[Qualification System for BLS -Domestically and Internationally-].

: The scope of the biomedical laboratory scientist (BLS) differs in the world. The qualification systems for BLS are also different. Even the name of our profession is not standardized, like "BLS", "Medical Technologist (MT) ", "Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) ", "Medical Technician", and so on. We have only the "BLS" license, which is recognized by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. Many Asian countries have a qualification system similar to Japan. In the USA, BLSs are qualified by certain scientific organizations, and they are called "MT", "BLS", or "Specialist" in consideration of their education level. The International Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists (IAMLT) was founded by Ms. Elizabeth Pletscher and her Swiss colleagues in order to cooperate with international BLSs in 1954. Since the BLS education system has been improved, chief delegates from the world decided that we should call ourselves "BLS", and IAMLT was revised to the "International Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS) " at the general assembly in 2002. IFBLS has tried to spread our name and occupation to the public though our international cooperation using the same name "BLS". IFBLS shares the core competence, but does not provide certification. The International Academy of Clinical Cytology (IAC) has provided international certification for cytolo- gists and cytotechnologists. The American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has certified overseas BLSs (ASCPi), and they are able to work in the USA as BLSs after passing the examination. These certifi- cations will be valid in limited areas. As the current situation, if someone would like to work in another country as a BLS, he/she will have to pass the domestic BLS examination. [Review].