I have to say I have been watching all of the posts, emailed on a couple to 
those I knew, and have spoken with many others on this subject to include a 
close friend who is an attorney, my husband the engineer, and many 
colleagues of mine that are within the field of psychology at different levels 
from MFT, LCSW, PhD, etc etc.

They are all baffled at the scope I showed them and that a distinction was 
made between credentialed and non, as many of them have different 
backgrounds but all landed them in the same spot.....taking a test, working on 
hours, becoming licensed, and then earning continuing education in different 
areas to show further knowlege. So contrary to one account that no other 
field does that, many do. Many require at least 3000 hours and testing to 
become a profession and set standards for passing much above ours. Anyone 
who understands stats knows that any quality test should have some sort of 
curve and well last I looked ours does not, which says the test has issues. 
Many questions were thrown out prior, but a 97% pass rate; this cannot be 
the gold standard of care because even other areas have a certain non pass 
rate and this keeps your standards high. 

We all know book junkie IBCLC's who study and pass yet have no hands on 
knowledge really and give poor advice. Is this our gold standard? Sure there 
are some bad apples in every bunch but we seem to have our baskets full. I 
have run across in my short time in the field of lactation so many that are a 
powerful force for mothers and help them wisely, scientifically, and as best as 
the next....and guess what they are not IBCLC's but hospital CLE's, privately 
based CLC's, etc etc....and what else? The docs who refer to them, moms 
that come, they all love the care they get and do not know the difference. 
Plus these individuals do keep up on education or refer to specialists when 
needed.

As for me, on legal advice from a friend and my insurance company, I am not 
sitting for the exam this year until the SOP mess is cleared up. Maybe next 
year, maybe not. Why should I pay so much money to sit for a test to give me 
some more initials that my moms could care less about and then spend more 
moeny each year just to get enough credits instead of really picking the ones 
I want to go to, need to go to, and having the funds for that. I love my 
practice at this point in time, small, not much money but give lots to moms 
who need it and keeping up on what I feel I lack and referring out when 
needed.

Emily Lindsey, BSPsy, CLE
Private Practice
Merced, CA

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