I've been reading with great interest the discussion about qualifications,
prerequisites and the exam, mainly because I plan to take it next year.

I strongly doubt that LCs will be able to do what other professions have
not...develop the perfect process of "weeding" and have NO incompetent
members. That said, I hope we can improve on the weeding process to where
incompetents are kept to a minimum.

Since I have not taken the LC exam yet, I cannot comment on its level of
difficulty. However, several recent posts have suggested because that the
percentage of correct answers is so low, it allows a passing grade (and
entrance into the profession) by those who have "pockets" of ignorance.
Perhaps we could model the set up and grading on that of the CPA exam. There
are four sections to it and to pass, one must pass all four within a certain
time frame. Becoming certified means one has to achieve a passing grade in
four different pockets
of knowledge. Different ways of dealing with the failed portions could be
devised. For example, if only one section were failed, that section could be
retaken at the next exam. (However, for this I think we would have to move to
more frequent testing, perhaps 4 to 6 months between seatings.) Or evidence
of
education/training could be mandated for the portion failed, and once
achieved, provisional LC status gained. Then at the next testing, if the
prov. passed that portion,
full LC status would be granted. A time limit on passing could be used. IE,
if you pass a section or more, you can apply them toward the next exam for
which you sit, but after that, you must take the full exam again. These are
merely suggestions. But, it seems that this could cut down on the number of
LCs who lack knowledge in certain areas. However it is worked, a 62% correct
does seem low. I had thought it would be 70 to 75%. I do agree that technical
information on drugs should be something that it is more important to know
where to find CURRENT information than memorizing possibly
out-of-date-tomorrow data.

IMO,
Margaret Ann