Dear Lactneters, I have read two posts this morning from IBCLC's who say they are dreading taking the exam again. I, too, recoiled at the idea and even had a test-anxiety nightmare two years prior to recertifying. Since I have just taken it for the second time this past summer, I wanted to address this. I was in that same room in Chicago that Jan Barger wrote about (1987). Those of you who will be recertifying in the near future most likely had similar conditions. We were in alphabetical order, so I was near the back of the room (Jan--you were lucky!). The clinical portion (slides) was on huge screens at the front of this room (one of the largest I've ever been in in my entire life.) We were only allowed so much time, then the picture was gone. Now you get your own book with your own pictures so you can take as much time as needed. The tension in a room with nearly 300 anxious people can be unnerving! Now you can take the exam with only a small number of others. In addition, the exam has changed in 10 years. There were far fewer drug questions. The test was much more situational--as it should be. I spent months studying the first time around--none this time, yet improved on my score. (10 years of working in the field is all the studying you need!) In retrospect, the 2nd time around was a breeze compared with the first. To those of you who will be taking it again soon, you have nothing to fear. Cher Sealy, RN, BSN, IBCLC