Dear all,

Virginia describes a number of ways to collect CERPs.
I am now going to say something that may annoy some people, but to be 
honest, I am really surprised that people have difficulty collecting enough 
CERPs over the 5-year period.
You need 15 CERPs a year, which is two study days.
If, for example, you follow GOLD every year (very comfortable and cheap 
option with top of the bill speakers!), you're well beyond what you need.
GOLD is cheap in the sense that you don't have any travel expenses or meals 
or accommodation costs.
One could even set up a meeting with colleagues to collectively listen to 
the live sessions or recorded ones to be able to pause in between.
There is so much going on in the lactation field; is it realistic to think 
you are still on top of this if you don't manage to collect 75 CERPs in five 
years...?
As IBCLCs, we are supposed to be the 'leaders' in the field of lactation and 
we are supposed to teach others and make policies.
It is, in my opinion, simply a matter of being aware of our responsibility 
towards the public to keep gathering those CERPs during the years between 
certifications.
There is no problem with the conference being in July; if you keep on top of 
it, every year, you will have enough anyway. And what you do in July, is 
valid for the year after.
Personally, I even feel that the fact that we don't need to have CERPs in 
our second 5-year period, because we need to do the exam, should be 
reconsidered.
It could mean that you don't hear any new knowledge in your second 5-year 
period.
I can imagine personal exceptions or a difficult year one year, but four 
times GOLD is still (more than) enough.
Am I being weird or too tough with this opinion...? I'd like to know how 
others feel about this.

Best regards,

Marianne Vanderveen-Kolkena IBCLC, Netherlands
www.borstvoedingscentrumpantarhei.nl


-----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- 
From: Virginia Thorley
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 1:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Renewel by CERPS

As regards the thread started by Dawn Staudt-Vanek on Monday:

The best way to avoid the common problem of a last-minute scramble for CERPs
is to start collecting them early in the five years. Then file them where
you won't lose them.  I recertified last year and had no trouble finding
CERPs to get them in well ahead of the early deadline that was introduced.
I'm regularly asked by other IBCLCs for advice on finding CERPs when the
deadline is coming up, as many IBCLCs do have enough CERPS, but haven't kept
the evidence early in the 5-year period.

<snip>

In summary:
1)       start the accumulation of CERPs early
2)       keep records of your CERPs and file them where you can find them
3)       consider a variety of modes of earning CERPS

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