Hi All, Coach Smith here, hauling out the 'ole soapbox again after getting
my hair done at a local hairdresser's yesterday:

Licensed manicurists (fingernail technicians) need 300 hours of training,
have to pass a statewide examination, and have to re-test to maintain their
licensure.

Beauticians/Cosmetologists who color, perm, cut and otherwise work with hair
must have 1500 hours of training/education and also pass rigorous statewide
exams for initial licensure and periodic renewal.

On another occasion, I learned that salespeople employed by one brand of
auto-shop rags get a minimum of 6 weeks of training before they're allowed
to sell the shop cloths.

Now comes the rant: It boggles the mind that some think that 15 to 40 hours
of training in breastfeeding is good enough. Some even object to THAT much
training. Still more astounding is that some object to actually TESTING
people to see if they've learned something. Or re-testing periodically to
see if they're still competent and up-to-date in the subject matter.

Other fields have acknowledged the role of sufficient education/training and
testing/retesting. Is breastfeeding less important than pretty fingernails,
well-cut hair, or assuring an accurate and smooth sales pitch for a shop
rag????

Climbing down now.  Sheesh.

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre
Dayton, OH USA
http://www.bflrc.com

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