It is so hard to discuss the issue of certification without hurting people's
feelings.  As a long time advocate for greater professional training and
requirements, I know that my stance has often been perceived as elitist and
there are people who have told me I've hurt their feelings by stating
publically that as a profession, we have to dare to take a stand on
standards.  When dieticians began to emerge as professionals there must have
been a lot of angry institutional cooks who wanted to know what was wrong
with good old fashion square meal planning.  The truth is there is nothing
wrong with it.  It was just that nutrition science was expanding, and there
was more there to learn if one wanted to pursue it.  When people expand
their expertise and begin to use it to achieve therapeutic ends, it soon
becomes clear that standardized education which culminates with examination
and evaluation is important.  It also becomes clear that some sort of
on-going continuing ed. requirements are  necessary to assure continued
competancy.  Further it usually occurs to everyone sooner or later that
there must be a regulatory body which provides recourse and disciplinary
action in the event of adverse outcomes.  These are CONSUMER issues.
Although enlightened self-interest suggests that uniform standards and
recognition of a credential prob. will ultimately benefit us in terms of
income and job security, my main interest in the credential has NEVER
focused as much on the feelings of those who support breastfeeding, as for
setting up a system which best ensures the protection of mothers and babies.

I've long been a passionate advocate of a multi-disciplinary entry pathway.
As a non-nurse, I've championed the idea that we could best protect the
counseling emphasis of our work by drawing some of our practicioners from
non-medical educations. Many of my respected colleagues argue that LCs
should only be certified from the ranks of health care professionals, and
lately it seems to me that that mind-set is gaining a compelling momentum.
The field may well evolve a direction which will exclude me. If it does, I
will just have to accept that or go get a nursing degree.  No matter whether
I get my "own way" or not, I feel grateful that I've had the chance to be
part of starting a new profession as both a LLL Leader and then as an IBCLC.
It takes nothing away from my efforts on behalf of mothers and babies or
breastfeeding just because the wave may toss me high and dry.  This
discussion isn't personal.  It's professional.  Tho it affects me
personally, some perspective on what's best for the majority must be
maintained.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates, Austin, Texas
http://www.jump.net/~bwc/lactnews.html

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