The Worldwide Board Licensed Lactation Marketing consultant (IBCLC) examination is a extremely revered credential for lactation professionals. The examination is obtainable twice a 12 months, within the spring and fall. The 2025 examination dates have been introduced, and registration is now open. In case you are contemplating turning into an IBCLC, now’s the time to begin getting ready.
The IBCLC examination is a difficult however rewarding expertise. The examination covers a variety of matters, together with lactation physiology, breastfeeding administration, and counseling expertise. To arrange for the examination, you will have to review diligently and acquire expertise working with breastfeeding households. There are a selection of assets out there that will help you put together for the examination, together with research guides, on-line programs, and apply exams. By following the following pointers, you may enhance your possibilities of success on the IBCLC examination.
Turning into an IBCLC is an effective way to advance your profession in lactation. IBCLCs are in excessive demand, and so they can work in quite a lot of settings, together with hospitals, clinics, and personal apply. In case you are obsessed with serving to breastfeeding households, turning into an IBCLC is an effective way to make a distinction within the lives of others.
Register for the IBCLC Examination in 2025
Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Necessities
Earlier than you may register for the examination, you could meet the Worldwide Board of Lactation Marketing consultant Examiners (IBLCE) eligibility necessities. These necessities embrace:
- Holding a bachelor’s diploma or greater in a health-related discipline
- Finishing an IBLCE-approved lactation guide coaching program
- Having at the least 1,000 hours of supervised medical expertise in lactation consulting throughout the previous 5 years
Step 2: Collect Your Paperwork
To register for the examination, you will have to supply the next paperwork:
- Official transcripts out of your bachelor’s diploma program
- A certificates of completion out of your IBLCE-approved lactation guide coaching program
- A log of your supervised medical expertise in lactation consulting
Submitting Your Paperwork
You possibly can submit your paperwork on-line, by mail, or by fax. The IBLCE offers detailed directions on the best way to submit your paperwork on its web site.
Step 3: Register for the Examination
Upon getting submitted your paperwork and so they have been authorised, you may register for the examination. The examination is obtainable twice a 12 months, in Could and October. You possibly can register for the examination on-line or by mail.
The registration price is $350. You possibly can pay the price on-line by bank card or by mail by examine or cash order.
Step 4: Put together for the Examination
Upon getting registered for the examination, you need to begin getting ready for it. The IBLCE offers quite a lot of research supplies, together with a research information, apply questions, and on-line programs. You must also evaluate the IBLCE’s Code of Skilled Conduct and Scope of Follow.
Step 5: Take the Examination
The IBCLC examination is a computer-based examination that’s administered at testing facilities around the globe. The examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. You’ll have 3 hours to finish the examination.
Step 6: Obtain Your Outcomes
You’ll obtain your examination outcomes inside 4-6 weeks of taking the examination. The IBLCE will ship you a letter that can let you understand for those who handed or failed the examination.
In case you handed the examination, you’ll be issued an IBCLC certificates. Your certificates might be legitimate for 5 years.
Research Information and Assets for the 2025 IBCLC Examination
1. Official IBCLC Examination Research Information
The official IBCLC examination research information is essentially the most complete useful resource out there for getting ready for the examination. It contains info on the examination format, content material define, and pattern questions. You should buy the research information from the IBLCE web site.
2. IBCLC Examination Preparation Programs
A number of organizations supply IBCLC examination preparation programs. These programs can give you structured steerage and assist as you research for the examination. They usually cowl the examination content material define intimately and supply apply questions and mock exams.
3. On-line Assets
There are numerous on-line assets out there that will help you put together for the IBCLC examination. These embrace web sites, blogs, and boards the place you could find info on the examination, research ideas, and apply questions. Some web sites even supply free on-line apply exams.
4. Advisable Studying Supplies
Along with the official research information, there are a number of really helpful studying supplies that may enable you to put together for the IBCLC examination. These supplies cowl a variety of matters associated to lactation and breastfeeding, together with anatomy and physiology, diet, counseling, and analysis.
| Matter | Advisable Studying Supplies |
|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology |
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| Diet |
|
| Counseling |
|
| Analysis |
|
Examination Format and Content material 2025 IBCLC
Examination Format
The IBCLC examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, which should be accomplished in a 3-hour 45-minute time-frame. The examination is split into 4 sections, every overlaying a distinct side of lactation consulting.
Examination Content material
The examination content material is predicated on the Worldwide Board of Lactation Marketing consultant Examiners (IBLCE) Process Evaluation, which outlines the data and expertise required of an IBCLC. The content material is split into 5 core domains:
- Lactation Counseling and Administration
- Anatomy and Physiology of Lactation
- Administration of Widespread Breastfeeding Issues
- Skilled Follow and Ethics
4. Breastfeeding Promotion and Schooling
Lactation Counseling and Administration
This area covers matters similar to prenatal and postnatal counseling, breastfeeding evaluation, and the promotion of breastfeeding as a public well being challenge.
Anatomy and Physiology of Lactation
This area covers the anatomical buildings and physiological processes concerned in lactation.
Administration of Widespread Breastfeeding Issues
This area covers the causes, prognosis, and therapy choices for varied breastfeeding issues, similar to nipple ache, mastitis, and low milk manufacturing.
Breastfeeding Promotion and Schooling
This area covers the rules and practices of breastfeeding promotion and training, together with methods for reaching various populations and supporting breastfeeding communities.
Skilled Follow and Ethics
This area covers the authorized and moral obligations of IBCLCs, in addition to the rules of evidence-based apply and high quality enchancment.
Examination Places and Scheduling for 2025 IBCLC
The Worldwide Board Licensed Lactation Marketing consultant (IBCLC) examination is obtainable a number of occasions all year long at varied places worldwide. The 2025 examination dates haven’t but been introduced, however they are going to doubtless be much like the 2024 schedule, which incorporates:
Examination Places
The IBCLC examination is obtainable in over 80 international locations and territories worldwide. The precise places differ every year, however they usually embrace main cities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Scheduling
The IBCLC examination is often provided twice a 12 months, in Could and November. The precise dates and occasions differ relying on the placement, however they’re usually held on a weekday.
Examination Format
The IBCLC examination is a computer-based, multiple-choice examination. It consists of 200 questions, which should be accomplished inside 3 hours and quarter-hour.
Examination Charges
The examination price is about by the IBLCE and varies relying on the nation or area. In america, the examination price is $325.
Examination Preparation
You will need to put together completely for the IBCLC examination. The IBLCE recommends that candidates research for at the least 200 hours, specializing in the next matters:
| Human lactation |
| Anatomy and physiology of the breast |
| Lactation administration |
| Counseling and assist |
| Analysis and evidence-based apply |
Proctored Examination Necessities for the IBCLC Examination 2025
Identification Necessities
Candidates should current two types of government-issued identification with their signatures and images. Passports, driver’s licenses, and nationwide identification playing cards are all acceptable.
Private Belongings
Candidates usually are not permitted to convey any private belongings into the testing heart, apart from a timing machine and a water bottle. All different gadgets, together with digital units, should be left in a delegated safe space.
Gown Code
Candidates are anticipated to put on acceptable apparel that’s comfy and permits for ease of motion. Athletic sneakers and loose-fitting clothes are really helpful.
Take a look at Length and Break
The IBCLC Examination is a three-hour, 40-minute examination. Candidates are permitted one 15-minute break throughout the examination, which should be taken at a delegated time.
Examination Format
The IBCLC Examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. Questions cowl a spread of matters associated to lactation, breastfeeding, and human milk.
Testing Atmosphere
Exams are administered in a safe and confidential setting. Candidates might be positioned in particular person testing cubicles outfitted with computer systems and headsets.
Expertise Necessities
Candidates should present their very own wi-fi headphones or earbuds that meet the next necessities:
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth functionality | Should be capable to set up a wi-fi reference to the pc within the testing heart. |
| Sound high quality | Should present clear and intelligible sound copy. |
| Microphone | Not required. |
| Battery life | Will need to have adequate battery life to final the period of the examination. |
| Ear match | Should match comfortably and securely within the candidate’s ears. |
Lodging for the 2025 IBCLC Examination
The IBCLC examination is obtainable with lodging to make sure truthful and equitable testing alternatives for all candidates with disabilities.
Documentation of Incapacity
To request lodging, candidates should submit documentation from a certified skilled that verifies the incapacity and offers suggestions for particular lodging.
Lodging Choices
Out there lodging embrace:
- Prolonged time (as much as double the usual time)
- Assistive expertise (e.g., display readers, magnifiers)
- Separate testing room
- Scribe or reader
Process for Requesting Lodging
To request lodging, candidates should:
- Submit the “Request for Lodging Kind” at the least 90 days earlier than the examination date.
- Present supporting documentation of the incapacity.
- Attend a pre-testing session with IBLCE employees to debate lodging wants.
- Submit your utility for certification.
- Pay the certification price.
- Full the required persevering with training hours.
- Preserve your certification by renewing it each 5 years.
- Formal coursework
- Workshops and webinars
- Self-study with authorised supplies
- Displays and publications
- April 18, 2025
- September 19, 2025
- December 12, 2025
Confidentiality
All lodging requests and supporting documentation are saved strictly confidential.
Lodging Choices
IBLCE will evaluate the documentation and decide concerning the requested lodging. Candidates might be notified of the choice in writing.
| Lodging | Description |
|---|---|
| Prolonged Time | As much as double the usual testing time, with breaks as wanted |
| Assistive Expertise | Use of specialised {hardware} or software program to help with testing |
| Separate Testing Room | A quiet and distraction-free testing atmosphere |
| Scribe or Reader | An individual to help with studying or writing the examination |
Examination Outcomes and Certification Timeline 2025
1. Examination Registration Deadline
The registration deadline for the 2025 IBCLC examination is [date].
2. Examination Date
The 2025 IBCLC examination might be held on [date].
3. Examination Outcomes Launch Date
Examination outcomes might be launched roughly [number] weeks after the examination date.
4. Certification Timeline
When you cross the examination, you will have to finish the next steps to change into a licensed IBCLC:
9. Persevering with Schooling Necessities
To take care of your IBCLC certification, you could full the next persevering with training necessities each 5 years:
| Class | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Lactation Administration | 25 |
| Enterprise Administration | 10 |
| Analysis | 5 |
| Different (e.g., advocacy, training) | 5 |
A complete of 45 hours of continuous training are required each 5 years.
Persevering with Schooling and Recertification for the IBCLC Examination 2025
The Worldwide Board of Lactation Marketing consultant Examiners (IBLCE) requires IBCLCs to finish persevering with training (CE) and recertification to keep up their credentials. Listed here are the main points for 2025:
CE Necessities for Recertification
To take care of IBCLC certification, IBCLCs should earn 75 CE credit each 5 years.
Sorts of CE Actions
Acceptable CE actions embrace:
Recertification Timeline
The recertification cycle runs from January 1st, 2021, to December thirty first, 2025. IBCLCs should full their CE necessities and recertify by December thirty first, 2025.
CE Credit score Monitoring
IBCLCs are liable for monitoring their CE credit. The IBLCE offers a web-based CE Monitoring System (CTS) for this objective.
Charges for Recertification
The price for recertification is $125 for IBLCE members and $200 for non-members.
Examination for Recertification
IBCLCs should cross a recertification examination to keep up their certification. The examination is obtainable twice a 12 months, in June and November.
Examination Preparation
The IBLCE offers quite a lot of assets to assist IBCLCs put together for the recertification examination, together with research guides and apply exams.
Examination Format
The recertification examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have 3 hours to finish the examination.
Examination Passing Rating
To cross the recertification examination, candidates should earn a rating of 70% or greater.
Examination Outcomes
Examination outcomes are usually launched inside 4-6 weeks of the examination date.
IBCLC Examination Dates 2025
The Worldwide Board of Lactation Marketing consultant Examiners (IBLCE) has introduced the examination dates for 2025. The examination might be provided on three dates:
The applying deadline for the April examination is March 10, 2025. The applying deadline for the September examination is August 11, 2025. The applying deadline for the December examination is November 10, 2025.
Individuals Additionally Ask About IBCLC Examination Dates 2025
What’s one of the simplest ways to arrange for the IBCLC examination?
The IBLCE recommends that candidates use quite a lot of assets to arrange for the examination, together with research guides, apply exams, and on-line programs.
What’s the passing rating for the IBCLC examination?
The passing rating for the IBCLC examination is 70%. Candidates should accurately reply 70% of the multiple-choice questions and 80% of the case research questions.
How lengthy does it take to get my IBCLC certification?
The IBCLC certification course of takes roughly 12-18 months to finish. Candidates should first full the Lactation Marketing consultant Coaching Program, which is often provided by schools and universities. After finishing the coaching program, candidates should cross the IBCLC examination.
