At Lactation Education Resources, we are committed to providing the highest quality education that prepares you to be the best lactation consultant, and to ensure that you get the continuing education you need to achieve your goals. We are writing to share important updates regarding the latest International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners’® (IBLCE®) Continuing Education Recognition Points (CERPs) and good news about accredited LER courses.
TL; DR – What You Need to Know
- Good news! All LER continuing education courses that we have submitted for CERP approval have been approved by IBLCE under the Preferred Delivery Program.
- Most courses began offering CERPs on January 1, 2026, with a few courses being approved in late January or February. Studies completed by December 31, 2025 issued CERPs under the long-term LER provision.
- Important information: Courses designed for IBCLC certification (LCTP, Core, Bridge) do not offer CERPs under the new IBLCE standards. This is an industry change that affects all education providers.
The Detailed Version
Understanding IBLCE and CERPs
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners® (IBLCE®) is an independent, international certification body for the lactation consultant profession. Founded in 1985, the IBLCE administers and administers the IBCLC exam and oversees the registration process for more than 38,000 IBCLCs practicing in 136 countries around the world.
CERPs are the continuing education IBCLCs require to become certified. To maintain their credentials, IBCLCs must recertify every five years, either by retaking the IBCLC exam or by completing 75 CERPs (including specific categories related to breastfeeding, practices, and related topics) along with hours of clinical practice.
What changed at IBLCE
IBLCE changed its accreditation process for all continuing education providers.
In the past, IBLCE gave the status of “long-term sponsor” to organizations like LER. This designation allowed long-term accredited providers to distribute CERPs to their educational activities while providing IBLCE educational information and information and resources.
Effective December 31, 2025, IBLCE delisted long-term investments worldwide. This not only affected LER, but also all the educational providers that had this.
Under IBLCE’s new system, called the “Preferred Provider Program,” course providers must submit each course to IBLCE for review and approval. The IBLCE—not the provider—has the authority to assign CERPs to courses. This represents a significant change to the central recognition of all educational activities.
How LER Responded – it’s Good News
LER has successfully achieved CERP accreditation for all continuing education courses we have offered at IBLCE.
Our team has been hard at work recruiting, and we are happy to say:
- Most of our continuing education programs have been approved to begin offering CERPs on January 1, 2026.
- A few scholarships received acceptance dates in late January or February 2026
- All accredited courses now operate under IBLCE’s Preferred Provider Program
CERPs for IBCLC Recertification
If you are already an IBCLC who wants to continue training for certification, LER’s continuing education courses continue to provide you with the CERPs you need.
What Does This Mean for You?
Scholarships completed on December 31, 2025: These studies offered CERPs under the LER that provided the longest.
Courses completed on or after January 1, 2026: Availability of CERP depends on the acceptance date of each IBLCE course:
- More courses: IBLCE accreditation received effective January 1, 2026. If you complete one of these courses on or after January 1, you can receive CERPs.
- A few lessons: Received IBLCE accreditation with early dates (late January to mid February 2026). These courses offer nursing contact hours immediately, but CERPs are available for courses completed on or after the IBLCE approval date.
Availability of certificate: As we transition to the new system, there may be a delay in the availability of certificates for approved courses on January 1 while we update all certificates and IBLCE certification numbers. If you need your certificate urgently, please contact our customer service team, and we will prioritize your request.
For courses with later approval dates, certificates with CERP information will be available once IBLCE approval goes into effect.
All courses continue to provide nursing contact hours regardless of the validity period of CERP.
Our Commitment to You
This change represented a major shift in how continuing education is accepted throughout the field of breastfeeding education. We’re grateful for your patience as we navigate this transition, and we’re proud to continue to provide the high-quality, evidence-based, and inclusive education you’ve come to expect from LER.
The purpose of LER has not changed: to develop and provide educational opportunities in the art of lactation and breastfeeding from beginner to expert, to support the health of families by training breastfeeding assistants to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding and breastfeeding.
If you have any questions or concerns about your issue, please do not hesitate to contact our customer service team. We are here to help you achieve your professional goals.
*Please note that no certificate can be issued for courses pending approval.