Frequently Asked Questions
Exam Questions
So what do I need to be eligible to sit the exam?
As a Health Professional you need to meet 3 basic criterions:
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1. have at least the minimum number of clinical practice or breastfeeding counselling hours. This is your hands on work with mothers and their babies.
Please note the change in exam eligibility criteria for the 2012 exam onwards
2. have a minimum of 45 hours of formal education specific to lactation, covering the IBLCE exam blue print of skills and knowledge. To have the depth of knowledge to pass the exam and to be a good practitioner, most exam candidates will undertake a comprehensive education program of 120 - 150 hours.
3. have 2 professional references.
What do I do if I am sick on the day of the exam?
Often we know that we are unwell a day or so before the exam. As soon as you are unwell and feel that you may not be able to sit the exam call the Regional Director or your Country Coordinator so arrangements can be made for you. If you wake up on the morning of the exam and are too ill to attend call us as soon as you can. The Regional office is open early on the day of the exam. If we do not know your circumstances we can not support you.
I have a young baby and may need to breastfeed during the exam what should I do?
When you are completing your application form ensure that you mark in section 5 (Individual Considerations) that you are breastfeeding your baby. If you missed this section when you were completing your application form, contact the IBLCE office or your Country Coordinator for more details. The office will note this on your file and when it gets closer to the exam date one of the IBLCE Office staff members or Country Coordinators will call you to discuss what we can do to ensure that you and your baby's needs are met during the exam time. If you have any concerns please contact the Regional Director.
I missed signing my application. Can you waiver my 'incomplete application fee'?
IBLCE has introduced this fee to try and reduce the number of incomplete applications being sent in. Since the fee was introduced the number has greatly reduced. I sincerely regret but this is IBLCE policy. The aim of the policy is to encourage applicants to ensure their application is complete and to try and cover the cost of many hours following people up to get the correct information.
I am travelling overseas and won't be at home on the day of the exam. What can I do?
Call the Regional Director and we will find the closest exam site in the country you to plan to visit. This is organised every year for those candidates that will be travelling on exam day. Please let the Office know as early as you can so the arrangements can be made and you have all the information before leaving home.
Why does it take so long from sitting the exam to getting my results?
After the exam, the exam papers from all over the Asia Pacific Region are sent to the regional office and collated before they are sent to the psychomatrician for scoring. The Exam Review Committee members then review every critique form (that exam candidates completed during the exam). With investigation into the candidates comments and further review of the exam questions, some questions may be eliminated from scoring. The exam results are then recalibrated and performance records developed and then sent to the regional office for processing and dissemination to exam candidates. Like every stage of the IBLCE exam process, the scoring is rigorous.
Recertification Questions
I had to leave a seminar early to pick up my children and the coordinator reduced the number of CERPs on my certificate of attendance. Can I claim the full amount?
The coordinator is following IBLCE guidelines and is only issuing the CERPs for which you attended. If you come late or leave early the coordinators have an obligation to take this action. The principle to collecting CERPs is not the number but the education and knowledge you gain which will impact on your clinical practice. This is all to ensure a IBCLCs practice is current and remains at a high standard.
I am short a few CERPs to recertify what should I do?
Call the Regional Director and we can discuss your individual situation and help you work out a solution.
Can I claim CERPs for facilitating parents groups?
CERPs can be claimed for presentations to peers or health professionals not to parenting groups. CERPs are awarded not for the presentation but for the level of professional information given. The process of presenting to peers or other health professionals would be in greater detail and depth than the general information parents may require.
General Questions
I hear many people say that IBLCE is very American focused. Is it?
No IBLCE is an International Organisation with an international focus. There are Regional offices in Queensland Australia, Baden Austria and Virginia USA. The IBLCE Board members come from all over the world, see IBLCE Board. The current Board Chair is Ellen McIntyre from Australia.
All the exam administration for the Asia Pacific Region is done in the IBLCE Office in Australia.
