Allow me to modify my previous post.
"LLL Leader" and "IBCLC" are the only "internationally-valid" credentials
for breastfeeding helpers because both of those agencies are international
in scope AND have a disciplinary component to their credentials. A valid
credentialing agency /organization has TWO mechanisms in place: ONE to
validate the competence of the candidates, and a SECOND process to identify
and REMOVE the credential from those who are incompetent, impaired,
unethical, or otherwise fall below the minimum standards of the credential.
Without the disciplinary process, the "title" issued by the agency is not
considered to be valid. (Some titles expire in a given amount of time if not
renewed by some process - that's another kind of public protection.)
Large well-respected national BF organizations such as National Childbirth
Trust and Nursing Mothers Assn of Australia have very rigorous programs to
train and "credential" their counselors. I don't know whether NCT and NMAA
(etc) have disciplinary procedures to remove inappropriate counselors from
their ranks. If they do, then in international regulatory terms, their
conferred titles would be considered credentials.
Again in regulatory terms, international credentials are considered stronger
and more valid than national-issued ones; national credentials are
considered more valid than regional (state, province, etc). A "title"
conferred at the end of a single training/education program has no
disciplinary mechanism attached to it, therefore offers the public little
protection and is not considered a true "credential."
All that being said, however, does not diminish the value of end-of-course
titles. People who take a course usually come out smarter and more competent
than they were before they took the course. These end-of-course titles DO
say something about the person using the title. They're just NOT THE SAME as
an international, legally valid CREDENTIAL which (by definition) has a
disciplinary mechanism built into the process.
In my opinion, Individuals representing ("accredited by") national
breastfeeding organizations such as NCT and NMAA are well-respected in their
respective countries (and elsewhere) and have done phenomenal work to turn
the public tide back to breastfeeding, whether or not their programs have
disciplinary components. I hope someone from these organizations will
address this issue in more detail.
These are not just my personal opinions. The Clearinghouse for Licensure,
Enforcement, and Regulation (CLEAR) is an professional association for
regulatory agencies that holds a large conference every year. Members of
CLEAR include state boards of nursing, medicine, pharmacology; similar
regulatory boards for accountants, pesticide sprayers, architects, and other
regulated professions and occupations. About 2/3 of the regulated (licensed
or certified) professions are in the health field. I've attended several
CLEAR conferences on behalf of ILCA's education committee.
Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC
Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre
Dayton, OH USA
http://www.bflrc.com
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