IBCLC® Certification Programme Earns Prestigious Reaccreditation
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The IBCLC certification programme has yet again earned accreditation through the NCCA, the accreditation body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence!
IBLCE Board Chair, Brooke Gilliam, BSN, RN, IBCLC recently stated, “I am delighted with this outstanding result and, as an IBCLC, am so proud of the excellence of the IBCLC, my certification and the gold standard in lactation! This is wonderful news for the entire IBCLC community, as well as a credit to the IBCLC Commission, my colleagues on current and previous IBLCE Board of Directors, and to the committed professional credentialing staff team”.
This highly coveted accreditation, particularly among healthcare certification programmes, provides independent, objective third-party affirmation that the IBCLC certification programme has met defined standards regarding many aspects of its programme, including:
- Appropriate governance structure, inclusive of public representation
- Representative subject matter experts making key programme decisions
- Knowledgeable professional staff & consultants
- Sound examination practices and psychometric analysis
- Transparency of key certification programme policies & procedures
- Security, inclusive of certification examination administration
- Programme integrity
- Financial sustainability, important for ongoing certification
- Commitment to quality assurance
IBCLC Commission Chair Deborah E. Schoch, PhD, RNC, IBCLC, CCE, CPST shared, “I am so pleased that the quality and rigour of the IBCLC certification programme continues to be well recognised. A great deal goes on behind the scenes to maintain a high-quality certification programme. It is my great pleasure to lead such a committed group of commissioners and to have played a role in the certification and reaccreditation process”.
IBLCE first earned this valued third-party accreditation in 1987. This is the first reaccreditation pursuant to IBLCE’s new structure inclusive of the IBCLC Commission. The certification programme accreditation is now valid until 2029.
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Coming Soon:
2024 Care Award Applications Open February 23, 2024!
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Does your hospital or community-based agency staff with the IBCLC to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding in your area?
Join the growing number of facilities already recognised for their commitment to hiring IBCLCs and to dedicated lactation programmes!
Learn more at the IBCLC Care Award website – and apply on the website between February 23 – March 25, 2024!
Visit the IBCLC Care Directory to see which Hospital-Based Facilities and Community-Based Agencies are already benefiting from the IBCLC Care Award programme!
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Commission and IBCLC News | |
Number of IBCLCs Worldwide Continues to Grow! | |
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As of January 2, 2024, there are now over 37,000 IBCLCs in 134 countries – this represents a 40% increase in the last decade!
Thank you to all IBCLCs around the world for your incredible commitment to supporting breastfeeding families and for all you do to advance global public health. You’re truly making a difference!
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2025 IBCLC Programme Key Dates Announced | |
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The IBCLC examination is offered twice a year, in March and/or April (English) and in September (in the 10 IBCLC examination languages).
The schedule for application and administration of the 2025 IBCLC examination is as follows:
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Applications open 4 - 5 months in advance | |
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The use of Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) has been approved for 2024 IBCLC examination administrations.
Any use of LRP for IBCLC examinations in 2025 and beyond will be subject to further review.
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The CE Self-Assessment became available in 17 languages in March 2023 to IBCLCs due to recertify in 2025. | |
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Find more key dates here.
Check back on the IBCLC Commission website for updates as we approach the 2025 IBCLC examination administrations.
Learn more to prepare for IBCLC certification or recertification in 2025:
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Online Credential Management System Update | |
The IBCLC is truly a global credential, with the IBCLC examination administered in ten languages! To streamline and improve the examination application experience for candidates, we are working on adding additional languages directly into IBLCE’s online credential management system (Clarus) for your convenience and so you don’t need to access another platform to apply. If you log on in the coming months, you may notice some small changes. This will not affect your account. We will share more updates as this project progresses! | |
WHO Code Requirements Coming in 2025 | |
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As shared in previous IBLCE Briefings, IBLCE continues to work to update its policies and procedures to strengthen its commitment to the aims of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (WHO Code) and subsequent World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions.
Beginning in 2025, all candidates certifying, recertifying, or reinstating will be required to take two (2) hours of education specific to the WHO Code.
More details coming soon!
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Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification® (MILCC®) News | |
MILCC Leadership Transitions | |
Kelly Valceanu, MILCC Board Chairperson | |  |
The Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification (MILCC) is delighted to announce new leaders for 2024! Kelly Valceanu, DNP, CNM, IBCLC, of Virginia, USA, has transitioned from Treasurer into the role of MILCC Chair. MILCC is grateful for the service of outgoing MILCC Chair, Brooke Gilliam, BSN, RN, IBCLC. | |
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Jarene Fleming, IBCLC, also of Virginia, USA, has been elected as Treasurer of the MILCC Board.
In the last three years alone, MILCC has awarded 91 scholarships to candidates in 28 countries.
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Jarene Fleming, MILCC Treasurer | |
Great thanks to the MILCC Board for their dedication to removing financial barriers to accessing the IBCLC credential by fostering inclusiveness, promoting philanthropy, and increasing public awareness of the value of the IBCLC. | |
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Save the Date:
MILCC Scholarships Open June 1 - 30, 2024
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MILCC provides a variety of scholarships to aspiring or current IBCLCs in support of IBLCE’s Vision and Mission.
Applications for MILCC Scholarships for candidates planning to sit the examination or recertify in 2025 will be open from June 1 - 30, 2024.
Please note that this year, MILCC will only accept 100 applications total. So please save the date and be among the first to apply!
Applications for the following scholarships will open on June 1:
- The MILCC general scholarship for aspiring and recertifying IBCLCs;
- The JoAnne W. Scott Scholarship, named in honour of IBLCE’s primary founder and for those from peer-to-peer support group backgrounds;
- The Dr. Clifton J. Kenon, Jr. Health Equity Scholarship, established by IBLCE and named in honour of a lactation luminary and former IBLCE Board member, with the goal of promoting health equity;
- The Global Humanitarian Scholarship, the newest scholarship established by IBLCE, designed to provide financial support to those affected by humanitarian crises occasioned by climate change, geopolitical issues, or natural disasters.
Learn more at www.milcc.org!
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Why I Give…
Sharing Knowledge and Strengthening Communities
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“As a former IBLCE Board member, I know how important donations are in helping fund access to the IBCLC for many people. As a La Leche League (LLL) Leader as well as an IBCLC, I like to fund the JoAnne Scott memorial fund, which helps women from peer support organisations, such as LLL, to be able to share the knowledge they have learned from being a volunteer to being an IBCLC in their communities.”
— Ann Calandro, MSN, RN, IBCLC, North Carolina, USA
You can join us in supporting MILCC by making a donation or purchasing an IBCLC pin here!
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Global Centre for Lactation Training (GCLT) TM News | |
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Next Webinar Coming:
Integrating Colostrum Harvesting into Prenatal Support
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Join us for an in-depth exploration of prenatal colostrum harvesting, a practice that is gaining interest worldwide! With presenter Annabelle Mackenzie, M.A. (Cantab.), IBCLC, we’ll analyse current evidence, identify effective expression and collection methods, and equip you with tools for formulating evidence-based prenatal support protocols for optimal colostrum harvesting.
Join the Centre’s email list to learn more about this webinar as it becomes available!
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Past Webinars Will Soon Be Available at the Centre | |
If you missed the Centre’s limited release webinars from 2023, check back at the Centre’s website in the coming weeks for another chance to view these exciting dialogues about important topics in lactation: | | |
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1 L-CERP
(Domain V. Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology)
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Find these cost-effective educational offerings – with more in store for 2024 – at www.gclt.org soon.
Join the Centre’s email list to be the first to learn when new options are available.
Educational offerings by the Global Centre for Lactation Training (GCLT)™ are optional and are not the sole way to pursue IBCLC (re)certification.
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This briefing is being translated and will be disseminated in all IBLCE languages in the immediate future. | |
Follow IBLCE on Social Media | | | | |
