Resources for Applying for the Exam
- Candidate Information Guide
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Health Sciences Education Guide
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Recognised Health Professions List
- Recognised Mother Support Counselor Organizations
- Pathway 2 Academic Program List
- Pathway 3 Plan Approval Guide
- Sample Memorandum of Understanding
Resources for Recertifying IBCLC Certificants
Policy Downloads
Certification
IBLCE®, or the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners®, is the independent international certification body conferring the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® (IBCLC®) credential.
The IBLCE certification program for lactation consultants has been continuously accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) since 1988. NCCA accreditation is a mark of quality for certification programs.
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners owns certain names, trademarks, and logos, including IBLCE and the certification marks International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and IBCLC (the “Marks”). Only those individuals who have met the IBLCE eligibility requirements, passed the IBLCE examination, and maintained the IBCLC certification may use the Marks. Use of the Marks may only be made in accordance with the IBCLC Trademark Policy and its terms and conditions.
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) examination is the premier, internationally recognized measure of knowledge in lactation consulting. There are currently over 26,000 International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) worldwide, in 93 countries. IBLCE administers the annual examination in multiple languages and at numerous sites around the world.
Initial IBCLC Candidates
IBLCE offers three ways through which applicants may qualify for the certification examination for lactation consultants. These three pathways to examination eligibility have distinctly different, specific minimum requirements. However, regardless of the pathway a person chooses to follow, all first-time examination candidates must meet requirements within the following components:
- Health Sciences Education
- Lactation Specific Clinical Practice
- Education in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding
The three pathways to become eligible for the IBLCE examination are:
- Pathway 1: Use of On-the-Job or Volunteer Experience in Lactation and Breastfeeding Care
- Pathway 2: Graduation from an Academic Program in Human Lactation and Breastfeeding
- Pathway 3: Completion of a Directly Supervised Clinical Mentorship
For more information about becoming an IBCLC, click here.
Recertifying IBCLC Certificants
Once initially certified, a certificant holds the IBCLC certification for five years. At the five-year mark, a certificant can recertify by re-examination or by earning continuing education recertification points (CERPs). The purpose of allowing recertification by CERPs is to encourage continued professional development and to promote lifelong learning.
The IBLCE recertification policy requires that certificants recertify by examination every ten years. This re-examination policy is intended to periodically assess knowledge and cognitive skills related to lactation consulting. At the ten-year interval, the examination for all candidates is premised on a new practice analysis, capturing major developments in the field.
Irrespective of the method of recertification at the five-year interval, certificants must reaffirm adherence to the IBLCE Code of Professional Conduct and report any professional licensing actions and/or professional disciplinary actions. IBLCE believes this reaffirmation is important and reminds certificants of their ethical obligations.
For more information about maintaing IBCLC certification, click here.
MILCC Scholarship
Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification (MILCC) is an international, non-profit scholarship foundation that provides financial assistance to individuals seeking or maintaining certification as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
MILCC raises money and carefully invests funds in order to provide assistance to initial candidates and recertifying IBCLCs in financial need. Scholarship applications are reviewed on the basis of financial need, with priority given to candidates who serve a population lacking access to the specialized services of an IBCLC.
Scholarships available through MILCC:
- MILCC: available to candidates who meet the IBLCE requirements to sit the exam or to recertify by CERPs
- JoAnne W. Scott (JWS): available to a candidate who meets the IBLCE requirements and is a volunteer mother-to-mother breastfeeding support leader
- Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation (CBF): available to a candidate who meets the IBLCE requirements and who is a Canadian citizen
If you are a volunteer mother-to-mother breastfeeding support leader, you can apply for the JWS or the MILCC scholarship.
For information about applying for a MILCC Scholarship or donating to the scholarship fund, please visit the MILCC website at www.milcc.org.
The MILCC Application is now available in Spanish!
El formulario de solicitud MILCC está ahora disponible en español!
Si usted es una líder de apoyo voluntaria de madre a madre de una organización que promueve y apoya la lactancia materna usted puede solicitar la beca de JWS o de MILCC.
Haga clic aquí para la aplicación de MILCC
