The only legally protected term is "International Board Certified Lactation
Consultant," which those who have passed the IBLCE exam may use.  The
politically correct reserve the term "lactation consultant" for IBCLC's.
 Some courses confer a completion title, the most common of which is
"lactation educator" which is as good as the course is, no more, no less. All
terms other than IBCLC are completely unregulated - they mean whatever the
person using them wants them to mean. Oops - "La Leche League Leader" is also
a protected term with specific meaning and regulations.

At least one insurance company will not issue LC malpractice insurance to
those with "self-designated" titles - only IBCLC counts. At least one state
agency and several hospitals require IBCLC certification for their
breastfeeding coordinator positions - other designations are not legally
defensible.

Please contact IBLCE for more information: 703-460-7330 or fax 703-560-7332
in Virginia USA.

Another example - "childbirth educator" is an unregulated term; ACCE means
"ASPO-Certified Childbirth Educator; ICCE means ICEA-Certified Childbirth
Educator.

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
private practice, Dayton OH