>Our local hospital is currently planning a CLC training for staff nurses =
>and anyone else who is interested.  <snip> I don't think these nurses =
>are planning to sell themselves as Lactation Consultants after receiving =
>this training, but merely have a sincere desire to increase their =
>breastfeeding management knowledge and skills.

>How does CLC compare to CLE??

Here in California, CLE stands for "Certified Lactation Educator" and CLC
stands for "Certified Lactation Consultant", based on the certificates
given out by the UCLA extension training program.  Many CLE's here
promote themselves as lactation specialists or lactation consultants, and
for sure many of the hospitals seem to "upgrade" these certifications for
marketing purposes.   Interesting thing--- the UCLA program will allow
anyone into the CLE program, but only "health professionals" into the
CLC.  They've let a dental hygienist in, but I would not have qualified.

I'm all for pushing for standardization; it's desperately needed.  Some
CLCs are top-notch professionals, but others do nothing to keep up in the
field, and yet keep the title forever.  Consumers have no clue as to the
differences and often assume that if the person they first saw couldn't
fix the problem, no one else can, either.   I've been in the difficult
position of trying to tactfully suggest to someone who was giving up that
perhaps I have a few extra ideas that the "lactation nurse" they saw
didn't try......    I don't want to undermine other breastfeeding
counselors, and I also don't want my own abilities minimized by those who
haven't put in the time and training that I have.

We need to keep working on this problem.

Lisa Marasco, BA, IBCLC