> although I will never be convinced that a degree in something
>unrelated to human lactation should reduce the number of practice hours.

Kim and others have expressed understandable frustration regarding the
neccessity of accumulating many hours for the exam.  I've been stewing about
this issue as I also have strong feelings.  I don't mean to give offense, but
think that there is more to this issue.

Someone posted that a degree in "auto repair" has nothing to do with our work
as an LC.  I heartily disagree.  Education is, IMHO, never wasted.  Though
"auto repair" has nothing directly to do with lactating breasts and babies,
the fact is that in learning to think through the process related to the
repair, she would learn valuable skills that could be transferred to thinking
through some of the "mechanics" of the lactating breast or the baby's oral
function.

Education also lends credibility to the profession.  I've found this to be
true time and again when teaching and when approaching new
audiences/professionals.

Further, a broad-based education affords one the ability (sometimes) to
understand and relate to others more effectively.  When one doesn't have the
luxury of this expanded world view, one *may* have to work harder to learn
these skills, hence more hours at one-on-one work.

I just completed my licensing process to be a Therapist.  We were required to
earn 3,000 hours of supervised (&yes, supervisors get paid) work *after*
graduating our Master's degree.  NONE of the lay counseling that I've done
for 20 years, nor my professional work as an LC qualified.  In comparison to
that, IBCLE seems easy.  Further, it cost me $20,000 and took 6 years from
the time I went into grad school.

Though these things are difficult, what is wrong with insisting on
excellence?  The lives and health of families is at stake here.

Climbing down....

Nancy Williams, BA, MA, MFCC, CCE, IBCLC