Linda, Unfortunately, what you were told is true. I don't think that I can
recall any graduate of that particular program who has sit for the IBCLC
exam, and I am surrounded by them, living just three hours from the
University.  It concerns me greatly because I see much variability in
their continuing education and skills, and in fact those who graduate from
the educator training program are encouraged to set up practice despite
having possibly only minimal experience.  I have worked with many moms who
saw one of these "LC's" and weren't able to find the necessary solution to
their problem; it is a delicate thing to convince them that there is more
help to be found without putting anyone down in the process. (I just had
one of these yesterday; mom couldn't get baby on breast first 48 hrs, then
was told to feed glucose water by bottle by the LC, who said, "just keep
trying..."; mom called me to rent a pump intended to give up attempting to
bfd all together!)

It must be said that some of these people have very good skills, but
others do not. Meanwhile, our hospitals don't understand the difference
in credentialing and aren't necessarily interested in understanding,
either. They will often send a nurse for educator training, then
advertise that they have a lactation consultant or specialist on staff,
which is quite frustrating. I, too, would like to know why this
particular program eschews IBLCE, when their standards do not reach ours.

-Lisa

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Lisa A. Marasco, IBCLC                                /  [log in to unmask]
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant    /  [log in to unmask]

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