Hi again. I didn't mean to send everyone on a tangent about qualifications! :-) I have emailed IBLCE in the past and I know for sure that one can sit for the exam after having been a Leader for 5 years and aquiring the necessary CEU's. I think a bachelor's degree is also required. As of 2003 everyone (including LLL Leaders) will need to meet the new requirements which include classes such as anatomy and physiology, nutrition, psychology, and some others I can't think of off hand. Of course, most health professionals will have already met these new requirements. Some have shown concern about the five year thing and accumulating the necessary counselling skills as an LLL Leader. I am sure the reason for the five years is to ensure that even Leaders who do not have a high volume of calls will still accumulate the required hours. Many posters have said it very well, that we all start out with different experience levels. As far as all of this talk about "smooshing"--I used that word for lack of a better one to describe what I saw. The nurse was gentle about it. I just wanted everyone's opinion on that type of technique. All of the posts I have read have been extremely helpful. Thank you. :-) I will let you get on with more pressing matters!! Christine Lichte, LLL Leader *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html