Reading some of the discussions caused some alarm for me. I fear a chasm
opening within our  group. 
 I suggest that while hospitals currently mainly require IBCLC's and LC
support staff to be mainly from the degree programs such as nursing, instead
of seeing insult/ discrimination we should rejoice that the door is opening
for supporting moms in this generally restrictive enviroment. Lactation is
still viewed by corporate bean counters as a non revenue generating 
therefore " not priority" program. The only way they "see" some return is by
restricting to degreed staff they can possibly bill the insurance agencies
or "pay" staff by funding out of designated nursing budgets.
WIC and other external organizations/programs suffer from the same problems.
While we are getting our foot in the doors, the funding is still limited and
positions minimal. We're opening the doors for supporting our families but 
its such a frustratingly slow process with often unfair restrictions.
Not to insult the wonderful educators here and their important lactation
programs, I  have seen many problems occur because of the ability for 
anyone, hospitals, WIC, individuals, etc. to attend a week long program,
obtaining a certificate designation  and then no real follow up
educational/knowledge based recerts in place unless they go for their IBCLC.
 I suggest that sometimes this can harm us in gaining recognition of "value"
within the current systems in place.
I feel the same way about other programs ( like PICC certification) that
hospitals send staff and yet there is no continued competency
training/follow-up. What I learned 8 years ago has no requirement to check
and see if I  remain up to date, except by personal accountability and
choice. It's frightening how easy it is to be "certified" in many areas and
how minimal  quality assurance follow up is required.
 We all have our value providing the supportive care of our  breastfeeding
families and bringing our communities back to the breastfeeding norm.  For
those fighting out side the institutional sector, its a real labor of love
with minimal funding. Even for those "wage earners" the costs for IBCLC can
be daunting and  we have the added  requirement of our employers to
"justifing" our value daily in the system as more than a "touchy - feely
program"....... it remains an up hill battle. 
We l continue to fight for the needed changes, from all our chosen areas/
fields of support. But I hope we can remain banded together. Let's not
become our own internal enemies during this fight to return to a normal
human process and acceptance.

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