Laura A.,  you asked about folks who took the test without having had one of
the official lactation education programs. I'm one of many who have
successfully taken the test without this formal education. However, I had a
number of things going for me: First, as a La Leche League Leader, I had a
lot of experience with a wide variety of ages, stages, and problems--and some
wonderful information to use to help moms. LLL Leaders tend to do well on the
test, I think, largely due to the fact that we work with more than just the
first hours/weeks of breastfeeding. Test questions are written from the
standpoint that extended nursing is normal, and it helps to have experience
(personal and otherwise) with this end of things. Second, I was living in the
Atlanta, Georgia area at the time, and this is an area with many LCs and an
active ILCA affiliate (Southeastern Lactation Consultants Association). There
is a real sharing attitude between LCs and I had a couple of them (and some
others) who were willing to take me under their wing to varying degrees,
discussing cases, and even letting me observe what they were doing.

Atlanta was also a wonderful place for gathering continuing education
 credits in breastfeeding, between the SELCA conferences, LLL conferences,
Emory School of Medicine annual bf conferences, etc. It was not difficult to
amass many credits--and more importantly, keep "abreast" of the latest
information in the field.

One other source of "training" I had came from the Prodigy bulletin boards a
few years ago. There was a sizable group of LLL Leaders and LCs who routinely
answered many bf questions. (I actually counted some of my hours on Prodigy
towards my practice consulting hours!).  Kathy Bruce, illustrious co-owner of
Lactnet, and I "studied"--and commiserated over the exam!

I have since moved to rural west Tennessee. Had I been here in the years
before taking the exam, I probably would NOT have had the experience and
access to information I had in Atlanta, and so an official course might have
been more critical. (Of course, had I been here for those years, I probably
would not have ever even considered being an LC, either!!)

I would suggest to your friend to sit down and look at the range of
experience she has had--how many hours, how many settings, how much variety
in age of baby and range of problems, how much experience with the "normal"
course of breastfeeding? The test is designed to test practical knowledge
that comes best with experience first and then research and study to provide
the background of how and why. If she could link up with an LC and help out
in exchange for some observation of consultations, and perhaps get with a
study group to help review, this might help.

Good luck to your friend, and more power to her!

Melissa Vickers, IBCLC
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