I get on this soapbox so often, I'm beginning to feel like I am a
representative for Tide -- you get my dreft....

Anyway, yes, Mary Kay, there is more than one educational program that
confers a title including the term "certified xxx," and therein lies the
problem.  How is the public supposed to know that you, Mary Kay, received a
CLE from UCLA; someone else got hers from USCD, someone else from the
Lactation Institute, and someone else from a one day wonder course somewhere?
 The reason people use BSN and RN are because the BSN is a college degree; a
bachelor of science in nursing.  It does NOT state that said recipient of the
degree is REGISTERED in any state.  One can be a BSN without ever having
taken an exam -- that person is not registered or licensed to practice
nursing UNTIL they have passed the board exams.  A BSN means the person has
the education, it does not mean the person is qualified to practice.  I
personally would like to see all the ed programs in lactation management
encourage each student to take the IBLCE, and confer a "graduate" degree, if
you will; not a certification upon their graduates.  Perhaps the students
would be graduate lactation consultants, and then would become certified.
 When my dear daughter graduates from Concordia-West Suburban (some day,
please Lord), she will be a GN; graduate nurse, although she will have her
BSN until the happy day comes when she passes her board exams and becomes a R
(real) N.

Sliding down....

Jan B.