><< Imagine if all of those people worked together instead of arguing about >which one is best? Sorry if this offends anyone, but that is my .02 and >then some. >> > >I think that's pretty much what happens, in reality. And here, too, we do work together, when things are at their best. In the UK there are a few IBCLCs, so when I say 'we', I mean the volunteer people and midwives and health visitors. I have resisted coming in on this debate, but I would add that one of the main purposes of credentials for volunteers as well as paid people is surely less to do with professional territory, than *protecting mothers* from bad service/support. In my own organisation, for example, if anyone is unhappy with the result of contact between herself and an NCT counsellor, they can call upon NCT which has a code of conduct, proper insurance, plus support and supervision and standards of training and post-qualification training. If I am unhappy with what a fellow counsellor says or does, I have some means of dealing with it, either on behalf of the organisation (because I am a tutor) or else I can refer to my own peers and the wider organisation. Ultimately, this should ensure a better service for mothers. Heather Welford Neil NCt bfc, Newcastle upon Tyne UK *********************************************** 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