Emily:  I so agree with you!  I hold 2 master's level certificates thru 
UCLA's Lactation Training Programs.  I've been in this business for a long 
time (25 years) and UCLA's program is by far the most comprehensive 
lactation course I have ever seen.  And I've seen quite a few.  The 
prerequisites to enroll in the courses are quite stringent.  For the 
Consultant (Lactation II) course, one must be a licensed health care 
provider, as the student is expected to practice under their own license 
when seeing "sick" babies.  The courses (Educator and Consultant) are based 
on the medical model, which I found extremely useful in developing my 
hospital-based practice into a clinical nurse specialist position.  Yes, I 
still am a practicing RN.  My clinical specialty happens to be laction and 
infant feeding.
I did sit the exam for the 1st time in 2005 - my hospital paid for it.  I 
know what I know and don't feel the need to "prove it" to anyone. My 
master's level CLE/CLC thru UCLA is  much more valuable and meaningful than 
IBCLC.  Remember, IBCLC is an entry-level exam.  How can we talk about 
a "lesser credential" when we don't even have a standard for IBCLC!  I sure 
hope someone in IBLCE is working hard on developing a standard academic 
curriculum for lactation.  That is the first step - graduation from an 
accredited/approved lactation program, then the exam.

Pam Hirsch, BSN,RN,CLC(UCLA),IBCLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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