To the following Lactnet post may I say, *DITTO*  my sentiments  exactly!
 
>>Furthermore, I think it will only serve to dilute 
the authority  and respect that the IBCLC credential has.  So many 
agencies are  already reluctant to spend the money on an IBCLC, and 
the potential job  market for future IBCLC's - especially those not 
already RN's - is bleak at  best.  A lesser credential will offer 
companies yet another "out" for  avoiding spending the money on hiring 
true professionals in the field.   As the professional organization 
for lactation consultants, I think offering  such a credential would 
be doing a huge diservice to the persons IBLCE is  designed to promote 
and support.  Until LC is recognized by everyone to  be a unique and 
legitimate health care profession and it becomes illegal to  hire 
anyone without specific training and credentials (IBCLC) to lactation  
jobs (in the same way that is is unlawful for a hospital to hire 
someone  as a nurse without proof she has completed her education and passed 
her RN  test), I strongly and firmly believe that IBCLC needs to 
remain the gold  standard credential that we (and our professional 
organization)  promote.  I think IBLCE needs to focus first on standardizing  
the
training (didactic and clinical) for prospective IBCLCs and work  on
gaining respect and value for IBCLC as a profession - separate from
RNs  and other maternal/child health professionals - before it focuses
on offering  a lesser credential that there is no guarantee will be
used by the agencies  it targets.<<
 
Warm  regards,
Pat Lindsey, IBCLC - Lactation Services _www.PatLC.com_ 
(http://www.patlc.com/) 
Pediatrics Plus'  Lactation Consultant _www.pedsplus.com_ 
(http://www.pedsplus.com/) 


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