Interested in becoming an IBCLC?

You need four pieces to qualify for the IBCLC exam. 8 college and 6 continuing education courses in the health sciences, clinical hours working with breast/chestfeeding families, 95 hours of lactation specific education, and to pledge your commitment to the IBLCE code of profession conduct. Once all these requirements are met you can apply for the IBCLC exam. Learn more here.

The exam is offered in the spring and fall of each year. These dates shift so make sure you are checking them carefully!

You need to apply for exam at least 3-4 for months before you actually take the exam so be mindful of this.

CERP is an acronym for Continuing Education Recognition Point. It’s the unit of continuing education IBLCE recognizes. One CERP is equal to 60 minutes of continuing education, which may be delivered in person or online in a class, conference, seminar, or any other educational event approved by IBLCE.

To apply for the IBCLC exam you need at least 95 total CERPs including five hours of communication skills to be awarded during the 5 years before you apply for the exam.

Our CCLS Self-study has all of these in one easy place for you!

The IBCLC Detailed Content Outline (or DCO) replaced the Exam Blueprint. Its seven sections are the basis for the content covered in the IBLCE exam and the 50 L-CERPs required for recertification. The DCO’s seven sections are:

Section I: Development and Nutrition
Section II: Physiology and Endocrinology
Section III: Pathology
Section IVL Pharmacology and Toxicology
Section V: Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology
Section VI: Techniques
Section VII: Clinical Skills

Nancy and Barbara are committed to help make the process of becoming an IBCLC simple! A free monthly Zoom meeting if offered where they outline the process of becoming an IBCLC and answer specific questions. Email barbara@lactalearning.com to join. There is also a great blog that helps explain the process.

An IBCLC is the gold standard for lactation care. Becoming an IBCLC takes time due the courses in the health sciences and obtaining the required clinical hours. Some folks can do it in less than 1 year but many take 2-4 years.

The number of L-CERPs you need from the specific IBCLC Detailed Content Outline (DCO) topic areas depends on the year you recertify and your scores.

• In 2023, you need 3 L-CERPs from each DCO topic area with a score below 75%.
• In 2024 and after, you need 5 L-CERPs from each DCO topic area with a score below 75%.

If you score above 75% in all seven DCO topic areas, your 50 L-CERPs can come from any topic areas you choose.

The IBCLC exam is based upon their Detailed Content Outline. One of the beautiful aspects of the CCLS, LactaLearning's 95 hour course, is that it exactly follows this Detailed Content Outline to make sure you have all the content covered and it makes studying for the exam easier.

Yes. This is a four hour, proctored exam taken on a computer. It is multiple choice and usually is about 175 questions. Please take the exam seriously!

IBLCE does not require you to submit your documentation when you apply for the IBCLC exam. But you may be audited, so prepare for this possibility by carefully storing your CERPs and other certificates, your transcripts, and your clinical hours log and paperwork, where you can easily find them if needed.