This page is for candidates preparing for the ICCE credential from ICEA or the LCCE credential from Lamaze International. It sets out the delivery, fee and retake facts for each body, links our free practice sets to the official content areas, and walks through sample questions with explanations. Our questions are written with AI tools and are not real exam questions.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (ICCE (ICEA)) | 150 multiple-choice questions[1] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Time limit (ICCE (ICEA)) | 3 hours[1] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Passing score (ICCE (ICEA)) | 70%[1] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Exam fee (ICCE (ICEA)) | $415 exam application + $255 enrollment (Category A)[2] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Exam fee (LCCE (Lamaze)) | $500 USD (U.S. candidates)[3] | lamaze.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake fee (ICCE (ICEA)) | $125 USD[2] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake fee (LCCE (Lamaze)) | $270 USD[3] | lamaze.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake policy (ICCE (ICEA)) | Unlimited paid retakes within 1 year of first fail date[2] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Retake policy (LCCE (Lamaze)) | Next time offered; no waiting period or limit on retakes[3] | lamaze.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Validity (ICCE (ICEA)) | 3 years[4] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Validity (LCCE (Lamaze)) | 3 years (through November 30)[5] | lamaze.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Delivery (ICCE (ICEA)) | Online, closed book, proctored[1] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Delivery (LCCE (Lamaze)) | In person at a testing center or remotely via live online proctoring (Meazure Learning)[3] | lamaze.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Eligibility (ICCE (ICEA)) | Complete pathway steps within 2 years of enrolling[4] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Eligibility (LCCE (Lamaze)) | Learning Guide + Lamaze seminar; Exam or Competency-Based pathway[6] | lamaze.org · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Score release (ICCE (ICEA)) | Immediately[1] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
| Registration deadline (ICCE (ICEA)) | At least 30 days prior to examination date[1] | International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International · Oct 28, 2026 |
According to International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International, “The exam consists of multiple choice questions and is timed. ICCE exam: 150 questions, 3 hours”[1]
Childbirth educator certification shows that you have met a professional body's standard for teaching expectant families. Two bodies are covered here, and their rules differ, so check which one you are applying to.
ICCE (ICEA). You must enroll first, then complete the remaining pathway steps within 2 years of enrolling. The exam is online and closed book, and a proctor must be present for the whole sitting. It has 150 multiple-choice questions and a 3 hour limit. A passing score is 70% or above, and you see your result immediately. Schedule the exam at least 30 days before the exam date. In fee Category A, enrollment is $255 and the exam application is $415. A retake costs $125, and you may retake as often as needed within 1 year of your first fail date, as long as each retake is paid for. Certification is valid for 3 years.
LCCE (Lamaze). You apply during the annual application window with proof of the Learning Guide purchase and attendance at a Lamaze accredited seminar. There is an exam pathway and a Competency-Based pathway. The exam can be taken in person at a testing center or remotely with live online proctoring through Meazure Learning. The application fee for U.S. candidates is $500. A retake costs $270, with no waiting period or limit, and you retake the next time the exam is offered. Certification runs through November 30, 3 years after your notification of passing.
Fees for candidates outside the U.S. may differ, and the LCCE question count, time limit and passing score are not listed here. Confirm them on the official ICEA and Lamaze pages before you apply.
The content areas below are copied from the official Childbirth Educator content outline published by International Childbirth Education Association / Lamaze International, with the share of the exam each area carries. The right-hand column shows which of our practice sets covers it.
Prepare for the Childbirth Educator exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: In the context of childbirth education, what is a birth plan?
Answer: A. A document outlining a laboring person's preferences for labor and delivery
Explanation:
The correct answer is the document outlining a laboring person's preferences. A birth plan is written by the expectant parent, often with help from the educator, to record wishes for labor, birth and the time just after. It is a communication tool for the care team, not a binding instruction.
The medical order option is wrong because orders come from the care provider, not the patient. The legal contract option is wrong because a birth plan creates no legal obligation for the hospital and can change if circumstances change. The schedule of prenatal appointments is wrong because that is a visit calendar and says nothing about preferences.
Rule to remember: a birth plan records preferences and starts a conversation. It is not an order, a contract or a schedule.
Question: A program coordinator wants to improve participant retention across a multi-week series. The MOST effective strategy is to:
Answer: B. Offering flexible scheduling and makeup options
Explanation:
The correct answer is offering flexible scheduling and makeup options. Participants in a multi-week series usually drop out because of work, illness, childcare or a due date moving, not because the content fails them. Letting them catch up keeps them in the series without lowering what the series teaches.
A non-refundable deposit is wrong because it adds a financial barrier and can discourage enrollment, and it does nothing for someone who misses a session. Attendance certificates only at completion are wrong because they reward finishing but give no way to recover from a missed class. Cutting the series to two or fewer sessions is wrong because it removes content and weakens the program.
Rule to remember: remove practical obstacles to attendance before adding penalties or shrinking the program.
Question: Which resource provides childbirth educators with state-specific breastfeeding laws and workplace protections for clients?
Answer: B. National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Explanation:
The correct answer is the National Conference of State Legislatures. It keeps an updated database of state laws, including breastfeeding protections at work and in public places. Because these laws differ by state, an educator needs a source that tracks each state rather than a general one.
La Leche League is wrong because it is a support and education organization, not a source of state legal summaries. CDC Breastfeeding Data is wrong because it reports surveillance statistics, not legal protections. The WHO Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is wrong because it sets practice standards for maternity facilities and does not list state workplace law.
Rule to remember: match the question to the type of source. Legal questions go to a legislative source, statistics go to a data source, and peer support goes to a support group.
Start with the official material from your certifying body, since the exam is built from it. Read the outline of content areas and note the areas with the largest weight. For the ICCE, the listed weights put the immediate postpartum and newborn transition area ahead of the pregnancy risk factors area, so give it the most time.
Our questions are written with AI tools and are not real exam questions. Use them to find weak spots, not to predict what you will see.
The ICCE exam has 150 multiple-choice questions and a 3 hour time limit. A passing score is 70% or above. The exam is online and closed book, and you see your result immediately. For the LCCE, check the Lamaze exam page, because those details are not listed here.
For the ICCE in fee Category A, enrollment is $255 and the exam application is $415. For the LCCE, the exam application fee for U.S. candidates is $500. Fees for other countries may differ, so confirm on the ICEA pricing page or the Lamaze page.
You can retake it. ICEA allows retakes as many times as needed within 1 year of your first fail date, at $125 each. Lamaze has no waiting period or limit on retakes, and the fee is $270. You retake the next time the LCCE exam is offered.
Yes, in both cases. The ICCE is taken online, closed book, and a proctor must be present throughout. The LCCE can be taken in person at a testing center or remotely with live online proctoring through Meazure Learning, from a location that meets the technical requirements.
ICEA certifications are valid for 3 years. For the LCCE, each cycle starts on the date you are notified of passing and continues through November 30, 3 years later. Check the official policy pages for the renewal steps.
No. Our questions are written with AI tools and are not taken from the real exam. They cover the same subject areas, so they help you find weak topics. Use the official ICEA or Lamaze material as your main source for what is tested.
How we verify: editorial & fact-checking policy. Report an error: contact us.