There is a difference between licensure and certification. Perhaps Mary Renard could post about this issue and why IBLCE seeks certification. Licensure in no way prevents bad practice from occurring. All of us know RNs AND MDs who are licensed and practice BADLY, perhaps even in a dangerous manner. I agree that the IBLCE exam should establish a higher standard. In fact, for some time, I have felt it should be geared to a Masters level of competency. How many of you agree with me? Many, too many, people just getting started simply don't know enough not to be potentially dangerous, partiuclarly when they combine genuine enthusiasm with less than complete awareness of the necessity of networking and chekcing things out with colleagues before jumping into a difficult situation with both hands and feet! I have had several situations that came to my office after having been made MUCH MUCH worse (to the point of hospitalization in one case) from LCs who did not know enough to refer first and learn something in the process. We in the CHicago area are truly blessed--lots of experienced LCs. I hate to think of the 100s of years we could count up if we added us all together! Yet, people in our area who could take advantage do not. Am I simply overly sensitive to this because I am dead-tired today from trying to preserve what may not be rescue-able? Or have others seen similar situations? To quote Jan Barger, "Inquiring minds would LOVE to know!" Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Homewood, IL)- [log in to unmask] WEB PAGE: http://www.mcs.com/~auerbach/lactation.html LACTNET archives http://library.ummed.edu/lsv/archives/lactnet.html