Chiming in here with my .02 worth -- as neither an IBCLC nor a LLLL. I think of the exam as an entry-level exam, and from there, depending on where you work and the kinds of cases you see, you can go different ways. People can stay general, much like an MD who becomes a family practice or general practitioner, or they can specialize. An IBCLC who works in a hospital may become a specialist in post-partum making sure baby is nursing well before discharge, or she may become a NICU specialist, working primarily with babies with heart-problems, or preemies, or multiples, or multiple/preemies, or babies with cleft palate. Another IBCLC may specialize in women who've had breast surgery (implants, reductions, cancer), while yet another may specialize in helping treat mastitis. An LC who works in the NICU or on labor/delivery may not get much experience working with yeast infections in nursing toddlers. Breastfeeding needs all the help it can get. We need to clone Jo-Anne, is what we need. And Diane, and Kathleen, and Pat, and Barbara, and Valerie, and Laurie, and Dawn, and Jack, and Frank, and ALL OF US. We all bring something to the table. Kathy Dettwyler, espeically in awe of Jo-Anne tonight (she's so brilliant, so eloquent, and such a NICE person) _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html