Thanks to Ros, Joy, Kathleen A. and Pam for your informative and
thought-provoking responses to my letter re. the exam.  I have also been
interested in the parallel discussions on entry requirements and licensure &
managed health care (another thing heading our way with a vengeance!).  There
are 2 things I'd like to clarify:-

First - I have been expressing personal opinion and haven't yet gone into
this in any depth with colleagues here.  When we do get round to it, it
should be an informed discussion.  I plan to share your comments with my
local colleague who is spearheading the effort to get us more organised.
Second - I also want to continue with an international exam that everyone
else is writing and with the same degree of difficulty.   I suggested in my
previous post that consideration could be given to a different format for
the exam, not that it should be easier.    The standard should not be
compromised to cater  for the "disadvantaged" - all that happens then, is
that people from developing countries  are kept  at a disadvantage.  It may
be necessary for us to work on some sort of bridging course here in S.A., as
any discussion on "maintaining standards" is pretty touchy at the moment.

I appreciate being able to utilise this forum to sort out my head.  The
point I was trying to make was that consideration should be given to making
the exam more user-friendly  to encourage more people to write, rather than
putting them off.  The Ozzies homed right in on some of my concerns (Queen's
English being one of them!) and I am re-assured that efforts are being made
to make it as universally acceptable as possible.

I liked Kathleen's suggestion of a "Master's level" for certification.
Maybe there could be an entry level exam to establish a universal standard
in lactation management for health care providers and lay counsellors.
There could then be an advanced level for the real fundis that want status
as independent  practitioners (professional lactation consultants).  Besides
the other criteria, I believe that a solid background in Maternal & Child
Health, as well as evidence of  counselling skillls, is necessary for the
practitioner level and the current entry requirements are possibly not
stringent enough in this regard.  Perhaps the entry level exam could be more
accessible to a broader range of interested persons (to raise the knowledge
base a notch or two;  this may also have the spin-off of raising awareness
of the role of L.C.s)  and should NOT certify them as lactation consultants.
Some other form of recognition could be used for these entry-level
candidates, affirming their level of knowledge re. lactation management.

Am I getting muddier or clearer?

P.S. Jane Bradshaw made some valid points - I'm thinking carefully about
responding though...  I note she lives in Lynchburg!
--
Lynn Enraght-Moony                                 [log in to unmask]
Phone: +27 11 782-4100                         Fax: +27 11 888-1086
Snail: P O Box 222, Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2006, SOUTH AFRICA