IBCLC to RA Doctorate

[inoele]

Hi everyone,

So, I have been trying to formulate a clear plan towards my doctorate at the cheapest price, as I am a homeschooling mom with very limited budget. Ultimately, I want to be able to teach at the college level for my church's missionary colleges, so I won't be making much money in the end. Currently, I work at one as the IT Admin for the midwifery department and I hope to do more teaching there and be a better asset for the school. Our school is working towards regional accreditation and I'd like to be counted on staff as one with a doctorate degree. Our school has a few majors - health, Bible, business, and education. 

I have a RA bachelors degree in chemical engineering, but it has been so long, I just can't imagine diving deep into that difficult material again. I have spent the last 12 years getting lay certifications in childbirth related professions, and I used to run a tutoring company. So, I feel that (women's) health or education would be the best fits for me and my interests. Since I am already working in the midwifery department, I would like to contribute more there and maybe help with teaching in the health department. So, I am leaning towards the health side of things. 

So, this is what I am thinking and have been working on with my tiny little budget.

1. Get my IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant).
- I only need 4 more college-level classes to finish the health science prerequisites. Thankfully the board accepts ACE credits, etc. I finished Sociology at Saylor and am working on Nutrition at Study.com. I plan to do Intro to Biology at Straighter Line, Psychology at Saylor, and Infant Toddler Development at Cooper Smith. I hope to get these done by the end of December.
- I will take the 95 lactation education hours with Lactation Education Resources at $1200. 
- When you study with LER, they will hook you up with an internship to complete your clinicals for an additional $2000 can that can paid in monthly installments over the course of the year. I have to complete 500 hours of clinicals, then I can sit for the board exam.


I am hoping with my IBCLC I can get a telehealth part-time position (I have seen these available on Indeed.com) that can give me a little added income, while at the same time being able to contribute with more authority at the Midwifery Department at the mission college I work at. As I would now be able teach breastfeeding and I hope we can potentially start our own IBCLC education program there.

2. Get the cheapest/fastest masters degree I can get.
Let's start with the end in mind. So, I have been looking at American College of Education's Ed.D. in Public Health Education. I think that would fit really well with the IBCLC and be broad enough that I hope I can contribute teaching classes to the general health majors at our school. This doctorate only requires a masters degree with no specification as to subject matter. Please confirm for me based on this statement from their Admissions policy that they will accept a masters degree from a nationally accredited college?

• For Bachelor’s and Post-Baccalaureate Level (excluding RN to BSN/MSN) Applicants:
  
  • Provide official transcripts from an institution indicating successful completion of the level of education required for entry to the program and any credits to be considered for transfer to a program.
    • Institution must be accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education (DOE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
      
    • Transcripts are considered official when mailed in a sealed envelope or through secured electronic transmission, directly from the institution attended to American College of Education or sent electronically. 
      

If I am understanding correctly, ACE will accept a nationally accredited masters degree, correct? If so, based on my research it seems like the Masters of Education from U of People is the cheapest, fastest, easiest one I could do that fits with my interests/skills, at under $4K in 12 months.  What do you think? I can't beat that price, right?

3. Get a doctorate from an RA college. 
So, ultimately, I want a doctorate from a regionally accredited school. As I mentioned I am looking at rolling a NA masters into a RA doctorate program at ACE, specifically Ed.D. in Public Health Education which would cost $24K over the course of 3 years. I will definitely need to be making some part-time money with the IBCLC to be able to afford paying for that. 

I have also considered Liberty U's PhD in Health Science which is for allied health professionals. They have a generous transfer policy and I keep wondering where/how would someone acquire cheap doctorate credits to transfer in to that program to bring the cost down. 

Anyways, that is my plan thus far. I am wondering if it makes sense and if I am understanding correctly ACE's admissions policy. Finally, I want to mention that I have checked out your forum from time to time over the years as I plan how I am going to get my kids through college cheaply. You all are incredibly generous with your helpfulness. It's exciting for me to be going through the process myself.