Becoming an International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) Preferred Provider presents an outstanding opportunity to enhance the visibility of your educational content for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) seeking continuing education. With nearly 40,000 IBCLCs across 136 countries, the demand for lactation education is on the rise. By participating in IBLCE’s Preferred Provider Programme, you will have your approved educational programmes included in the Preferred Provider Directory, a high-profile resource for dedicated professionals committed to advancing their knowledge and skills in lactation.
IBLCE has received an overwhelming response to the new Preferred Provider programme, and it is exciting to see the tremendous amount of lactation education being provided to IBCLCs globally!
Due to the high volume of applications as IBLCE transitions to this revised programme, the timeline for review may somewhat exceed the standard 6- to 8-week time frame. In order to best assist providers, our staff is reviewing applications based both on course start date and application date. This may mean that an application submitted in August for a January start date would be reviewed after a course submitted in September for a December start date. Please know that IBLCE has allocated additional administrative support to the programme during this time. Providers will receive updates as soon as their applications have been reviewed. We appreciate your patience, and your dedication to lactation education!
What is a Preferred Provider?
Educational providers who want their educational activities recognised as continuing education suitable for IBCLCs may apply to become a Preferred Provider. An individual or organisation may provide education recognised for Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) through seminars, conferences, workshops, independent study modules, distance learning, or other educational modalities. Education eligible for CERPs must cover subjects found on the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline.
Please carefully review the Preferred Provider Guide prior to starting the application process. If you have any questions in the interim, please contact the regional office that serves you.
Please visit the Preferred Provider Fee Schedule for more information.
All applications must be submitted 90 days prior to the start date of the programme. Late submissions (up to 60 days before the programme) may be accepted with an additional fee.
Preferred Provider Highlights Include:
- Optional Two-Year Approval Terms: The new programme offers an optional two-year approval term for qualified courses. While not required, this option provides greater flexibility, more favourable pricing, and additional efficiency for providers.
- WHO Code Compliance: Providers must continue to affirm support of the WHO Code and subsequent WHA resolutions and adhere to the Minimising Commercial Influence Policy.
- Recognition and Visibility: Providers approved under the updated programme will have the opportunity for increased visibility before a global web audience of over 290,000 visitors annually.
- Inclusion in our Directory: The Preferred Provider Directory is a single, searchable source that lists all programs currently approved for CERPs.
- Please note that IBLCE does not require, recommend, or endorse any particular course. Approval for CERPs does not constitute endorsement of content.
Preferred Providers must submit each educational activity to IBLCE for consideration and may not assign CERPs to their own education. IBLCE has the sole authority to review and assign CERPs to education. Preferred Providers must apply for IBLCE CERPs verification at least 90 days prior to the start date of the programme. Late submissions (up to 60 days before the programme) may be accepted with an additional fee. Submissions made less than 60 days before the start date of the programme will not be reviewed.
In recent years, IBLCE has invested in vital enhancements to the IBCLC® programme and initiated a comprehensive media campaign to elevate the profile of IBCLCs among consumers, employers, and the wider healthcare community. As the global community of IBCLCs grows, so will their reliance on Preferred Providers for accessible education. To further our mission of promoting equity, IBLCE utilises a tiered fee structure adjusted annually, reflecting shifts in consumer purchasing power worldwide. This approach facilitates fairness and strengthens access to continuing education for all IBCLCs.
All Preferred Providers MUST:
- Review the Preferred Provider Guide
- Submit a Speaker Disclosure Form for each speaker
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions for Preferred Providers form
- Adhere to the IBLCE Minimising Commercial Influence on Education Policy and accompanying FAQs (coming soon)
- Affirm support of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (“WHO Code”) and subsequent World Health Assembly (“WHA”) resolutions
- Submit a Preferred Provider Application for each course
Other Useful Documents for Preferred Providers:
As has been effective since January 1, 2022, IBLCE will not accept applications for Preferred Providers who do not complete the Terms and Conditions form and affirm their support of the WHO Code.
In line with feedback and evaluation, IBLCE periodically updates this page, to include related applications and documents. The most recent update was made on September 24, 2025.