The only legally-defensible credential relevant to lactation at the moment is
IBCLC.  LLL Leader is a different kind of credential with some legal
defensibility, although different from and not equivalent to IBCLC. A
legally-defensible credential has an objective means of assessing competence
and a means for removal the incompetent or impaired practitioner.
Certification is voluntary; licensure is mandated by a governmental body and
more restrictive than certification.

Other terms such as certified lacation educator, etc. are conferred at the
completion of a specific course. They are as relevant as the course is. There
are no international standards for lactation courses, although ILCA is
working on this project. Course titles say you've finished a course, period.
The IBCLC credential means you've passed an international standarized exam in
lactation.  Many people take one or more courses and THEN take the
international exam.  Others self-prepare, get their required 30 hours from
conferences and lectures, and then take the exam.

The State of Ohio Department of Health lists preferred credentials for their
breastfeeding coordinators starting with IBCLC (because it is an
international criterion-referenced exam) and going downward to
course-specific titles.

For more information, contact IBLCE at PO Box 2348, Falls Church VA 22042.

Linda Smith, Dayton Ohio where it's FINALLY summer!