Kathy Leeper, MD, IBCLC wrote: "Using medical doctors as an example, we can obtain a medical license after graduating from medical school. It just registers us with a particulat state as having had the educational requirements met to obtain this license." I agree that board certification and licensure for physicians are two entirely different things. In general, a "license" is granted by the state and is necessary to practice medicine in general in that state, while board certification is obtained after one completes further training (ie a residency) and passes an exam to prove skill in one's particular area of practice (eg pediatrics or internal medicine). However- in New York State, at least, a medical license does not come automatically after graduation from medical school. Rather, first one has to successfully complete a series of national examinations entitled the "USMLE" or United States Medical Licensing Exams. (See http://www.usmle.org/About/About.htm). In New York State the USMLE series need be passed only one time for the initial medical license. Thereafter, the medical license may be renewed without further testing. In contrast, as noted by several others, many (Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, for example) now require retesting (Internal medicine every 10 years) in order to maintain one's "board certification" status. Jayne Charlamb, MD *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(R) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html