My understanding is that anyone can call themselves whatever they want, but
they sure as hell can't call themselves an IBCLC without passing the exam. I
don't think it's proper for someone working in an institutional setting
(dr's office, any kind of clinic, hospital, etc.) to use the term "Lactation
Consultant" unless they have some kind of recognized accreditation to back
them up. And their professional initials should specify - like IBCLC, or CLE
or whatever it might happen to be. At the hospital where I worked as "pt.
education and discharge coordinator", before I was IBCLC, I was the
"designated" Lactation Specialist (necessary for hospital to meet state
requirements), and was referred to as the "lactation specialist" or
"breastfeeding expert" or whatever, but my initials were only "RN" and I
never represented myself other than as "a nurse who works with a lot of the
breastfeeding mothers" or one who was "especially interested in helping
women breastfeed" or "experienced with breastfeeding issues".

I would have considered it fraudulent to call myself or allow myself to be
represented as a "Lactation Consultant", without the accreditation.

Cathy B.

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