The September 2026 IBCLC exam runs September 1 to 10, 2026. Applications closed on June 8. If you're taking the exam this September, the examination content, difficulty, and passing requirements have not changed.
Two things will look different. Scores now appear on a 200 to 800 scale, and candidates taking the exam in French can choose Live Remote Proctoring. The new score report has prompted the most questions, especially from candidates who use percentages on practice tests.
1. Your score report uses a new scale (200 to 800)
Starting with the April 2026 administration, the IBCLC Commission stopped reporting raw scores. Your result is now a number between 200 and 800, and 600 is the passing score.
Think of the new scale as a common ruler. The Commission starts with the number of questions you answered correctly, accounts for small differences in difficulty between exam forms, and reports the result on the same scale each time. That is why 600 is the passing point in every administration, even though the number of correct answers needed to pass may vary from one form to another.
The new scale did not make the exam easier or harder. It changed how the result is reported.
| What | Before April 2026 | From April 2026 onward |
|---|---|---|
| Score reported | Raw number of correct answers | Scaled (200 to 800) |
| Published passing-mark examples | 128 of 175 in September 2023; 132 of 175 in September 2020 | 600 scaled |
| Passing scores across cycles | Raw cut score could vary by form | 600 on every form |
| Exam content and passing standard | Unchanged | Unchanged |
You will no longer see how many of the 175 questions you answered correctly. You will still see a breakdown by discipline, including the number of items in each area and whether your performance was above, near, or below the passing standard. Results still arrive roughly three months after the exam.
Can you still use percentages on practice tests?
Yes, but use them to follow your progress rather than predict your scaled score.
On past exams, the published raw passing scores were 128 of 175 in September 2023 and 132 of 175 in September 2020, or about 73% and 75%. Those figures are useful historical reference points. They are not a conversion formula for the new scale.
The Commission says the passing standard has not changed. From April 2026, it reports results on the 200 to 800 scale instead of showing candidates a raw score. Use repeated practice-test results to find topics that need more study, but do not try to convert the percentage into a scaled result. The Commission says scaled scores do not convert directly into a number or percentage of correct answers.
Reading your scaled score
If your score is 712, you passed. Any score of 600 or higher is a pass. A score below 600 is not.
A 712 does not mean that you answered 71.2% of the questions correctly, and it does not mean that you performed better than 71.2% of candidates. The scaled score is neither a percentage nor a percentile.
You cannot work backward from 712 to an exact question count. The Commission says scaled scores do not convert directly into a number or percentage of correct answers. Its own definition is "a method of transforming raw scores (the number of questions answered correctly) into a consistent and standardised numerical scale."
In plain language, your number of correct answers still matters. The Commission places that result on a fixed scale after accounting for the difficulty of the form you took. The September 2023 and September 2020 raw cut scores were different, 128 and 132, which shows why a raw number was not a fixed passing score across administrations. Under the scaled-score system introduced in April 2026, the visible passing score is 600 for every administration.
If your score is below 600, the current retest policy allows three more attempts. After a fourth failed attempt, you must complete 35 additional hours of lactation education before testing again. After a fifth failed attempt, you must wait at least two years. Candidates who do not pass may also receive a 50% discount on the examination retest fee. The discount applies to the next attempt and can be claimed for up to two years after the first failed attempt.
Are some questions worth more than others?
The September 2023 test analysis report describes the passing standard as "equated number-right," and the Commission defines a raw score as the number of questions answered correctly. The sources reviewed for this article do not publish a separate policy on whether individual questions carry different weights.
The percentages in the Detailed Content Outline describe how many questions come from each domain. Domains do not have separate passing scores. A domain with more questions affects your total more simply because you answer more questions from that area. IBLCE puts it this way: "areas with a larger number of items will affect the overall score more than areas with a fewer number of items."
You do not have to pass each domain separately. The above, near, or below indicators on your score report are there to guide future study. IBLCE says that this content-area feedback "is not used to determine pass-fail decision outcomes."
The September 2020 test analysis report listed 175 scored questions and no unscored pretest questions for that administration. IBLCE's current public information does not make the same specific statement about every 2026 form, so the 2020 report should not be treated as a promise about future exams.
2. French candidates can use Live Remote Proctoring
Candidates taking the exam in French can now test at home through Live Remote Proctoring (LRP). Before September 2026, LRP was available only in English and Spanish.
For the September administration:
- French LRP is available only during the September window, not the March/April administration.
- Test centres and pop-up sites remain available.
- You need a laptop or desktop with a single monitor that passes Prometric's System Readiness Check. Tablets and dual monitors are not allowed.
- You need a private room. No one else may be in the room, and your phone and notes must be out of reach.
- If you have an approved breastfeeding or chestfeeding accommodation, you can take the break off camera.
If you want to change your examination language or switch between a test centre and LRP, contact the regional office that serves you as soon as possible. Appointment changes are subject to the published scheduling deadlines and fees.
3. The September 2026 timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Application window | Early May 2026 to June 8, 2026 (closed) |
| Authorisation emails sent | July 2026 |
| Exam administration (all 10 languages) | September 1 to 10, 2026 |
| Score reports | Approximately 3 months after the administration |
IBLCE states that you will receive results in your online account approximately three months after the examination administration. The standing policy elsewhere says roughly 12 weeks after the window closes. IBLCE does not publish a fixed calendar date, so any specific date you see quoted is an estimate.
The US tier application fee is $695 USD. Fees vary by country, so check the IBLCE Fee Guide for the amount that applies to you.
Rescheduling 5 to 29 days before your appointment costs $53.05 USD. You cannot reschedule or cancel within five days of the appointment.
4. What has not changed
If you already have a study plan, these changes do not require you to disrupt it.
- The Detailed Content Outline is still the 2023 version, with seven domains.
- The exam still has 175 multiple-choice questions in two parts, with one scheduled break. Part Two contains most of the image-based clinical questions. Once you finish Part One, you cannot return to it.
- All pathways require 90 hours of lactation-specific education, including two hours on the WHO Code, plus five hours of communication-specific education. Pathway 1 also requires 1,000 clinical-practice hours. Pathway 2 requires an appropriately accredited lactation academic programme and 300 directly supervised clinical-practice hours. Pathway 3 requires a verified plan before clinical hours begin and 500 directly supervised clinical-practice hours. Health-sciences requirements also apply. Our IBCLC pathways guide explains the routes in more detail.
One eligibility detail did change for future candidates. In the Candidate Information Guide updated on 31 March 2026, IBLCE says that initial candidates using CERP-approved programmes may count only L-CERPs toward the 90 hours of lactation-specific education. WHO Code education may be classified as either L- or E-CERPs. If you are using CERP-approved courses, check which CERP type each course awards.
5. A short checklist for the weeks before the exam
- Run Prometric's System Readiness Check on the exact device you will use for LRP.
- Confirm your appointment date and time. Rescheduling 5 to 29 days before the appointment costs $53.05 USD. You cannot reschedule or cancel inside five days.
- Arrange a private room now if you are testing through LRP.
- Use your final study time for practice questions and review rather than trying to cover an entirely new area.
- Remember that results take roughly three months. Avoid making work plans that depend on receiving them sooner.
The 2027 dates
If you are not sitting this September, the next two administrations have been published:
| Administration | Exam window | Languages |
|---|---|---|
| March/April 2027 | March 23 to April 1, 2027 | English only |
| September 2027 | September 8 to 17, 2027 | 11 languages |
Applications usually open four to five months before each window, but IBLCE has not published exact opening dates for either 2027 administration. The September 2027 exam adds Arabic as its eleventh language. LRP is currently offered only in English, French, and Spanish. IBLCE has not announced whether Arabic will be available through LRP.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next IBCLC exam?
The September 2026 IBCLC exam administration runs September 1 to 10, 2026, in 10 languages. Applications for it closed June 8, 2026. The next administrations are March 23 to April 1, 2027 (English only) and September 8 to 17, 2027 (11 languages), with applications opening four to five months before each.
Is the IBCLC exam different in 2026?
The examination content, difficulty, and passing requirements are unchanged. Scores are now reported on a 200 to 800 scale, with 600 passing, instead of as a raw count out of 175. Starting in September 2026, French candidates can also take the exam at home through Live Remote Proctoring.
How do I take the IBCLC exam in French?
Starting with the September 2026 administration, French candidates can take the IBCLC exam at home via Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) instead of travelling to a Prometric test centre. LRP requires a laptop or desktop with one monitor, a private room, and a successful Prometric System Readiness Check. Tablets and dual monitors are not allowed. LRP is currently offered in English, French, and Spanish.
What is the passing score on the IBCLC exam?
The passing score is 600 on the 200 to 800 scale. This reporting system began with the April 2026 administration. The passing standard did not change, but the Commission no longer reports the raw number of correct answers.
What does a scaled score of 712 mean on the IBCLC exam?
You passed. A score of 600 or higher is a pass. A 712 does not mean that you answered 71.2% of the questions correctly or performed better than 71.2% of candidates. The Commission says scaled scores do not convert directly into a percentage or number of correct answers.
Are some questions on the IBCLC exam weighted more than others?
The Commission defines the raw score as the number of questions answered correctly. The public sources reviewed for this article do not include a separate item-weighting policy. The domain percentages in the Detailed Content Outline describe how many questions come from each content area, and IBLCE says areas with more questions affect the overall score more.
Does my performance in one domain decide whether I pass the IBCLC exam?
No. Your overall scaled score determines whether you pass. The above, near, or below indicators for each discipline are there to guide future study and do not create separate passing requirements.
How do I find out what percentage I scored on the IBCLC exam?
You cannot calculate an official percentage from your score report. Since April 2026, IBLCE has reported a scaled score between 200 and 800 instead of a raw question count. The Commission says scaled scores do not convert directly into a number or percentage of correct answers.
How much does the IBCLC exam cost in 2026?
The US tier application fee is $695 USD. Fees vary by country, so consult the IBLCE Fee Guide for the amount that applies to you.
Sources
- Scaled Scoring Candidate Information. The IBCLC Commission's January 2026 announcement of the 200 to 800 scale
- Additional LRP Language to be Offered. French LRP introduced for September 2026
- 2026 Examination Options. Language and proctoring options for both 2026 administrations
- IBCLC Commission Examination FAQs. Exam format, LRP rules, rescheduling, retest policy
- Certification Fees & Key Dates. Application window, exam dates, fee tiers
- Pathway 2: Accredited Academic Programs. CAAHEP accreditation requirement
- Detailed Content Outline (2023). The current exam blueprint
- September 2026 Candidate Dashboard. Exam window, languages, and the approximately three-month results timing
- September 2023 Test Analysis Report Summary. Published raw cut score of 128 of 175 for that form
- September 2020 Test Analysis Report Summary. Raw cut score of 132 of 175 for that form, and the statement that the exam contained 175 scored items and 0 pretest items
- Candidate Information Guide (31 March 2026). Scaled scoring effective from the April 2026 administration, retest policy, and CERP eligibility
- 2026 IBCLC Fee Guide. Current initial examination and retest fees by country tier