Choose the Plan for Your IBCLC Journey

International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) are important members of the maternal-child health team specialising in breastfeeding care.

IBCLCs come from diverse backgrounds and work in different settings, but all meet rigorous eligibility requirements and pass an examination assessing knowledge in breastfeeding management. They work with families, policymakers, and communities to provide expert breastfeeding and lactation care and advance global public health.

To sit the IBCLC examination, candidates must meet eligibility requirements in three key areas:

Education

Complete Health Sciences Education and Lactation-Specific Education. Candidates require 95 hours of lactation-specific education, including five hours focused on communication skills.

Clinical Practice

Complete the required lactation-specific clinical practice through one of three pathways.

Professional Conduct

Candidates must adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct for IBCLCs.

The Three IBCLC Pathways

Pathway 1

For Recognised Health Professionals and Recognised Breastfeeding Support Counsellors, requiring 1,000 hours of lactation-specific clinical practice in an appropriate supervised setting within the five years before examination application.

Pathway 2

Complete an accredited lactation academic programme that includes 300 hours of directly supervised lactation-specific clinical practice.

Pathway 3

Complete a structured, pre-approved mentorship with an IBCLC, including 500 hours of directly supervised lactation-specific clinical practice.

Number of Attempts

The current IBCLC retest policy applies to examination applications beginning with the April 2026 administration:

• An unsuccessful candidate can retest up to three times.
• After a fourth failed attempt, the candidate must complete 35 additional hours of lactation education before sitting the examination again.
• After a fifth failed attempt, the candidate must wait a minimum of two years before sitting the examination again.
• Previous failed attempts no longer count once a candidate passes and earns the IBCLC credential.

The IBCLC examination consists of 175 multiple-choice questions and has a standard duration of four hours. The examination is divided into two parts. Part One contains independent questions, while Part Two consists primarily of questions associated with images and clinical scenarios. Once Part One is completed, candidates cannot return to it.

The examination is delivered through computer-based testing at testing centres worldwide, with Live Remote Proctoring also available for eligible candidates taking the examination in English or Spanish.

Each question has one correct answer, and there is no penalty for incorrect responses. The examination is based on the knowledge domains outlined in the official IBCLC Detailed Content Outline.

The IBCLC examination is offered twice each year. The March/April administration will be offered in English, while the September administration is scheduled across the IBCLC examination languages.

Candidates must first apply through the IBLCE online credential management system during the applicable examination application window. The application is selected according to the candidate’s chosen pathway.

Once the application is approved, candidates receive an Examination Authorisation Email containing the information required to schedule their examination appointment. Candidates should not attempt to schedule before receiving this email.

For test-centre appointments, candidates schedule directly with the third-party testing vendor using the information provided in the authorisation email. Scheduling promptly gives candidates a wider choice of available appointments.

Candidates taking the examination in English, French, or Spanish may also have the option of Live Remote Proctoring, subject to the applicable technical and environmental requirements.