I am going to chime in here as someone who is both a CLE and an IBCLC! They
are BOTH valuable credentials!!! I liken their difference to the difference
between my ADN and my BSN. One is geared toward helping normal moms and
babes with common problems. One is geared toward more of an independent
practice with special circumstances.

It would be a real shame to do away with either of them (IMHO). Sort of
like saying all RNs need a BSN. We have enough a shortage of RNs as it
is!!! LOL. Think about it. If there are 1000 CLEs in your state.... that's
1000 people who know SOMETHING about normal breastfeeding. Better to have
those folks than not to. Maybe some of them will go on to become IBCLCs.
That would be great. But, most of them won't and that leaves more work for
the IBCLCs!

The wonderful thing about CLEs is they do know what an IBCLC does and they
do know how to make a referral. Better than you can say for most MDs, RNs,
etc.



Susan Keith-Hergert RNC, MS, IBCLC, CLE .......

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