Lisa says,
> Certifications are what we all take "pride" in..you use the title of what
> you rightly earned and at the level of certification that you personally
> and (only you) chose to access, for whatever reason. It doesn't make
> anyone "less"..it's just a personal choice we all make..what certification
>
OK, I promise -- truly on good behavior here -- that this is the LAST post I
will write on this subject, at least until tomorrow -- or maybe the next
day...... I want you all to think about this -- seriously now ---.....
I am one of the directors of Lactation Education Consultants, a group of
three that teach a lactation consultant preparation program. We are the
"on-site program arm of Breastfeeding Support Consultants" -- BSC is doing
only distance education; LEC is now doing all the on-site programming....same
folks, same program....OK -- you get the drift.
Since 1993 when we (BSC) corporately decided to follow ILCA standards and not
offer a "certification" after our program (at that time BSC only did distance
ed), we have not. And LEC is the same...no certification for our program.
Let's say that we (LEC) determined that if you took our program in 2002 (same
program that we offer in 2001), we would confer upon you the designation of
-- oh, let me think here for a minute -- ummm.... "Certified Infant Feeding
Specialist" (I don't think anyone else has that one tied up).... And, we
say, in order to be certified, you have to attend our program and pass the
exam we give at the end of the program. (Same program, same exam we give
now). OK. Has anything changed? NO -- same program, same instructors, same
exam....just a decision on our part (the partners, in this case) to confer a
certification. (Stay w/ me, everyone.)
WHAT HAS CHANGED?
Absolutely NOTHING!!!
Those of you who attended our program get the same information, the same
program, the same instructors, same exam, same requirements -- that you did
before we "confered the certification". BUT NOW -- you can put after your
name, CIFS!
Excuse me, but what has changed here? Nothing. You are no different -- you
have gotten the same program as the folks that have gone before you
(hopefully a bit updated and improved, but basically the same).
Now, if we (LEC) decide to confer certification, would we get more attendees
at our program? I suspect yes. If we should suddenly say, "Oh, by the way,
if you attend this program and pass the exam at the end, you will be a CIFS."
Wow -- if you are choosing between a program that is virtually identical to
this that doesn't confer a certification (all other things being equal),
which would you choose? Is this certification "real"? No -- not any more
than any other program completion certification. Has the program changed to
be a better program? No. Do you have more education/experience/expertise
than you did before? No. It's the same blinketyblink program. The
difference is -- YOU CAN NOW EFFECTIVELY CONFUSE THE PUBLIC!!! Why? Because
you are "Certified...." But nothing has changed except our (LEC Partners')
decision to confer certification.....
Before WE conferred certification, you could teach/educate/counsel/help/work
with/breastfeeding mothers and babies. Now that WE confer certification you
can teach/educate/counsel/help/work with/breastfeeding mothers and babies.
What is the difference? As far as we are concerned -- some meaningless
initials after your name that don't improve your credibility whatsoever. You
are the same person after you take the program WHETHER OR NOT the program
confers some sort of certification -- whether or not they have "stuff" you
have to do to "earn" it.
IMHO, you haven't earned anything until you sit for and pass the IBLCE exam.
THEN you have earned your credential.
Yes, you might have to do "something" to earn other certifications -- pass an
exam at the end of the course -- read a book -- work w/ mothers & babies for
a brief period of time -- develop a curriculum -- answer questions in a book
-- I don't know.....but is that the SAME as studying and practicing to become
an IBCLC?
Will LEC/BSC decide to confer a certification? We don't know. We do know
that it hurts our bottom line that we don't. But we don't believe it
improves the credibility of the people that have the initials, and it
decreases the credibility of the folks that offer the certification. If
folks have the choice between a program that offers certification and one
that doesn't -- which one do they pick? People like initials -- even if all
they have to do to earn them is show up for class..... I guess the question
is, will LEC/BSC decide that credibility/following ILCA standards are more
important, or getting people into our progam... One would like to think that
it is the former, but the latter buys the peanut butter.... Is it the
quality of the program that people come for, or is it the intials conferred?
Let me know! Perhaps we'll go for the peanut butter.....
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