNEs for lactation professionals, with discounted pricing for members (Enhanced: $5/credit hour; Standard: $10/credit hour; Basic: $15/credit hour; Digital Access and Non-Members: $30/credit hour). Available as 5-CERP recorded webinar bundles aligned to IBLCE detailed content outline categories for recertification.
• Live Webinars Real-time educational webinars allowing participants to engage with expert presenters and earn CERPs and CNEs. Free for Enhanced and Standard members; priced for other tiers.
• Clinical Lactation Journal Subscription Peer-reviewed journal published under USLCA partnership with Springer Publishing, featuring practical techniques and evidence-based care for professionals working with breastfeeding mothers and babies. Digital access included in membership; print copies for higher-tier members; previous issues available at $10 each.
• Clinical Lactation Monograph Series Collection of articles from Clinical Lactation journal republished by topic through Praeclarus Press, available in print and e-book format for easier access to subject-specific content.
• Find an IBCLC Directory Listing Public-facing US directory allowing IBCLC members to create branded listings with logos, photos, contact information, services, and credentials to connect with potential clients and employers.
• USLCA Mentorship Directory Listing Database linking aspiring lactation professionals with IBCLC mentors to help with clinical hours requirements for certification. Available to members seeking mentorship and to mentors offering their time.
• Speaker Database Listing Curated list of speakers and topics available for the lactation profession, promoting diverse and newer speakers for conferences and events.
• USLCA Job Board Posting Platform connecting employers with lactation care providers; free job postings for members and non-members; viewing restricted to USLCA members.
• USLCA Marketplace Listings Free advertising platform for members to promote lactation-specific products and services; also serves as a resource for finding professional services in the lactation field.
• IBCLC Scholarship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Members can earn 12 free CEUs annually through monthly free webinars
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerILCA and USLCA issued joint statements on key issues including support for the World Health Organization during COVID-19. The organizations collaborate on position statements and advocacy for the global lactation profession.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSLCA, through its WHO Code Committee, aligns with WHO/UNICEF breastfeeding recommendations and advocates for policies supporting breastfeeding as a public health imperative. The association's position statements support WHO guidelines.
• Lactation Education ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer IBCLC education scholarships. Lactation Education Resources provides complimentary registration to their Lactation Consultant Training Program Enriched (LCTP) for scholarship recipients.
• United Nations/WABAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSLCA participates in initiatives aligned with United Nations and World Alliance of Breastfeeding Associations (WABA) goals for promoting healthy infant growth and development.
• Praeclarus PressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublisher of Clinical Lactation Monograph Series, republishing articles from Clinical Lactation journal grouped by topic for easier access.
• Springer PublishingminorOthersPublisher of the peer-reviewed Clinical Lactation journal under USLCA partnership, though editorial control is separate from USLCA.
• Melanated Mammary AtlascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResource featuring images of mammary-related conditions on Asian, Indigenous, Black, and Brown individuals. Enhanced USLCA members receive a subscription to this resource.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• La Leche League International: Long-standing nonprofit membership organization supporting breastfeeding families and lactation professionals through education, conferences, and local groups. Comparable membership-fee model and breastfeeding-advocacy mission to USLCA.
• International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA): The international counterpart to USLCA; both are membership-based professional associations for IBCLCs that issue joint position statements and collaborate on advocacy. ILCA serves the global IBCLC community while USLCA focuses on the U.S. market.
• IABLE (Institute for the Advancement of Breastfeeding & Lactation Education): Offers lactation training courses, clinical education, and conferences targeted at IBCLCs, physicians, and nurses. Competes with USLCA in the lactation continuing-education market.
• Lactation Education Resources: Provides the Lactation Consultant Training Program Enriched (LCTP) for aspiring IBCLCs and is a USLCA scholarship partner. Directly comparable as a lactation training and credential-prep provider.
• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine: Physician-led professional membership organization for breastfeeding medicine that publishes peer-reviewed clinical guidance and conferences. Comparable in mission and professional-association structure to USLCA, though its membership is physician-centric.
• Healthy Children Project, Inc. Provides lactation consultant training programs, continuing education, and conferences aimed at IBCLCs and aspiring lactation professionals. Direct overlap with USLCA's educational programming and credentialing-support services.

Emerging players

• Wellstart International: Nonprofit focused on lactation education and supporting the WHO/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Adjacent peer with overlapping advocacy and education missions to USLCA.
• GOLD Lactation: Online education provider for IBCLCs offering webinars and annual online conferences with CEUs. Competes with USLCA's recorded and live webinar business and annual conference on the educational programming axis.

Broad incumbents

• National WIC Association: National membership organization representing the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, which employs IBCLCs (e.g., the San Luis Obispo WIC posting on USLCA's job board). Overlaps with USLCA in the public-health lactation workforce.
• Baby-Friendly USA: National authority for the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative in the U.S., accrediting maternity facilities. Comparable as a breastfeeding-advocacy and standards-setting body serving overlapping hospital and IBCLC audiences.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/uslca
• Facebookfacebook.com/uslca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-states-lactation-consultant-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/uslca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about United States Lactation Consultant Association