As you make your plans regarding the 2022 IBCLC examination, we have some updates on the testing modalities and candidate financial options for you to consider.
IBLCE has implemented the following options to help you make an informed decision about the IBCLC examination this year:
Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) in 2022
IBLCE will offer the March/April and September 2022 IBCLC examination administrations via Live Remote Proctoring in English, which is currently the only language offered by IBLCE’s third-party testing vendor.
IBLCE has approved the use of LRP for 2022 IBCLC examination administrations in light of the ongoing global pandemic. Any use of LRP for IBCLC examinations in 2023 and beyond will be subject to further review.
Pop-Up Sites
For regional or geographic areas where there is not a test centre or there is limited test centre capacity, contingent upon IBCLC candidate volume, IBLCE works to facilitate additional locations known as “Pop-up Sites.” IBLCE will post requested Pop-Up Sites for the March/April 2022 IBCLC examination in the coming weeks. We will share when this is available to help you understand what sites may be available to you for the March/April 2022 IBCLC examination.
Financial Options in 2022
Please see the full list of your financial options below:
| Who | What | When |
| ALL candidates approved for the March/April 2022 or September 2022 examination | Partial Refund (50% of fees paid) | March/April Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by February 25, 2022. September Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by August 19, 2022. No documentation is required for a withdrawal with a partial refund. |
| INITIAL CANDIDATES: Candidates who are not yet IBCLCs and are approved for the March/April 2022 or September 2022 examination | Defer fees to one of the next two examinations* *Candidates must apply and meet the certification requirements in the year that they sit the examination. | Submit request with documented extraordinary circumstances** before your examination date or within 30 days after the examination window. |
| RECERTIFYING BY EXAMINATION: Candidates who are recertifying by examination and are approved for the March/April 2022 or September 2022 examination | Defer fees to one of the next two examinations* and receive a one-year certification extension to December 31, 2023. *Candidates must apply and meet the recertification requirements in the year that they sit the examination. | Submit request with documented extraordinary circumstances** and 15 L-CERPs before your examination date or within 30 days after the examination window. |
| ALL candidates approved for the March/April 2022 or September 2022 examination | Full Refund | March/April Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by February 25, 2022 with documented extraordinary circumstances**. September Candidates: Submit request to IBLCE by August 19, 2022 with documented extraordinary circumstances**. |
**Extraordinary circumstances also include COVID-19 related concerns, such as job loss of the candidate and/or partner/spouse, COVID-19 health issue for candidate or immediate family member, and/or concern for going into the public due to COVID-19
For more details about these options visit the IBLCE COVID-19 Resource Centre of the IBLCE website, as specific information and updates will be provided there when it is available. These options are only applicable to 2022 examination candidates due to COVID-19.
There will be further updates to the IBLCE COVID-19 Resource Centre within the next week to align with this announcement. We will continue to update the IBLCE COVID-19 Resource Centre to provide you with up-to-date information to help make decisions in this continued highly fluid environment. Please check back frequently to keep up with the latest developments.
If you have any questions about the options available for the 2022 IBCLC examination administration, please contact the IBLCE location that serves you.
If you are ready to apply, you can learn more about the examination application process for initial candidates here, or learn more about the application process recertification here.
The March/April 2022 IBCLC examination is administered in English only. You can find applications in English in our new online credential management system soon.
The September 2022 IBCLC examination will be available in all IBLCE languages. Applications for the September examination will open on April 12, 2022.