In recent years, medical practice has seen a drastic change due to the rapid, exponential expansion of scientific and medical technologies. Specially, the role of medical technologists (also known as medical laboratory scientists and/or clinical laboratory scientists) are increasing in the development of science of medical technology. As such, their responsibility has also been increasing. Therefore, given their highly specialized knowledge and skills, they are not regarded solely as doctor's assistants. Their independence and deeper specialization have been increasing, as they perform medial practices under the guidance of doctors or dentists pursuant to the "Act on Medical Service Technologists." From a legal point of view, medical guidance and scope of work were examined. As a conclusion, the definition of doctor's superintendency on the "Act on Medical Service Technologists" is required, and the qualification for the Korean license examination and their roles should be stated clearly. Moreover, communications among health professions regarding the roles of medical technologists are necessary to further facilitate clarification of their role. There is a need for independent legislation to expand the field of medical technologists and to strengthen their professionalism.

한국, 일본, 미국 임상병리사 전문자격 구본경 삼성서울병원 진단검사의학과The names of medical technologist in Korea, Japan, and the United State of America vary depending on the medical system, educational system, and work areas. Conventionally, jobs equal or similar to medical technologist (commonly known as clinical laboratory technologist, medical laboratory technologist, clinical laboratory scientist, and medical laboratory scientist), histotechnologist, cytotechnologist, and genetic technologist. Jobs, such as extracorporeal technologist, medical electrophysiology technologist, and medical sonographer, allow other allied health professionals including medical technologists, to obtain their qualification. The work areas of medical technologists are classified into clinical pathologic technology, pathologic technology, clinical genetics technology, nuclear medicine in vitro technology, and clinical physiologic technology. New titles of Korean specialized medical technologists refer to certification systems, such as CLMJ, CMAJ, ASCP, IAC, ABRET, and ARMDS. Currently, there are eight types of specialized medical technologists under the cooperation of specialized academic societies. They are hematology, transfusionology, chemistry, immunology, microbiology, histology, cytology, and nuclear medicine. It can be further divided into 20 categories according to the work areas such as mass spectrometry, infection control, Pathologists' Assistant, flow cytometry, HLA, cytogenetics, molecular genetics, cardiopulmonary physiology, neurophysiology (EEG/EMG/PSG/etc.), cardiac sonography, neurosonography (TCD/carotid), and medical device quality manager.

This study presents a discussion on the biomedical laboratory science (formally clinical laboratory science or medical laboratory science) with the identity of biomedical laboratory science, as well as the academic classification system for systematic approach. The field of biomedical laboratory science is not registered in the academic research area classification system of the National Research Foundation of Korea. Since the inception of the first department of biomedical laboratory science in 1963, about 52 departments were since established. Despite the scientific identity, biomedical laboratory science have not been acknowledged professionally in most institutions. Observing the academic research area classification, the physical therapy, occupational therapy, and dental hygiene science are systematically classified and approved the identities by the authorities. This study is freshly academic area classification system of the biomedical laboratory science. The contents of this study are summarized as follows. The medical laboratory technologist's discipline is considered within the medical and science category, clinical pathology in class, and biomedical laboratory science in division.

To investigate and accommodate opinions on the revision of the official occupational title of the medical technologist, the Korean Association of Medical Technologists (KAMT) requested 22,638 people registered as its regular members to participate in an online survey and select their two preferred options from the alternative job titles presented. Survey responses were collected from 3,999 people (17.66%). To examine job title preferences among the KAMT members, each respondent was asked to choose two terms from the choice set. As a result, 6,958 responses were obtained, and out of the total responses, 5,555 (79.83%) indicated a choice for a job title that included the word 'analyst' as the preferred alternative. The survey results showed that "Diagnostic Laboratory Analyst" was the most preferred alternative selected by the largest proportion of respondents (2,417 responses, 34.73%), followed by "Clinical Laboratory Analyst" (1,710 responses, 24.57%), "Biomedical Pathology Technologist" (758 responses, 10.89%), "Biomedical Analyst" (730 responses, 10.49%), "Biomedical Laboratory Analyst" (730 responses, 10.03%), and "Clinical Laboratory Scientist" (646 responses, 9.26%). Therefore, based on the responses of the surveyed members, results of consultation and literature review, the Standard Classification of Occupations (SCO), and the current status of the job titles used in major countries, it is suggested that the occupational title of medical technologists should be changed by adopting "Diagnostic Laboratory Analyst", "Biomedical Laboratory Analyst", or "Biomedical Analyst" as their new official job title.

The education and training system, the ISCO (International Standard Classification of Occupations), and the legal systems of Japan and the United States consider all ophthalmic optometry laboratory personnel as ophthalmologists. They encompass optometrists, orthoptists, optometric technicians, and ophthalmic medical technicians. Data retrieved from the KOSIS (Korean Statistical Information Service) revealed that the number of opticians associated with the department of ophthalmology in 2022 could be appraised by classifying their medical institutions; contrarily, the number of clinical laboratory technologists could not be assessed. However, the current research investigated a general tertiary hospital and determined that clinical laboratory technologists outnumber opticians. Classification in Korea is based on ophthalmic optometry laboratory personnel, ISCO, ISCED (International Standard Classification of Education), the medical service act, the act on medical service technologists, and the higher education act. These results cannot be compared to the optometrists evaluated in the United States. Ophthalmology is a suitable profession for optometric technologists and technicians who perform under the instructions of ophthalmologists and optometrists. The field of eye healthcare would be benefitted by assigning the management based on their qualification according to the requirement of the job title, such as 'Clinical Optometry Technologist' to be given to clinical laboratory technologists and opticians who work in the ophthalmic optometry laboratories after obtaining a private qualification endowed by the Korean Ophthalmological Society and the Korean Optometry Society.