Ethics and WHO Code Requirement for IBCLCs & IBCLC Candidates

Hello IBCLCs and IBCLC candidates.  At Lactation College we are committed to supporting you in your breastfeeding related educational needs.  There’s so much to learn!  And while we often talk about the how-to of lactation—latching, milk supply, and infant and child feeding, there is another important part of our education that sometimes is overlooked -that is the topic of ethics.  Ethical practice is really the foundation of all the work we do.   The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiner (IBLCE ), our governing organization, considers it important enough to make ethics education a requirement for all IBCLCs and IBCLC candidates.

If you're planning your recertification, you already know the deal: you need 75 total CERPs every five years, and 5 of those must be E-CERPs focused on professional conduct. Beginning in 2025, IBLCE required that 2 of those E-CERPs must be focused on the WHO Code (see below).  If this is your first time taking the exam, you are also required to have the 2 E-CERPs related to the WHO Code.  Here is the breakdown of why this requirement is so important for our practice:

• Staying in Your Lane: Ethics education reinforces our Scope of Practice and Clinical Competencies. It’s all about knowing what we can and can’t do within our role, and when a situation requires a referral to ensure families get the best and most appropriate care possible.
• The WHO Code (New for 2025!): Starting last year, IBLCE requires that 2 of your 5 E-CERPs specifically cover the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes.  Even if this is your first time taking the IBCLC exam, you must meet this WHO Code education requirement.  This education is important to help us recognize predatory marketing and  to protect families from commercial pressure so they can make truly informed choices.
• Building Trust: Ethical practice is the cornerstone of our profession. It covers the important topics such as, Informed Consent, Confidentiality, and Human Rights—ensuring that all families feel safe and respected under our care.

Ready to check those boxes?
If you’re looking for a simple way to meet this IBCLC certification and recertification ethics requirement check out our offers:

Lactation College 2 Hours WHO Code Education

This bundle includes two of our popular courses taught by Dr. B. Philipp.

• Baby-Friendly & the Code
• Twenty Years Baby-Friendly: Changing a Culture

Need all 5 E-Cerps?

If you need all 5 of your E-Cerps, including the 2 E-Cerps on “The Code,” check out our Ethics & WHO Code Bundle. This bundle includes the 2 WHO Code Education CERPs listed above, as well as the following:

• Infant Formula Recall
• Ethics in Lactation Care
• Understanding IBCLC Ethics and Standards

Our aim at Lactation College is to support those of you who are caring for families in the childbearing years.  We hope you will continue to educate yourselves and to encourage others to learn as much as they can in order to support the families they work with. As always, thank you for all you do and thank you for choosing Lactation College for your educational needs!