The 2027 IBCLC exam dates are March 23 to April 1, 2027, for the English-only administration and September 8 to 17, 2027, for the administration in all 11 examination languages. The IBCLC Commission says applications will open four to five months before each exam window, but it has not published exact opening or closing dates.
Arabic will become the eleventh examination language in September 2027. Scores will continue to appear on the 200 to 800 scale introduced in April 2026, with 600 as the passing score. This guide covers the published 2027 schedule, application timing, language and testing options, and how to read the scaled score report.
2027 IBCLC exam dates at a glance
| Administration | Exam window | Languages |
|---|---|---|
| March/April 2027 | March 23 to April 1, 2027 | English only |
| September 2027 | September 8 to 17, 2027 | 11 languages, including Arabic |
The dates come from the IBCLC Commission's Certification Fees & Key Dates page. Applications will open four to five months before each administration. Check that page rather than relying on an estimated deadline because the Commission has not published exact 2027 application dates.
The Commission confirmed on May 8, 2026 that the September 2027 examination will be available in Arabic. It asked interested Arabic-language candidates to complete a separate Application of Intent by June 1, 2026. That deadline has passed and was not the 2027 exam application window. Arabic is not part of the English-only March/April administration.
Your score report uses a 200 to 800 scale
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 later form, so the 2020 report should not be treated as a promise about future exams.
Current Live Remote Proctoring guidance
The Commission has not published the 2027 candidate dashboards or language-by-language testing options. Its current examination FAQs say Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) is approved for future administrations and list it for candidates testing in English, French, or Spanish. The March/April administration is English only.
In the current published setup:
- English LRP is available in both exam windows. French and Spanish LRP are available in September.
- 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.
The Commission has not said whether the September 2027 Arabic examination will be available through LRP or only at test centres. Check the 2027 candidate dashboard when it becomes available before choosing equipment or making travel arrangements.
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.
The 2027 timeline
| Milestone | March/April administration | September administration |
|---|---|---|
| Application window | Opens four to five months before the exam; exact dates not yet published | Opens four to five months before the exam; exact dates not yet published |
| Exam administration | March 23 to April 1, 2027 | September 8 to 17, 2027 |
| Languages | English only | 11 languages, including Arabic |
| Score reports | Approximately 12 weeks after the exam window closes | Approximately 12 weeks after the exam window closes |
The Commission says scores are released approximately 12 weeks after the examination administration ends. It does not publish a fixed result date this far in advance, so any calendar date you see quoted now is an estimate.
The 2027 fee guide has not been published. The current 2026 guide lists a $695 USD initial-examination fee for the US tier, but do not use that figure as a 2027 quote. Fees vary by country and may change by cycle, so check the current IBCLC Programme Fee Guide when applications open.
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.
A checklist for 2027 candidates
- Watch the official key-dates page for the application window and deadline.
- Check the fee guide for your country when the 2027 version is published.
- If you plan to use LRP, confirm that your language is eligible and run Prometric's System Readiness Check on the exact device you will use.
- After authorisation, confirm your appointment date, testing method, and identification requirements. Do not rely on a preferred date or test centre until the appointment is booked.
- Use your final study time for practice questions and review rather than trying to cover an entirely new area.
- Allow approximately 12 weeks for results. Avoid making work plans that depend on receiving them sooner.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next IBCLC exam?
The next published IBCLC exam window is March 23 to April 1, 2027, in English only. The following administration runs September 8 to 17, 2027, in 11 languages. The Commission says applications open four to five months before each window, but exact 2027 application dates have not been published.
When do applications open for the 2027 IBCLC exam?
The Commission says applications open four to five months before each examination administration. It has not published exact opening or closing dates for either 2027 window. Monitor the official Certification Fees & Key Dates page and submit against the published deadline rather than estimating it from the exam date.
Is the IBCLC exam different in 2027?
The exam still uses the 200 to 800 score scale introduced in April 2026, with 600 as the passing score. The March/April 2027 administration is English only. The September 2027 administration adds Arabic as the eleventh examination language. The Commission has not published the 2027 testing methods available for Arabic.
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. Confirm French LRP availability for the 2027 administration when its candidate dashboard is published.
Can I take the September 2027 IBCLC exam in Arabic?
Yes. The IBCLC Commission says the September 2027 examination will be available in Arabic, making it the eleventh examination language. A separate Arabic-language Application of Intent closed June 1, 2026; it was not the exam application. The Commission has not yet published the 2027 testing methods for Arabic.
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 2027?
The Commission has not published its 2027 fee guide. The current 2026 guide lists a $695 USD initial-examination fee for the US tier, but that is not a confirmed 2027 price. Fees vary by country. Check the official fee guide when the 2027 application window opens.
Sources
- Scaled Scoring Candidate Information. The IBCLC Commission's January 2026 announcement of the 200 to 800 scale
- Arabic Language IBCLC Examination Introduced for September 2027. The Commission's confirmation that Arabic will be available in September 2027
- 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 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