2021 Examination Options
Whether you are an initial candidate or an IBCLC recertifying by examination, IBLCE has crafted policies to allow you to make the best decisions for you and your family given your own personal situation.
As IBLCE prepares for the 2021 examinations, both IBCLCs and initial candidates have a number of choices available to them which allow for Live Remote Proctoring as made available in English by the testing vendor, testing at a test centre, deferring your fees to the next year, or financial refund of examination fees.
Here are the choices available to you:
Once you have submitted your application for the September 2021 examination, you don’t need to contact IBLCE to let us know about your examination modality preference if it is different from what you submitted on the application. When you schedule your appointment with the testing vendor you are able to select whether you want to sit at a test centre or take it via Live Remote Proctoring. Examination authorisation emails for the September 2021 examination administration are expected to go out in July and August.
IBLCE has approved the use of LRP for 2021 IBCLC examination administrations in light of the ongoing global pandemic. Any use of LRP for IBCLC examinations in 2022 and beyond will be subject to further review.
As far as the financial choices available to you, below is a chart which sets forth decision points including relevant dates:
2021 IBCLC Examination Candidate Financial Options for Withdrawing/Cancelling Examination Appointment
| Who | What | When |
| ALL Approved Candidates (April/May and September) | Partial Refund (50% of fees paid) | April/May Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by April 19, 2021. September Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by September 1, 2021. |
| INITIAL Approved Candidates (April/May and September) This also applies to those who were deferred from the 2020 examinations. | Defer fees to one of the next two examinations* *Candidates must apply and meet the certification requirements in the year that they sit the examination. | Submit request with documented extraordinary circumstances* before your examination date or within 30 days after the examination window. |
| RECERTIFYING BY EXAMINATION Approved Candidates (April/May and September) This also applies to those IBCLCs who were deferred from the 2020 examinations. | Defer fees to one of the next two examinations* and receive a one-year certification extension to December 31, 2022. *Candidates must apply and meet the recertification requirements in the year that they sit the examination. | Submit request with documented extraordinary circumstances* and 15 L-CERPs before your examination date or within 30 days after the examination window. |
| ALL Approved Candidates (April/May and September) This also applies to those who were deferred from the 2020 examinations. | Full Refund | April/May Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by April 19, 2021 with documented extraordinary circumstances*. September Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by September 1, 2021 with documented extraordinary circumstances*. Those who were deferred from the 2020 examinations and wish to request a full refund do not need to submit a new full 2021 examination application in order to request a full refund. If you intend to sit an examination in 2021 then you will need to submit a new application. Please contact your IBLCE regional location for further information. |
To request a deferral to an examination in 2022, contact the IBLCE location that serves you.
*Extraordinary circumstances also include COVID-19 related concerns, such as job loss of the candidate and/or partner/spouse, COVID-19 health issue for candidate or immediate family member, and/or concern for going into the public due to COVID-19
For more details about these options visit the IBLCE COVID-19 Resource Centre of the IBLCE website, as specific information and updates will be provided there when it is available. These options are only applicable to 2021 examination candidates due to COVID-19.
Your unique travel issues should be carefully considered.
Additionally, while local, state and federal regulations may restrict examination administration delivery at US locations; the IBCLC programme is deemed essential therefore offering greater test centre location availability.
IBLCE’s testing vendor Prometric is committed to remaining in compliance with governmental mandates and recommendations from the World Health Organization and will be dependent on local government guidelines. For further information on these social distancing policies and practices, please see here.
Review the Examination Day Notice here.
Updated on January 14, 2021