The credentialing of LCs is a concern of mine, too.  I am dismayed by the
RN/non-RN schism as well as the mechanics of breastfeeding becoming a
medical issue.

One daughter is a social worker.  She had to work for 2 years in a
supervised position post-Master's degree  to be eligible to *take* the
boards and designate herself an BSCW.  (BTW, her boards were done on
computers and she knew *leaving the testing room* that she had passed.)
Now she must put in a total of 5 *more* years (post-boards) before she
can open her own private practice.  (She could work *for* someone in
private practice, just not own the business until those 5 years are up).

Dh is an engineer.  He could not *take* the boards (to become a
registered engineer and receive his own personal stamp *and* sign his
name with a PE after it--meaning professional engineer) for 5 years
post-degree.  And those 5 years had to be documented w/relevant
engineering experience.  Only PEs are able to stamp projects as being
professionally done....seems to be very important in his world.

Just two ways other professions look at the issue of documenting
experience.

Karen Zeretzke, MEd, IBCLC
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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http://www.prairienet.org/laleche/bfcost.html

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