The change in requirements to sit the IBLCE exam in 2010 come from IBLCE, an
international organization that is wholly independent,
international professional assocation known as ILCA.  I agree with Karleen
that the changes to the 2012 requirements seem to be USA-centric in their
genesis, and administration.  I would hope that any IBCLC certificant around
the world that has an opinion on this topic would share their thoughts
with IBLCE.  They really do need to hear from the "IBCLC on teh ground"
about how their changes in policy affect the way we work, and our ability to
attract new and well-trained members to our profession.

ILCA had nothing to do with the changes recently announced by IBLCE.

Now, let me share some facts about ILCA, and its "internationalness," if I
may.

There are currently about 21,000 actively-certified IBCLCs in the world.
4,500 are in Europe; 4,700 in Asia/the Pacific; 12,000 in Americas/Israel
(these are IBLCE's geographic designations).  So, something like 60% of all
IBCLCs worldwide live in the USA.

ILCA currently has about 5,000 members worldwide, with about 80% of its
current members residing in the USA.  So, our membership (right now) roughly
parallels the industry as a whole.  ILCA expects that to change in the next
few years; with the recent creation of Lactation Consultants of Australia
and New Zealand (LCANZ) a multi-national affiliate of ILCA
ILCA, the numbers of ILCA members in that region is expected to rise ...
with the result being that ILCA membership statistics will more precisely
echo IBCLC certification statistics.

The national/multi-national affiliates of ILCA (currently:  United States
Lactation Consultant Association [USLCA], Canadian Lactation Consultants
Association [CLCA-ACCL], and LCANZ) were created starting in 2006 so that
those organizations, while aligned with ILCA on **international** matters of
interest, could concentrate on other issues of **localized** geopolitical
interest.  Thus, ILCA (the intl group) is not spending a dime on the issue
of "licensure" (a big honking deal in the USA, if you want recognition or
insurance reimbursement) ... but the matter is of such importance to USLCA
(the local group) that they have devoted an entire Board position to the
topic:  "Director of Public Policy -Licensure and Reimbursement" (with a
shout out here to the current Director, Marsha Walker.
ILCA has an 8-member Board; currently five of them (incl. the President) are
from outside the USA.

ILCA has liaison status with about a dozen important international public
health and breastfeeding advocacy organizations worldwide -- it is the
**one** recognized NGO at WHO for lactation professionals.

As a member organization, we derive our funds almost exclusively from
membership fees, and conference registrations.  With nearly 3/4 of its
members residing in the North America (Canada has many IBCLCs and ILCA; it
ain't all USA), the financial reality is that ILCA can attract more
attendees at its conference if it is held in a location that is easiest and
cheapest for the most people to get to.  You'll notice ILCA "swaps coasts"
every other year when there is a USA venue, we do this so that those in
Asia/Pacific can consider coming when it is on the USA West Coast; when held
on the Eastern seaboard we are more accessible to those from Europe.  To
further complicate matters, it is customary in the USA but NOT in Europe,
Canada and Australia to have "one-place-fits-all" for a conference.  Outside
the USA, conferences of our size are held at a convention center ... but all
the housing, food and transportation have to occur off site, at great cost
and aggravation to attendees who have told us time-and-again that they like
to maximize networking opportunities by all being in one place at one time.


Nonethless, the 2013 ILCA conference will be in Melbourne Australia, the
third time in ILCA history it will have its conference outside the USA.
(2011 in San Diego, California USA and 2012 at Orlando, Flroida USA; no
sites yet seelcted beyond 2013).  Note that while ILCA has "partnered" with
VELB for the conferences they held in Vienna, Austria in 2008 and the
upcoming Basel Switzerland venue in 2010, those conferences were organized
and conducted entirely by VELB.

Liz Brooks JD IBCLC FILCA
Wyndmoor, PA, USA

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