About the Birthwork Institute™

The Birthwork Institute™ advances excellence and access in lactation certification by serving as the independent certifying body for the Certified Lactation Support Specialist™ (CLSS™) credential. We strengthen the perinatal workforce by certifying professionals who demonstrate ethical practice, clear scope boundaries, and competency in lactation support.

Our work centers on building a confident and connected community of professionals who provide accessible, within-scope, evidence-based support to families across the perinatal continuum. The Certification Council maintains full authority over all certification decisions and operates under the Birthwork Institute’s Fairness, Impartiality, and Non-Discrimination Policy. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Certified Lactation Support Specialist™ (CLSS™) credential is to improve access to high-quality lactation support and strengthen continuity of care for families by certifying confident, ethical, and well-trained professionals who provide accessible, within-scope lactation support in collaboration with the broader care team.

Our Vision

We envision a world where every family has access to confident, knowledgeable feeding support, where collaboration, respect, and integrity define the standard of care.

CLSS™ professionals form a growing community of birthworkers, educators, and care providers who work together to create continuity across the care spectrum, empower families through education and access, and protect and normalize the human act of feeding our babies.

About the Certified Lactation Support Specialist™ (CLSS™) Credential

The Certified Lactation Support Specialist™ (CLSS™) is a competency-based lactation certification designed for birthworkers and allied perinatal professionals.

The Certified Lactation Support Specialist™ (CLSS™) designation demonstrates to colleagues, clients, and the public that certified professionals have achieved a verified level of knowledge, applied skill, and ethical conduct in the field of lactation support. CLSS™ certificants earn this distinction through a combination of education, demonstrated competencies, and examination, showing they are equipped to provide within-scope, evidence-based lactation support across the perinatal continuum.  Eligibility Requirements

Why the CLSS™ Credential Was Created

The CLSS™ credential was created to meet a growing need within the perinatal workforce to bridge the space between lactation education and clinical care. Many perinatal professionals hesitate to support families with feeding because they fear overstepping their scope, and in many areas there are not enough lactation professionals available to meet demand. The CLSS™ was developed to help fill this gap by empowering professionals with the competence and clarity to offer within-scope, evidence-based lactation support while collaborating closely with lactation professionals and other healthcare providers.

The CLSS™ credential is built on a competency framework.
Learn more about the certification.