IBCLC Recertifying Made Simple

Correct. This is a big change! In 2022, IBLCE changed its recertification requirements so that after passing the IBLCE exam once, there is no longer a requirement to retake it every 10 years. To maintain the IBCLC credential, you still need to recertify every five years. At each five-year mark, you have the option of recertifying by exam. What’s new is that now IBCLCs can recertify by CERPs every time.

Yes, definitely. Don’t just take our word for it. Recertification requirements can change suddenly and without notice. Before making major decisions about recertifying, read the relevant page on the IBLCE website.

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 recertify by CERPs, all IBCLCs need at least 75 total CERPs awarded during the 5 years before they recertify. Here are the minimum requirements in different categories:

• 50 L-CERPs (human lactation and breastfeeding)
• 5 E-CERPs (ethics and professional conduct)
• 3 CERPs, which are awarded by IBLCE for any in-person or online Basic Life Support course of any length, such as CPR or neonatal resuscitation
• 17 CERPs in any CERPs category: L, E, or R (topics related to our work with lactating families)

NOTE: To meet the new requirements, some IBCLCs will need L-CERPs in specific topic areas (see the later FAQ for details).

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

Under the new requirements, IBCLCs recertifying by CERPs must complete and submit to IBLCE its free, online Continuing Education (CE) Self-Assessment. This assessment consists of 70 multiple-choice questions. Its topics directly correspond to the seven sections of the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline (DCO) on which the IBLCE exam is based. (This is why all of LactaLearning’s recertification courses correspond exactly to the seven sections of the DCO.) The year you recertify and your percentage of correct answers in each topic area of the CE Self-Assessment determines in which topic areas you need L-CERPs.

Recertifying IBCLCs will receive from IBLCE online access to its CE Self-Assessment Dashboard 18 months after certifying or recertifying. This timeline gives you 3 years to earn CERPs before your next recertification application deadline.

When you submit online your completed CE Self-Assessment, IBLCE automatically generates your Personalized Professional Development Plan, which lists your scores in the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline (DCO) topic areas.

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.

All of LactaLearning’s recertitifaction courses clearly list this information, so you’ll know even before you enroll exactly how many L-CERPs you’ll receive from each DCO topic area. LactaLearning’s Book Groups and other courses also provide you with their CERPs breakdown to make your choices easy.

IBLCE does not require you to submit your CERPs certificates when you apply for recertification by CERPs. But you may be audited, so prepare for this possibility by carefully storing your CERPs certificates with your Personalized Professional Development Plan in a place where you can find them if needed.

Yes. You also need at least 250 hours of full- or part-time lactation clinical practice hours during the five years before recertifying. These hours may be in education, administration, research, clinical practice, and/or advocacy. Both volunteer and paid hours qualify toward this total. IBLCE created a Lactation Specific Clinical Practice Calculator as a tool to help you compile these hours for submission in the event you are audited.

See our comprehensive recertification guide. LactaLearning also offers personal consultations for IBCLCs wanting one-on-one help in sorting out their individual recertification needs. For more information or to schedule a personal consultation, email LactaLearning founder Barbara Robertson at barbara@lactalearning.com.