Hi, All:  I realize I'm putting myself way out on a limb here, but I can't
remain silent any longer.  I noticed that Renee and Robyn are both
apologizing profusely for using IBCLC student, etc. in their Lactnet
signatures and Robyn says she was "chastised" by IBLCE for using such
terms.  I also noticed that both have CLC after their names.  I'm making
the assumption that you both took a lactation course of some kind?  I'm
also assuming you have some years of professional experience in lactation?
Why would you accept being referred to as an "LC wannabe"?  I am UCLA-
certified (and damn proud of it, this certification being master's level
certification), but am planning on sitting the exam this year.  I guess I'm
caving in to pressure - getting too old and burned out to continue to
resist.
I was getting together the information IBLCE wants for application.  Am I
considered an "LC wannabe" with over 24,000 hours of "breastfeeding
consultancy hours"?  Am I an LC wannabe with over 58 hours of continuing
education in lactation this last year alone?  And this doesn't include the
speaking I've done in lactation.  And those are only the hours I can
remember! Am I an "LC wannabe" with 20 years of publishing and speaking in
my profession under my belt? Am I an LC wannabe after serving as adjunct
faculty to UCLA's Lactation Training Programs? Am I an LC wannabe after
having created and managed 2 hospital-based lactation programs, the 1st one
20 years ago and one of the 1st in the Chicago area? Am I an LC wannabe
whose hospital-based program serves as a model for other hospitals?  Am I
an LC wannabe, being one of the 1st members of ILCA, a founding member of 2
Chicago-area ILCA affiliates and past president of one of them?
I think you get my point. Remember, IBLCE is an ENTRY LEVEL exam that
currently requires no "graduation" from an approved program (as in
other "professions").  It seems those of us who are graduates of university-
level programs are ostrasized from the field (can't legitimately call it a
profession).  I HAVE credentials and credibility.
I've said this before and I'll say it again - IBLCE needs to take a long
hard look at the current method of doing things.  The focus needs to shift
from providing an expensive vehicle designed to lend credibility to
unlicensed people to one of professionalism.  And the first order of
business is to provide geographically accessible "schools" of lactation and
clinical opportunities. These schools need to have admission criteria, just
like any other school.  The second order of business is to then provide
a "licensing" exam, followed by required annual continuing education to
maintain licensure.  If we have any hopes of being accepted and recognized
as a "licensed profession" that exists within the accepted "medical model"
these steps are MANDATORY!  The system is already in place!  Why are we
looking for ways to circumvent the system?  If we want to be
considered "players" within the healthcare setting, we have to "play by the
rules" of the game.
See you at the exam!

Pam Hirsch, RN,BSN,CLC
Clinical Lead, Lactation Services
Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
Barrington, IL  USA

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