IBCLC recertification reassures the public that we serve that IBCLCs remain the most trusted source for lactation and breastfeeding care. The purpose of IBCLC recertification is to promote continued competence through professional development and lifelong learning. IBCLCs are required to recertify every five years to maintain their credential.
All recertifying IBCLCs must meet three requirements during each five-year recertification cycle:
Requirement 1: Education
Basic Life Support Education: Examples of education that meet this are Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP). A didactic and/or virtual basic life support course will be sufficient to meet the requirement. As healthcare professionals conducting in-person care, it is important to maintain basic life support education for client and patient safety. Certificants selected for audit will be asked to submit their card or certificate as proof of basic life support education. If recertifying by CERPs, then these education hours are recognised as 3 R-CERPs.
Two (2) Hours of WHO Code Education: Beginning with IBCLCs due to recertify in 2025, all IBCLCs who are recertifying must complete two (2) hours of education focused on the WHO Code. If recertifying by CERPs, these two hours should be part of the five (5) required E-CERPs.
Requirement 3: Select & Complete One Recertification Method (Recertification by CERPs or IBCLC Examination )
Beginning with IBCLCs due to recertify in 2022, IBCLCs are no longer required to recertify by examination every ten years. Now, there are two options for every five-year recertification cycle:
Option 1: Recertification by Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) with Continuing Education Self-Assessment (CE Self-Assessment)
Take the CE Self-Assessment
Complete Required CERPs
(Including Basic Life Support Education and WHO Code Training)
Complete 250 Hours of Clinical Practice
Apply to Recertify by CERPs
Continuing education, now guided by the CE Self-Assessment, helps IBCLCs demonstrate the comprehensive knowledge and skills required to practise as an IBCLC. IBCLCs are required to take the CE Self-Assessment to identify their competences based upon the current IBCLC Detailed Content Outline. Using the Personalised Professional Development Plan (PPDP) generated by the CE Self-Assessment, IBCLCs are then required to complete 75 CERPs.
The CE Self-Assessment is designed to encourage self-reflection by using a “Blended Approach” to continuing education. This balances the commitment to maintain competence – and continuously evolve to align with professional standards in the topics outlined in the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline – while also allowing IBCLCs the flexibility to select continuing education more specific to their career path, practice setting, or interest areas.
The CE Self-Assessment is a free, remote, computer-based assessment with approximately 70 multiple-choice questions taken to create a Personalised Professional Development Plan (PPDP).It must be taken in one 120-minute (2-hour) time block. The CE Self-Assessment can only be taken once during a five-year recertification cycle.
Upon completion of the CE Self-Assessment, you will receive immediate feedback in the form of a Personalised Professional Development Plan (PPDP). The PPDP will show you the topic areas of the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline where you need to focus your continuing education. A proficient score is 75%.
You are required to earn a minimum of five (5) CERPs in each topic where you scored below 75%.
If you have no required topic areas identified in the PPDP, you can earn CERPs based on your career path, practice setting, or interest areas in alignment with the Detailed Content Outline (DCO).
When selecting a course in one of your areas, review the Detailed Content Outline to ensure that the course description aligns with the required continuing education area.
Please find the requirements for IBCLCs due to recertify by CERPs below:
L-CERPS: Human Lactation & Breastfeeding
E-CERPs: Professional Ethics & Conduct
R-CERPs: Related to the practice of IBCLCs, but neither L- nor E-CERPs
After completing all the required CERPs, as well as all additional requirements for recertification, you must submit your recertification by CERPs application and pay the fee during the posted application period.
Please keep your PPDP from the CE Self-Assessment and proof of completion of CERPs in the event of audit.
If you decide that you prefer to sit the IBCLC examination to recertify, you may apply to do so within the examination application deadline – even if you have already taken the CE Self-Assessment.
IBLCE’s Online Systems to learn how to use the CE Self-Assessment Dashboard or to submit an application to recertify by CERPs in IBLCE’s online credential management system
The deadline to recertify by CERPs is September 30 in the year you are due to recertify. Find key dates here.
The IBCLC examination remains an option for recertification but is no longer a requirement.
The IBCLC examination is offered twice per year, in English in March and/or April and in all IBLCE languages in September, and tests the application of knowledge in the disciplines listed on the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline.
The IBCLC examination consists of 175 multiple-choice questions. The examination is given in two parts, and once you have completed Part One, you may not go back to that part. Most questions in Part Two are associated with an image. The standard IBCLC examination is four hours long.
British English is the foundation for all translations of the IBCLC examination. With respect to measurement, the IBCLC examination includes both metric weights and measures as well as US weights and measures, with the more prevalent metric measurement noted first, and with the US measurement noted second in a parenthetical, e.g, 30 mL (1 oz).
