New Detailed Content Outline for
IBCLC Programme in 2023
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As previously announced, a new Detailed Content Outline (DCO) for the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant® certification programme, also known as an examination blueprint, goes into effect in 2023. The new DCO is the result of an intensive practice analysis process involving IBCLC® subject matter experts working in consultation with a professional psychometric firm on a practice survey garnering thousands of responses from the IBCLC community. This revised outline forms the foundation of the IBCLC examination for administrations in 2023 and moving forward, until another practice analysis study is completed in the future.
In light of the implementation of this revised DCO in 2023, the CE Self-Assessment has also been updated for those recertifying by CERPS in 2023 to align with the new DCO.
As previously announced, effective 2022 and moving forward, IBCLCs were no longer required to recertify by examination every ten years.
An IBCLC who chooses to recertify by CERPs must take the CE Self-Assessment to help guide continuing education. The CE Self-Assessment is a free, 2-hour, remote online, approximately 70 multiple-choice-question assessment designed to encourage self-reflection on professional knowledge and to identify areas for continued learning. The IBCLC will receive immediate feedback after taking the CE Self-Assessment in the form of a Personalised Professional Development Plan (PPDP).
As of November 7, 2022, the CE Self-Assessment has become available to IBCLCs due to recertify in 2023 in all IBLCE languages.
After completing all the requirements for recertification, including the required CERPs according to the PPDP, those IBCLCs due to renew in 2023 must submit the recertification by CERPs application and payment by September 30, 2023.
Please note that the CE Self-Assessment for candidates due to renew in 2024 – 2026 will become available in early 2023.
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Congratulations to the Newest IBCLCs! |
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There are now more than 2,500 new IBCLCs! IBLCE began releasing examination results to candidates in their online credential management account this week! Earning the IBCLC is a significant achievement and IBLCE congratulates all those candidates who worked so hard and are dedicated to working with breastfeeding families and advancing their professional practice in lactation consultation. |
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IBLCE’s New Officers and Board Members |
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IBLCE has a new volunteer leadership team! Pursuant to the IBLCE bylaws, Mona Sakr, MBBS, MSc, IBCLC, originally from Egypt and more recently of North Carolina, USA, has transitioned from the Chair-Elect into the role of Chair.
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The Chair-Elect is Brooke Gilliam, BSN, RN, IBCLC, from North Carolina, USA. Annabelle Mackenzie, MA (Cantab), IBCLC of Suffolk, UK is now the Immediate Past Chair after a successful year as Chair. Public Member Kristi Salisbury, CDM, CFPP, RD of Minnesota, USA was reelected to serve as Treasurer, and Agnes Kamau, MA MFT of Nairobi, Kenya was reelected as Senior Board Member. IBLCE thanks each of these individuals for assuming these key leadership roles!
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IBLCE is pleased to announce the election of two vibrant new leaders to the IBLCE Board of Directors! IBLCE warmly welcomes Hairin Anisa Binti Tajuddin and Neelam Jawad to the IBLCE Board.
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Hairin Anisa Binti Tajuddin, Master of Paediatric & IBCLC is a Consultant Paediatrician and IBCLC in Malaysia. She holds an MBBS and Masters in Paediatrics from the University of Malaya. Additionally, she has served as a Certified National Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Auditor. Her effort in assisting mothers to breastfeed successfully in her practice centre and through BCNP Malaysia has been awarded with the IBCLC Care Award for 2020 – 2022.
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Neelam Jawad, MBBS, MCPS, IBCLC, originally from Pakistan, is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. She worked as an OBGYN for 10 years in Dubai with a special interest in maternal-child health and breastfeeding. She earned her IBCLC in 2021 and was the first IBCLC at her hospital. She is currently based in Texas, USA.
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IBLCE extends its greatest thanks to Christina (Christy) Porucznik, PhD, MSPH
who recently completed her Board term with IBLCE.
For more information on the IBLCE Board, visit the IBLCE website.
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Spotlight on the Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification (MILCC) Organisation |
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You may have heard of the Monetary Investment for Lactation Consultant Certification (MILCC) but not know the great impact it has on the IBCLC community—both those seeking to earn the IBCLC and those currently holding the credential. Did you know that MILCC has awarded close to a quarter of a million dollars (USD) to over 660 individuals in 60 countries over the last decade alone? MILCC is a major force in support of lactation!
A separate supporting legal entity of IBLCE, MILCC’s vision is “That every family worldwide has access to culturally appropriate care from an IBCLC,” with a mission “To remove financial barriers to accessing the IBCLC credential by fostering inclusiveness, promoting philanthropy, and increasing public awareness of the value of the IBCLC.”
MILCC provides a variety of scholarships to aspiring or current IBCLCs in support of IBLCE’s Vision and Mission. MILCC provides numerous scholarships:
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The MILCC general scholarship for aspiring and recertifying IBCLCs;
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The JoAnne W. Scott Scholarship, named in honour of IBLCE’s primary founder and for those from peer-to-peer support group backgrounds;
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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;
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The Emerging Leader in Lactation (ELL) Scholarship, offered periodically and established by IBLCE in the spirit of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion among the community of aspiring IBCLCs and future leaders; and
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The Global Humanitarian Scholarship, the newest scholarship established by IBLCE, with further information to follow, designed to provide financial support to those affected by humanitarian crises occasioned by climate change, geopolitics, and natural disasters.
Many highly recognisable names and faces in the IBCLC community have received MILCC scholarships over the years, and MILCC’s work has played a pivotal role in the growth and diversification of the field of lactation and the financial support of many lactation professionals seeking to earn the IBCLC to advance their professional recognition and careers.
MILCC works to avoid conflicts of interest, conducting due diligence regarding donations which might be inconsistent with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code of Marketing Breast-milk Substitutes and redacting names on scholarship applications for those volunteer leaders reviewing them and making scholarship decisions. Scholarship decisions are made independently, and while donations may be made to specific scholarship funds, they are not directed to specific individuals; rather, scholarship decisions are made by volunteer Board members with reference to defined scholarship criteria.
Kudos to MILCC and its dedicated volunteer leaders for advancing the vision that every family worldwide has access to culturally appropriate care from an IBCLC!
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Check Out IBLCE’s Website Updates! |
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IBLCE strives to enhance the customer experience and to this end has made a number of user-friendly upgrades over the past several months. These enhancements include:
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The IBCLC Registry on the IBLCE website now updates automatically shortly after changes have been made in the Credential Management System. Prior to this technology upgrade, the Registry required manual updating and therefore was only updated twice per year, in July and January, after new IBCLCs became certified. This new technology displays updates shortly after changes are made in online accounts. This includes current certification expiration dates for IBCLCs who successfully recertify, as well as name updates once approved.
For the newest IBCLCs who have passed the September 2022 examination administration, please note that as your certification start date is January 1, 2023, you will not be listed in the IBCLC Registry until your start date. (IBLCE will also provide passing candidates and IBCLCs who successfully recertified by CERPs with a formal verification email for their credential by the end of 2022).
IBCLCs, clients, and/or employers can search for IBCLCs by name, including your name in your primary language if you have provided this information in your profile, or your Credential Number (L-#).
This new registry is a useful tool for those looking to verify IBCLCs’ certification. Have questions? Reach out to the IBLCE region that serves you.
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Refreshed Language Subsites |
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Previously, IBLCE made key information available in 16 languages on the website. To improve the online experience of candidates speaking languages other than English, IBLCE has recently refreshed the language pages to include these enhancements:
- Quick links to important information at the top of the page
- A slider highlighting IBLCE news
- Documents grouped by topic
IBLCE hopes stakeholders find these upgrades both helpful and visually appealing.
Find information in your language on these refreshed subsites!
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With a focus on enhancing cybersecurity and due to a marked increase in unsolicited bulk digital communications (spam), IBLCE has implemented a new Contact Form. This form will forward your question directly to the staff member best able to respond to your inquiry.
Rest assured, however, you can still find the direct email to customer service for the region that serves you on the Questions & Support page. IBLCE Customer Service remains available to answer your certification and recertification questions.
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The Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.) recently elected IBLCE CEO Sara Blair Lake, J.D., CAE as chair of its board of directors. The organisation is the leading professional membership organisation providing education, networking, and other resources for the credentialing community. I.C.E. is affiliated with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, or NCCA, the highly valued accreditor of healthcare certification programmes, including the IBCLC. Previously, Lake served two terms as a commissioner on the NCCA, including serving as chair.
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Season’s Greetings from IBLCE |
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Wishing you and yours a warm holiday season and all the best in the New Year! |
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This briefing is being translated and will be disseminated in all IBCLC examination languages in the immediate future. |
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