I'm hope I am able (fingers crossed) to do my training with the NCT but before I decided that was the course I really wanted to do; I also got an information pack for ABM courses.
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The ABM requires mothers to have breastfed their own baby for at least 6 months
ABM do a 'Mother Supporter' course costing £15 ...one module...appears to be a peer to peer support training.
ABM also does a 'Breastfeeding Counselor Training costing £50...10 modules of coursework to be completed within two years.
You must fund the cost of books yourself (10 books on reading list)
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The NCT requires mothers to have breastfed their own baby for at least 6 months (will take 3 to 6 months experience dependant on the tutor)
The NCT training to be a 'Breastfeeding Counselor' a diploma of higher education in Breastfeeding Counseling with University of Bedfordshire. Consisting of 12 modules usually completed over 2 years including essays, workshops, role-playing, presentations etc.
Funding for the course has to be obtained from your local NCT branch. Apparently there is a grant for books as well. The course book/journal list covers four A4 with 30 compulsory books/journals to be read over the course.
To get on the NCT course, the candidate must submit two reflective short writing pieces, attend two tutorials and pass an interview.
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I'm currently half way though a 'peer to peer breastfeeding training' with my local sure start program and that course is 10 x 3 hour lectures with no set book list just the literature given out by the midwife running the course.
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As you can see the range of course depth, reading lists etc vary a lot between different courses. I would suggest getting information on all the possible courses in your area and then you can look at the differences and decide which course is right for you.
HTH and good luck