Frequently Asked Questions
Welcome to our FAQs section. Here, you’ll find clear answers to the most common questions we receive. Whether you’re looking for guidance, clarification, or quick information, this section is designed to help you navigate with ease. If your question isn’t answered here, feel free to reach out — we’re happy to help.
Education requirements and eligibility
Initial IBCLC exam candidates
What type of lactation education do I need if I am sitting the exam for the first time?
For the aspiring IBCLC, lactation education must be at least 95 hours within the five years before applying for the exam and specific to the IBLCE® Detailed Content Outline. This means including 5 hours of communication and a minimum of 2 hours specific to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. All requirements to sit the exam are present in the Facts of Life Exam Prep program.
Recertifying IBCLCs
Can I do any of the Facts of Life courses if I am recertifying?
Absolutely! The course content has not changed since it was previously CERP approved. Each of the courses in the Facts of Life lactation portfolio are aligned to the IBLCE® Detailed Content Outline. Each course has the breakdown of lactation, ethics or related (R) education hours. A certificate of completion is issued with the domain titles, dates, learning hours, provider and DCO areas) for the purposes of ongoing, professional education.
*Please see additional questions related to recertification below.
What is the breakdown of the DCO hours across the domains of the Exam Prep program?
The breakdown of education hours is:
- lactation (L) hours - 112.25
- ethics (E) hours - 12.75
- related (R) hours - 10
Use for other professionals
Are there any clinical components to the courses?
No - the theoretical courses do not require evaluation of clinical competence, rather the focus is on theoretical knowledge. One of the eligibility criteria to sit the exam is clinical practice, which while separate to lactation education, should be informed by theory. Therefore, undertaking education such as the Exam Prep program is advised to underpin your clinical journey.
Can I use the courses as professional development for midwifery, or nursing, or medical?
Yes, the certificate is evidence of completed professional development in your respective health profession(s) e.g., medicine, midwifery, nursing or allied health.
Course structure and terminology
What is the difference between a course and a program?
Throughout this site, the terms ‘program’ and ‘course’ are used. A program is a compilation of courses, such as the Exam Prep (code ‘EP’) program, which is made up of 13 courses. Any of the courses can be selected individually, or as a package of 13 that make up the comprehensive Exam Prep program. Similarly, the ethics program has two (2) ethics courses that make up the Ethics Program, the Recertify, Renew, Refresh program has seven (7) courses of five (5) hours duration.
All content is aligned with the DCO.
How do I enrol?
Enrolment is easy! Register your details and wait for a confirmation email, which should only take up to 10 minutes.
Please check your spam/junk folder for emails from factsoflife!
What do I do if I haven't received an email to confirm my email address?
Check your spam or junk folder, if the confirmation email is not there, you can contact the administrator at info@factsoflife.com.au
Payment
How do I pay for the course?
We provide various secure payment methods, such as PayPal and Credit Card. Alternatively, you have the option to make payment through electronic funds transfer (EFT) or direct debit via internet banking - this will require a manual invoice and therefore will need to be arranged (please contact info@factsoflife.com.au). Please note that this method may take up to 5 working days to process and clear the funds. Once the payment has been cleared, you will receive an email notification, allowing you to activate the course at your convenience.
How do I ‘check out’ a course?
Log back in, add a course to the shopping cart and follow the simple steps for payment. You can choose 'EP-PROG: Lactation Consultant Exam Prep Program' if you take the package of 13 courses or add as many individual courses as you wish. If you need further assistance, you can contact the administrator at info@factsoflife.com.au
Using the learning platform
Getting started
What do I do once I have enrolled in a course or program?
To get started, log back into your profile where you will find the course(s) on your dashboard. Then simply 'Activate' the course. Only activate one course at a time.
How do I activate my course?
Simply go to your dashboard page and click on ‘Activate’. You have 30 days to complete a course. Only activate one course at a time.
Time limits and access
How long do I have access to the course?
You have 30 days to complete a course. If you have difficulty completing the course in 30 days, email info@factsoflife.com.au to discuss an extension. If you are preparing for the IBLCE exam, the courses, once completed will be opened to you until your exam date so you can revisit and revise the content.
*The Back to Basics Breastfeeding course has been peer reviewed to be 20 hours, therefore, access time for this course is 60 days.
Should I activate multiple courses at once?
Probably not – once a course has been activated you have 30 days to complete the course. Take your time and enjoy the course(s), complete one at a time.
If I finish a course before 30 days, can I still have access to the course?
Yes, you can access all resources except for the quizzes.
Technical and general support
How do I get help if I need it?
Email info@factsoflife.com.au and provide specific information about your problem, a screen shot is ideal.
Certificates and documentation
Will I receive a certificate?
Yes, when you complete your course, you'll receive a document that certifies you have successfully completed the course. The certificate of completion is issued with the domain titles, dates, learning hours, provider and DCO areas for the purposes of ongoing, professional education.
CERPs, DCO alignment and recertification
CERP status of the courses
Are CERPs allocated to the courses?
Our courses are not currently CERP-approved because formal accreditation is a separate process to preparing for the exam and is quite costly, and those costs would significantly increase the course fees for participants.
The content itself is fully aligned with the current IBLCE® Detailed Content Outline, which means the material reflects knowledge and skills expected of initial certificants, and recertifying IBCLCs® and can appropriately support continuing education hours.
While we have chosen not to pursue official CERP provider status at this time to keep the program more affordable and accessible, you can still use the Detailed Content Outline as a framework to document how these hours relate to the domains and to your ongoing professional development.
Are these courses still the same as when they were CERP-approved?
Yes. The course content has not changed since it was previously CERP-approved.
Each module is still clearly mapped to the IBCLC Detailed Content Outline (DCO), so you can see exactly which exam/recertification areas are covered.
Why aren’t these courses currently CERP-approved?
Obtaining and maintaining formal CERP approval now involves significant fees and a substantial amount of administrative work for each application. To keep course fees reasonable and focus resources on developing and updating high-quality content, we have chosen not to re-apply for CERP approval for these particular courses at this time.
Will we apply for CERP approval again in the future?
We review this decision regularly and may apply for CERP approval again if the fee structure or administrative processes change, or if it becomes feasible to absorb these costs without increasing course prices. If we obtain CERP approval for any course in the future, we will update all course information and notify enrolled learners.
Facts of Life Lactation Education supports the World Health Organization (WHO) International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (1981) and all subsequent World Health assembly (WHA) resolutions.
We are not a business involved in the manufacture, distribution, or marketing of products covered by the Code.