Pardee, Oh, how I have to agree with you. >What can we do about this type of situation? Providers that allow this are >fooling the public and should be held accountable. But to whom? And >professionally, I am angry that a provider assumes that going to a >breastfeeding class qualifies one to do what I have worked years to learn. Part of the problem is that we haven't even agreed within our own profession as to what the standards should be. We have CLE, CLC, IBCLC, and the quality of the person behind the letters can vary tremendously. I would like to see IBCLC become the standard, but I know of at least one large program that tell its CLE/CLC's that this isn't necessary. I have three years of formal training, still not quite complete, plus my previous years of experience, but the local hospitals are more secure with a CLE who is an RN. I have struggled over these issues. I was originally an accountant, but fell in love with breastfeeding, became a LLL Leader, and found a talent and desire for consulting. I wrestled with becoming an RN, then taking a CLC course, but it seemed ludicrous to spend two years training for something that was not directly related to what I wanted to do, and then still have no further training in my chosen area. So I finally opted for an MA in Lactation, and have gone back to school to do remedial work in the sciences that I was deficient in. I would *love* to see us all come together and agree on the necessary education and training, both medically and in lactation, similarly to OT's and PT's, who are their own respected specialties. Then, when we can agree among ourselves as to what constitutes the "right" background and training, we can uniformly push that standard as THE standard, hopefully under the banner of IBCLC. As for putting this under a state's thumb, maybe that will have to happen. If it does, I think that our lack of unity will have contributed to this need. How do the rest of you feel? -Lisa ****************************************************************************** Lisa A. Marasco, IBCLC / [log in to unmask] International Board Certified Lactation Consultant / [log in to unmask] ******************************************************************************