The Worldwide Board Licensed Lactation Marketing consultant (IBCLC) examination is a extremely revered credential for lactation professionals. The examination is obtainable twice a yr, 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 could be 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 abilities. To arrange for the examination, you’ll need to review diligently and acquire expertise working with breastfeeding households. There are a variety of sources out there that will help you put together for the examination, together with examine guides, on-line programs, and follow exams. By following the following pointers, you’ll be able to improve your probabilities of success on the IBCLC examination.
Changing 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 follow. In case you are captivated with serving to breastfeeding households, turning into an IBCLC is an effective way to make a distinction within the lives of others.
The right way to Register for the IBCLC Examination in 2025
Step 1: Meet the Eligibility Necessities
Earlier than you’ll be able to register for the examination, you need to meet the Worldwide Board of Lactation Marketing consultant Examiners (IBLCE) eligibility necessities. These necessities embody:
- Holding a bachelor’s diploma or greater in a health-related area
- Finishing an IBLCE-approved lactation marketing consultant coaching program
- Having at the least 1,000 hours of supervised scientific expertise in lactation consulting inside the previous 5 years
Step 2: Collect Your Paperwork
To register for the examination, you’ll need to supply the next paperwork:
- Official transcripts out of your bachelor’s diploma program
- A certificates of completion out of your IBLCE-approved lactation marketing consultant coaching program
- A log of your supervised scientific expertise in lactation consulting
Submitting Your Paperwork
You may submit your paperwork on-line, by mail, or by fax. The IBLCE gives detailed directions on methods to submit your paperwork on its web site.
Step 3: Register for the Examination
After getting submitted your paperwork and so they have been permitted, you’ll be able to register for the examination. The examination is obtainable twice a yr, in Could and October. You may register for the examination on-line or by mail.
The registration price is $350. You may pay the price on-line by bank card or by mail by test or cash order.
Step 4: Put together for the Examination
After getting registered for the examination, it’s best to begin getting ready for it. The IBLCE gives quite a lot of examine supplies, together with a examine information, follow questions, and on-line programs. You also needs to overview the IBLCE’s Code of Skilled Conduct and Scope of Apply.
Step 5: Take the Examination
The IBCLC examination is a computer-based examination that’s administered at testing facilities world wide. The examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. You should 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 realize should you handed or failed the examination.
Should you handed the examination, you may be issued an IBCLC certificates. Your certificates can be legitimate for 5 years.
Examine Information and Sources for the 2025 IBCLC Examination
1. Official IBCLC Examination Examine Information
The official IBCLC examination examine information is essentially the most complete useful resource out there for getting ready for the examination. It consists of info on the examination format, content material define, and pattern questions. You should purchase the examine information from the IBLCE web site.
2. IBCLC Examination Preparation Programs
A number of organizations provide IBCLC examination preparation programs. These programs can offer you structured steering and assist as you examine for the examination. They sometimes cowl the examination content material define intimately and supply follow questions and mock exams.
3. On-line Sources
There are lots of on-line sources out there that will help you put together for the IBCLC examination. These embody web sites, blogs, and boards the place you could find info on the examination, examine suggestions, and follow questions. Some web sites even provide free on-line follow exams.
4. Really useful Studying Supplies
Along with the official examine information, there are a number of beneficial studying supplies that may aid you 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 | Really useful Studying Supplies |
|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology |
|
| Vitamin |
|
| Counseling |
|
| Analysis |
|
Examination Format and Content material 2025 IBCLC
Examination Format
The IBCLC examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions, which have to be accomplished in a 3-hour 45-minute timeframe. The examination is split into 4 sections, every masking a special facet of lactation consulting.
Examination Content material
The examination content material relies on the Worldwide Board of Lactation Marketing consultant Examiners (IBLCE) Job Evaluation, which outlines the data and abilities required of an IBCLC. The content material is split into 5 core domains:
- Lactation Counseling and Administration
- Anatomy and Physiology of Lactation
- Administration of Frequent Breastfeeding Issues
- Skilled Apply 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 situation.
Anatomy and Physiology of Lactation
This area covers the anatomical constructions and physiological processes concerned in lactation.
Administration of Frequent Breastfeeding Issues
This area covers the causes, prognosis, and remedy 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 schooling, together with methods for reaching numerous populations and supporting breastfeeding communities.
Skilled Apply and Ethics
This area covers the authorized and moral tasks of IBCLCs, in addition to the rules of evidence-based follow and high quality enchancment.
Examination Areas and Scheduling for 2025 IBCLC
The Worldwide Board Licensed Lactation Marketing consultant (IBCLC) examination is obtainable a number of instances all year long at varied places worldwide. The 2025 examination dates haven’t but been introduced, however they’ll probably be much like the 2024 schedule, which incorporates:
Examination Areas
The IBCLC examination is obtainable in over 80 international locations and territories worldwide. The particular places fluctuate every year, however they sometimes embody main cities in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Scheduling
The IBCLC examination is often provided twice a yr, in Could and November. The precise dates and instances fluctuate relying on the placement, however they’re sometimes held on a weekday.
Examination Format
The IBCLC examination is a computer-based, multiple-choice examination. It consists of 200 questions, which have to 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 totally for the IBCLC examination. The IBLCE recommends that candidates examine 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 follow |
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 id playing cards are all acceptable.
Private Belongings
Candidates are usually not permitted to carry any private belongings into the testing heart, aside from a timing system and a water bottle. All different objects, together with digital gadgets, have to be left in a delegated safe space.
Costume Code
Candidates are anticipated to put on applicable apparel that’s comfy and permits for ease of motion. Athletic footwear and loose-fitting clothes are beneficial.
Check Period and Break
The IBCLC Examination is a three-hour, 40-minute examination. Candidates are permitted one 15-minute break through the examination, which have to be taken at a delegated time.
Examination Format
The IBCLC Examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. Questions cowl a variety of matters associated to lactation, breastfeeding, and human milk.
Testing Surroundings
Exams are administered in a safe and confidential setting. Candidates can 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 of set up a wi-fi reference to the pc within the testing heart. |
| Sound high quality | Should present clear and intelligible sound replica. |
| Microphone | Not required. |
| Battery life | Will need to have adequate battery life to final the length 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 honest 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 gives suggestions for particular lodging.
Lodging Choices
Out there lodging embody:
- Prolonged time (as much as double the usual time)
- Assistive know-how (e.g., display screen 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 software for certification.
- Pay the certification price.
- Full the required persevering with schooling hours.
- Keep your certification by renewing it each 5 years.
- Formal coursework
- Workshops and webinars
- Self-study with permitted supplies
- Displays and publications
- April 18, 2025
- September 19, 2025
- December 12, 2025
Confidentiality
All lodging requests and supporting documentation are stored strictly confidential.
Lodging Selections
IBLCE will overview the documentation and decide concerning the requested lodging. Candidates can 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 surroundings |
| 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 can be held on [date].
3. Examination Outcomes Launch Date
Examination outcomes can be launched roughly [number] weeks after the examination date.
4. Certification Timeline
When you go the examination, you’ll need to finish the next steps to turn into an authorized IBCLC:
9. Persevering with Schooling Necessities
To take care of your IBCLC certification, you need to full the next persevering with schooling necessities each 5 years:
| Class | Hours Required |
|---|---|
| Lactation Administration | 25 |
| Enterprise Administration | 10 |
| Analysis | 5 |
| Different (e.g., advocacy, schooling) | 5 |
A complete of 45 hours of constant schooling 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 schooling (CE) and recertification to take care of 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 embody:
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 accountable for monitoring their CE credit. The IBLCE gives an internet CE Monitoring System (CTS) for this function.
Charges for Recertification
The price for recertification is $125 for IBLCE members and $200 for non-members.
Examination for Recertification
IBCLCs should go a recertification examination to take care of their certification. The examination is obtainable twice a yr, in June and November.
Examination Preparation
The IBLCE gives quite a lot of sources to assist IBCLCs put together for the recertification examination, together with examine guides and follow exams.
Examination Format
The recertification examination consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have 3 hours to finish the examination.
Examination Passing Rating
To go the recertification examination, candidates should earn a rating of 70% or greater.
Examination Outcomes
Examination outcomes are sometimes 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 can be provided on three dates:
The appliance deadline for the April examination is March 10, 2025. The appliance deadline for the September examination is August 11, 2025. The appliance deadline for the December examination is November 10, 2025.
Folks Additionally Ask About IBCLC Examination Dates 2025
What’s the easiest way to organize for the IBCLC examination?
The IBLCE recommends that candidates use quite a lot of sources to organize for the examination, together with examine guides, follow 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 appropriately reply 70% of the multiple-choice questions and 80% of the case examine 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 via schools and universities. After finishing the coaching program, candidates should go the IBCLC examination.
