Candidates may take the LCCE exam in person at a testing center or remotely via live online proctoring from their home, office, or any approved location that meets technical requirements. You will choose which format you prefer, live remote or in person, when you schedule your exam.
Requirements for Remote Testing
To take the test remotely, your computer must meet the equipment requirements.
We recommend using a personal computer, as organization or work-issued devices may block the download of the required Guardian Browser.
Scheduling
If your application is approved, Meazure Learning will send you an email on August 20 with instructions to set up your user account and access the testing portal. This email will include your scheduling link, username, and password.
You may schedule your exam from September 1 through October 13. When you are ready, follow the instructions in the email to log in to the online scheduling system and select your exam site, date, and time from the available options.
Appointments are first-come, first-served and fill quickly, as seats are shared across multiple exams—not just the Lamaze exam. All appointments must be booked at least 3 days in advance, so schedule as early as possible.
After submitting your scheduling request, you will receive a confirmation email. Please have this confirmation email and a government-issued photo ID with a signature on your testing day.
If your selected site or date becomes unavailable, you will be notified by email and asked to choose a new option.
Lamaze and its testing agency comply with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 USCG Section 12101, et. seq.), and with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000e, et. seq.). Candidates with physical or cognitive impairments can request special testing accommodations, such as a reader, extended time, or a separate room.
To request accommodations, submit the following to Lamaze as part of your exam application:
- Description of the disability or need
- Requested accommodations
- Documentation from a physician or relevant authority (e.g., psychologist, vocational specialist, etc.) concerning the disability or special needs
Approved accommodations will be sent to Meazure with your authorization. Lamaze aims to assist with accommodations unless it significantly impacts the exam or imposes an undue burden on the testing center. No additional charge applies for accommodations.
Live Online Proctoring
Take the necessary steps to ensure the room in which you will take the exam via Live Online Proctoring meets the proper requirements.
Candidates are prohibited from having the following items in the testing room:
- Headphones or earbuds
- Watches of any kind
- Cameras, cell phones, optical readers, or other electronic devices that include the ability to photograph, photocopy, or otherwise copy test materials,
- Additional computers, monitors, PDAs, iPods, mp3 players, pagers, or other electronic devices with one or more memories
- Book bags, luggage, purses, or handbags,
- Coats and jackets (sweaters and sweatshirts without pockets or hoods are permitted)
- Hats, hoods, or other headwear unless required for religious purposes. All items are subject to inspection by the proctor if suspicious behavior is detected.
- Any person, including friends, relatives, pets, and children
The following items are prohibited unless expressly permitted in the exam-specific information section below:
- Calculators
- Scratch paper/Whiteboard
- Notes, books, dictionaries, or language dictionaries
- Personal writing utensils (i.e., pencils, pens, and highlighters)
- Food
In-Person Testing
Arrival:
You must arrive at the test center 15 minutes before your test appointment to allow time for check-in. Candidates will not be permitted to test if they arrive more than 15 minutes past their test start time.
You must present valid, unexpired, and acceptable ID(s) to take your test. Military IDs are not accepted.
Persons not booked to take a test are not permitted to wait in the testing center or the surrounding common areas.
During/After Testing:
- No conversing, distracting, or disrupting other test takers during the testing session.
- No giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on the exam.
- You may not exit the building or use your cell phone or other electronic devices during the test.
- You are not allowed to take a break while testing.
- Do not remove items such as dry-erase board and/or scratch paper from the testing center.
Prohibited Items
- Personal items, including writing utensils. Meazure will not be responsible for any personal items and suggests that you leave such items in another safe place of your choosing.
- Electronic devices and recording devices of any kind (including but not limited to cell phones, pagers, cameras, calculators).
- If the proctor determines that you have brought any prohibited items to the test site, those items may be demanded and held by Meazure Learning testing staff. Meazure Learning reserves the right to review the memory of any electronic device to determine whether any of the test materials have been photographed or otherwise copied.
General
Meazure requires all employees and test takers to always conduct themselves professionally and courteously. Exhibiting abusive behavior towards a proctor or other candidates will be reported to Lamaze and may result in criminal prosecution.
Exam Retake
Candidates who do not pass may retake the exam in any language or format the next time it's offered. There is no waiting period or limit on retakes. The fee is $170 USD for Lamaze members and $270 USD for non-members. Nonmembers can join Lamaze for a fee of $45/year.
Exam Deferral
Candidates wishing to cancel or transfer their exam must notify Lamaze by September 11. Applications can be deferred for one exam period with a $75 USD fee. Exam payments are non-refundable, and deferrals are reviewed individually.
Questions
The exam questions reflect essential knowledge for childbirth educators. Lamaze educators worldwide help develop the questions, with the Certification Council making the final selection. Items requiring analysis are considered more difficult than simple recall questions.
Difficulty Rating
Questions with more challenging distractors, requiring higher-level knowledge, are rated as more difficult. At least 30% of the exam consists of application-based questions requiring analysis.
Passing Score
The passing score varies with each exam. After the exam, a psychometrician reviews question performance, and poorly performing questions are excluded. The difficulty of the remaining items determines the passing score.
Score Standard
Candidates are compared to a set standard based on question difficulty, not to each other. Passing scores typically range from 70% to 79%. Detailed scoring is provided in the candidate's score report.