Dear Lactnetters: This is my first posting to a list (and my third try, at that), so I hope that it makes it to lactnet before the licensure issue is a vague memory! I am a private practice LC (7 years) and CLE who is also a RN (I cringed at some of the recent "nurse" posts!). I am also a member and perennial board member of PRO-LC, Eastern Pennsylvania's ILCA affiliate. While I do consultation in homes and my office, and rent a bizillion breast pumps, my favorite part of my job is education---of health care professionals and expectant parents (Coach Smith is my hero!). I am the mother of Michael (9), Danny (7), and Molly (4). I, too, find that many inexperienced and unqualified people are taking (and passing) the IBCLE. Often, home health agencies are sending nurses so that they can tell the third party payors that they provide LC services. Just being a maternal-child health nurse for a couple of years gives them the hours, and they go off to Georgetown for the CERPS. The parents lose out when they reach out for help, and receive inappropriate care. The profession suffers when inappropriate care is given. But will licensure solve the problem? Just reading Lactnet for the past few months tells me that we've all run into licensed healthcare providers who do not provide good care. Maybe licensure would be a good idea, BUT, IMHO we really need supervised clinical hours. Experienced LCs need to mentor new LCs. Perhaps an internship of 6 mos. to a year before full certification. Ideally, the internship would include different rotations, giving novice LC a variety of experiences. Physicians, nurses, (even beauticians!) all need to have this supervised learning period. It won't insure that everyone practices well, butI think it would help. Of course, in our young profession, there aren't enough LCs available to mentor new LCs in many parts of the world. I look forward to your ideas!