Some recertifying IBCLCs understand that the requirements and options for recertifying are different this year than in the past. But they are often unclear about the process for recertifying by CERPs.
Here’s a step-by-step guide.
1. Determine your date for renewal
First, determine if this is your year for recertification, or not.
You will receive notification from IBCLE a few months prior to the beginning of your recertification year.
2. Retrieve your self-assessment
If you are up for renewal, IBLCE will email you a link to take your self-assessment.
If you can’t immediately find the link, consider this:
- IBLCE emails the link for self-assessment only to those who are due to recertify.
- If you know this is your year to recertify but you still can’t find the link by January of your recertification year, contact the IBLCE location that serves you.
3. Take your self-assessment
The process for recertifying by CERPs starts by taking the self-assessment.
Click the link provided and take your self-assessment. Upon completion, IBLCE will give you your Personalized Professional Development Plan (PPDP). Your PPDP will be available in the CE Self-Assessment Dashboard. For more information on how to use the IBLCE online systems, see their website.
Your PPDP will tell you in which topic areas you are required to earn CERPs.
4. Determine how many CERPs you’ve already completed.
If you’ve been accumulating CERPs, you may already have met the requirements of your PPDP. Just remember that you need a total of 75 CERPs.
5. Locate CERP programs that meet your PPDP requirements
Remember, this is a personalized program. Your requirements might be very different from someone else’s. From the IBLCE website:
“For IBCLCs due to recertify in 2023: if you have one or more required topic areas identified in the PPDP, you are required to earn a minimum of three (3) CERPs in each of those topic areas, For IBCLCs due to recertify in 2024 and beyond: if you have one or more required topic areas identified in the PPDP, you are required to earn a minimum of five (5) CERPs in each of those topic areas, If you have no required topic areas identified in the PPDP, you can earn CERPs based on your career path, practice setting, or interest areas in alignment with the Detailed Content Outline (DCO).”
You will need to locate and complete the required number of CERPs in the required topic areas outlined on your PPDP. CERP providers are responsible for designating the topic area(s) of their courses. We recommend that you also ensure that these are designated on your certificate(s).
Note, too, that we have clearly labeled your certificates so that there’s no doubt in your mind or in IBLCE’s mind about whether you’ve met the requirement for your “topic.” We have clearly labeled our CERP certificates so that they show which topic is covered.
We can help you with this step; we offer CERPs that will cover any requirement you must fulfill. You can buy just a few CERP courses, or you can buy the more economical bundles of 15, 30, 45, and 75 CERPs.
We want to allay your fears about the “topics” for which you must earn CERPs. Note that we offer a swap for our 75-CERP Bundle to ensure you have the CERPs and topic areas you need … just in case!
6. Budget time to meet your CERP requirements
Remember, most people can complete 1 CERP in about 1 hour. (Certainly, we’ve seen the speed demons and slow and steady learners, but 1 hour is what most people need.)
7. Confirm if you have all of your CERP certificates
As you move through the process for recertifying by CERPs, take one last look at everything.
If you have completed some CERPs within the last 5 years, confirm that you have completed:
- CERPs fulfilling the requirements from your PPDP depending on your recertification year
- 5 E-CERPs
- A total of 75 CERPs
- 3 hours of Basic Life Support Education. This counts as 3 R-CERPs.
We find that people are often short of E-CERPs. Buy our 5-CERP package if you’re in that situation.
8. Submit your recertification application
Login to your IBLCE account. Complete your application by the deadline. We urge you NOT to wait until the last minute.
What can we do to help you with the process for recertifying by CERPs?