Education Provider Applying for CERPs
The following information is designed for institutions, organisations, groups and individuals providing professional education that is relevant to IBCLCs. If this sounds like you, and you want to apply for CERPs for an education program which may be a course, conference, seminar, a structured discussion group, or an in-house training session, please read on for all the information you will need.
Why should we have our program approved by IBLCE for CERPs?
How long are the CERPs valid for?
What if a program does not have CERPs allocated?
Does the program have to be finalised before we apply?
How long will our application take to be processed?
Can our promotional materials advertise CERPs?
Can CERP applications be made after the program?
What is the purpose of the signed statement?
Do we have to issue attendance certificates?
How should the certificates be designed?
Do we have to advise IBLCE of the names of those who attended?
Why does IBLCE require this list?
How long do I have to submit these documents to the IBLCE office?
What is an Independent Study Module?
What are CERPs?
CERPs are Continuing Education Recognition Points, instructional units defined by the IBLCE for professional education that is specific and appropriate for International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). CERPs are earned by IBCLCs who complete educational programs; one CERP being equivalent to one hour of educational time. IBCLCs must accrue a minimum of 75 CERPs in order to recertify, five years after passing the IBLCE exam.
What are L, E and R CERPs?
L CERPs may be allocated when the educational material is specifically related to Lactation. Recertifying IBCLCs must have a minimum of 50L CERPs. E CERPs are awarded for programs relevant to Ethics. Recertifying IBCLCs must have a minimum of 5E CERPs. Topics allocated R CERPs are Related to the work of a lactation consultant; such CERPs are not breastfeeding-specific but do provide relevant and useful information for a practising IBCLC. Recertifying IBCLCs can have a maximum of 20R CERPs. Click here for more information.
Why are CERPs needed?
As noted above, IBCLCs must accrue CERPs to recertify. CERPs must be approved by IBLCE. Program providers cannot determine CERPs by themselves.
Why should we have our program approved by IBLCE for CERPs?
There are now thousands of IBCLCs. These health care workers have shown their commitment to breastfeeding families and the field of lactation by their pursuit of a credential that signifies expertise in lactation consulting. This growing market of IBCLCs has shown a high level of interest in continuing education, and they are particularly interested in programs where they can earn CERPs.
Who may receive CERPs?
When CERPs are allocated to a program, anyone participating in the approved program, whether or not they are an IBCLC, may receive a certificate of attendance which shows the CERPs earned.
How do I apply for CERPs?
You can download the Education Provider- CERPs Application relevant to your country and simply fill it out and either post, fax or email it to us with your payment. Alternatively you can fill out an online application . Once we have received your online application, payment arrangements will be made and your application will be processed.
How much does it cost?
The price depends on the number of hours or CERPs applied for (1hr = 1CERP). The price list is on the front page of the application. You can pay by credit card or direct deposit. Please ensure your payment is indicated on your application. If you have any questions, please contact the IBLCE office in Australia.
How long are the CERPs valid for?
The application form is valid for 12 months from the date of lodgement. This means that if you repeat the program (same speakers and the same topics on the program within the 12 months) you can just apply for a repeat fee rather than re-lodging another application form.
What if a program does not have CERPs allocated?
If an IBCLC participates in a program that was not approved for CERPs, they may apply for CERPs using the Individual Application for CERPs. This CERP credit is awarded only to the individual who applies; no one else may share the CERPs from an individual application. You can save your participants uncertainty and extra work by having CERPs allocated to your program. Please note: IBLCE will only accept five individual applications for CERPs per program (as per IBLCE policy).
Does the program have to be finalised before we apply?
In order for us to calculate CERPs accurately, you must submit details of the finalised program (it does not have to be in the final format of your printed brochure/flyer). Make sure starting and ending times and breaks are clearly shown. Keep a copy of what you have submitted. If you later change the program, you must advise us, because the number of CERPs allocated may need to be amended.
How long will our application take to be processed?
We make every effort to process applications as quickly as possible however, during the busy times of the year they may take a little longer to process so please allow up to 3 weeks for return of information.
Can our promotional materials advertise CERPs?
If you have applied but haven’t received your CERP approval letter yet, your promotional materials may state:
“CERPs applied for from IBLCE”. (You must not anticipate the specific number of CERPs.)
If you have received your CERP approval letter, your promotional materials may state:
“ X CERPs allocated by IBLCE: Approval No. XXXXXX”. (Inclusion of the approval number is required as it is an assurance to participants that the CERPs are official, and assists in matching CERPs claimed when recertification applications are being assessed.)
Can CERP applications be made after the program?
Yes, as an education provider, you may apply for CERPs at any time but you must not distribute certificates of attendance until after you have received your approval letter.
What is the purpose of the signed statement?
CERPs are allocated only to programs that are intended as professional education for IBCLCs, health professionals or breastfeeding counsellors. CERPs are not allocated to programs where the target audience is consumers (e.g. mothers) or the content is primarily consumer focused. IBLCE needs you to certify this.
CERPs are not approved for programs organised by individuals or companies which manufacture, market or distribute products within the scope of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk substitutes (e.g. infant formula, bottles or teats); nor to programs where these companies or company personnel had input into the choice of presenters or topics or the content of any presentation.
The organisers are responsible for finding out before the event whether any presenter has an affiliation or conflict of interest that might impair the objectivity of the material presented (e.g. someone presenting research that was funded by a breast pump company). This affiliation must be declared to the participants (either in the program or at the session, or both) so the participants can make their own evaluation. If no affiliations were disclosed, a declaration is not necessary but may be included at the discretion of the program provider.
Do we have to issue attendance certificates?
If your program has been approved for CERPs (before or after the event), we require you to distribute certificates of attendance showing the number of CERPs earned and the CERPs approval number. If someone attends only some sessions of a program, the correct number of CERPs for that person must be recorded on the certificate. This enables IBCLCs to keep track of their CERPs over several years, and it is also their confirmation of the exact number of CERPs they have earned from your program. You may wish to provide certificates only to those who request them, but we would encourage you to issue them to all who attend, in case they are needed later.
How should the certificates be designed?
The Certificate of Attendance must include the CERPs approval number, the exact number of CERPs earned by that person for the sessions they participated in, the category of CERPs approved - L, E or R, and the wording: "IBCLE Pre exam education hours = x". Please click here to see an example certificate of attendance.
We ask that you submit an example copy of the certificate of attendance with your application form.
Where people attended only part of the program, or there are simultaneous breakout sessions which are not all eligible for the same CERPs, you will need to calculate the CERPs individually for each participant or group of participants.
Program providers should distribute attendance certificates at the end of the program to ensure they are a more accurate record of attendance. The number of CERPs should be modified if you are aware that the recipient arrived late or departed early.
Please note that a certificate does not need to have a fancy design – it can be a simple statement of the required information.
Do we have to advise IBLCE of the names of those who attended?
After the program, you must send IBLCE a list of all those who attended, or the CERPs will not be valid. This list should be sent as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the completion of the program as IBCLCs may want to use them immediately. The list can be sent by mail, fax or e-mail.
For programs with pre-enrolments you may like to prepare the list ahead of time to check off participants as they arrive and use this as your attendance list.
For programs where some people attended only part of the program (e.g. one day registrants at a conference), or only some of the CERP sessions, please indicate.
All attendance lists sent for CERPs purposes will be treated as confidential and will not be used for any other purpose. Addresses or other details are not required on attendance lists.
Why does IBLCE require this list?
IBLCE needs a list to allow cross-checking with attendance certificates that are submitted with exam and recertification applications. We need a list of everyone to whom a certificate was provided, even if they did not request one. The simplest procedure is to issue a certificate to all, and to include all those names on the list.
How long do I have to submit these documents to the IBLCE office?
When you complete your application form, upon submitting you agree to the following:
We agree to provide the following within one month of completion of the program, with the IBLCE Approval number on each document:
- A post-program report which includes the total number or participants, the total number who received an attendance certificate (may be the same number) and a short summary report on the program evaluation.
- A typed list of names and IBLCE ID number (where possible) stating the number and type of CERPs for each participant.
- A final sample copy of the Certificate of Attendance (CERPs certificate).
If we fail to meet the above obligation a late fee of 50% of the initial fee will be charged and no further CERPs applications will be processed by IBLCE until this outstanding requirement has been received and the fee has been paid.
We agree to issue all participants with a Certificate of Attendance with the approval number and number of CERPs allocated, within 30 days of the program finishing.
What is an Independent Study Module?
An Independent Study Module (ISM) is a learning package which the participant can study at home and then submit a post-test for independent evaluation. The module may be written material, audiotape, videotape, or electronic media, and must be based on current referenced material. For example: audio or videotapes from conferences, with accompanying study guide and bibliography or copied references publication written specifically for continuing education purposes, publication for which study guide and questions were written later, an interactive learning experience such as a CD-ROM program.
Independent Study Modules eligible for approval for CERPs have the following characteristics:
- The primary focus of the module is lactation-specific (i.e. eligible for L CERPs)
- The module includes written criteria and learning objectives.
- The module includes clear instructions about all steps in the process of completing the ISM and getting the CERP awarded.
- The bibliography reflects current professional resources, with primary references preferred.
- There is a post-test and it is objective, with a pass-fail standard, e.g. multiple choice and true-false questions.
- An evaluation tool is included, so that the user has a means of providing feedback about the module.
To be accredited for CERPs, the ISM must be reviewed by 2 or more content experts prior to pre-test by a minimum of 5 IBCLCs to establish time allocation and test validity. (Exception: where the module is approved for University credit points, these can be used to establish the anticipated time a student would take). ISMs are accredited with one CERP per one hour of time spent completing the module, as determined during pre-testing. CERP accreditation of the ISM is for three years. ISM providers issue CERP certificates and notify IBLCE of CERPs awarded. A list of the names of people who have completed the modules must be submitted to IBLCE every three months.
What is an Interest Group?
An interest group is a local group or association who provide lactation education through regular meetings, generally monthly or bi-monthly. A coordinator for the group can apply for CERPs by submitting the standard application form and a calendar of the proposed dates of the meetings over a 12 month period. IBLCE also needs to know the speakers and the topics that the coordinator is aware of at the time of the application. IBLCE will then allocate an approval number and a maximum number of CERPs for the year. For example, if a group was to meet for two hours each month for 12 months, IBLCE would allocate MAXIMUM 24 CERPs. (Please note that if the group was gathering for a business meeting for two hours every month and only one hour is lactation education, they can only claim CERPs for the education component which means they would be allocated MAXIMUM 12 CERPs). When the coordinator receives the approval letter they will also receive a document which will thoroughly explain what constitutes an L, E or R CERP and they will allocate the CERPs accordingly at the end of the meeting. The approval number and CERPs must appear on a certificate of attendance given to all attendees. The coordinator must also submit an attendance list to IBLCE no more than 30 days after the meeting has been held, as well as a brief report including the speaker and the topic presented.
If your association has several different groups spread across the Asia Pacific region or just Australia, IBLCE would encourage you to apply for CERPs together. This is the most time and cost effective way to apply. You will all be issued with the same approval number and the maximum number of CERPs requested by each group.
Back to top
Click here for PDF Guide to Lactation Courses This guide is updated throughout the year.
IBLCE will not accept pre-exam education hours obtained after the 1st August 2008 for sessions presented or organised by a person who has had his or her certification suspended or revoked by IBLCE, for the period of suspension or revocation. IBLCE will not award CERPs for sessions presented or organised after the 1st November 2008, by a person who has had his or her certification suspended or revoked by IBLCE, for the period of suspension or revocation. |
|---|
- Exam Eligibility Criteria
- Clinical Competencies
- Scope of Practice
- Code of Professional Conduct
- Exam Material for Initial Applicants
- Recertification Application Packs for IBCLCs
- CERP Application Forms for Education Providers
- MILCC Application Forms
- What's New at IBLCE?
- IBCLC Lactation Care Award
