My thanks to Mary Renard, who has been answering general questions about
certification, etc. while everyone on the IBLCE was attending the
semi-annual Board meeting in Washington, DC.
The Candidate Information Guide (CIG) is published by IBLCE and lists in
exhaustive detail all the ins and outs of preparing an application to sit
the exam. Anyone unsure of how to count hours or who is confused about any
issue has only to call the office or use the website to find that help is
near at hand. Random audits are done to "catch" falsified applications that
might slip thru, and the staff routinely checks up on applications that look
bogus. I am aware of specific cases every year I've served on the Board
where those applications are stopped. Sometimes you can't prove it is
bogus, but remember, that person still has to pass the exam. If you are not
prepared, you can't pass. And remember, the IBLCE is an ENTRY level
certificate. By the time you recertify with 75 hrs and then at ten yrs pass
the exam again, you are one very experienced person.
Many pathways exit for assisting isolated LCs who can't get CERPS. People
can write exam questions (and support them with a reference) and obtain a
CERP for each question. You can observe an LC in practice and send in a
brief report and obtain a CERP. There are independent study modules (ISM).
A recent Board decision is to expand the number of ISMs one can use so that
now, re-cert. can be entirely by ISM. We hope people will recognize the
value of attending some conf. for balance and networking, but the IBLCE does
recognize that electronic media also provides for very well-documented,
successful distance learning opportunties. These are beginning to be avail.
for lactation education.
As someone recently said: the exam you will take today is not the one you
took 10 yrs. ago. It contains current research and is an excellent way of
examining current knowledge. We are also better at writing exams than we
were in the beginning. Also, IBLCE is planning to develop ways to confer
extra status to 10-yr re-certificants. It is something to be proud of to be
a senior, experienced LC.
Finally, there is an Ethics and Discipline committee at IBLCE (not ILCA).
Anyone who is aware of any kind of ethics violation can contact the IBLCE.
Forms will be sent and you must be willing to sign the complaint (no
anonymous complaints are heard). Investigation is initiated and there are 3
ways discipline is handled: private reprimand, public reprimand, revocation
of certification. IBLCE does hear these cases and they are acted upon if
there is cause found.
I am rotating off the IBLCE as of this Aug. The new ILCA delegate to this
board will be Amy Spangler. I hope my familiarity with the workings of the
board has been helpful to the list.
Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates, Austin, Texas
http://www.jump.net/~bwc/lactnews.html
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