I have followed the mentoring discussion with interest and wonder
has no one from IBLCE discussed LC credentialling with the board of ICEA. I
feel that this should be addressed at that level. How can consummers
differenciate? In Ontario Canada, we also had an instructor of a local BF
course tell her group that once finished this course they would be able to
write the IBCLC exam. On this basis one of the graduates mentored breifly
with me and felt qualified to charge money for her breastfeeding expertise.
Her background was that of a fitness leader and ASPO trained with one year
experience as a child birth educator.
        I agree that all IBCLCs do not have to be RNs and that many RNs make
very poor LCs. However to work with ill neonates as a hospital based LC, The
LC must have knowledge and experience with this. Many IBCLCs who have passed
their exam are not aware of what they do not know. Hospitals hiring these
individuals just seem to go by the fact that they have passed their exam.
How do we define what credentials an LC should have? We are still a
relatively new profession and in Canada there still is very little public
and professional awareness of who we really are.
        Sorry I have been so lengthy but this whole discussion somehow
discourages me. Some work so long and study so hard and never feel like they
know enough and others just go ahead and give advice without worrying about
the consequences. These people give us a bad rap, and we have definately
been painted with the same brush. (especially by Doctors, and I don't mean
all Doctors)

Attie Sandink RN. IBCLC. (in hospital LC and BF. clinic specialist)