[Certifying Examination System in College of Laboratory Medicine of Japan]

The three types of certifying examinations provided by the College of Laboratory Medicine of Japan are introduced. They are the Technologist in Laboratory, Specialist in Laboratory, and Technologist in Emer- gency Laboratory. Both the Technologist in Laboratory and Specialist in Laboratory examinations focus on eight areas: microbiology, pathology, chemistry, hematology, immunology, cardiology, neurology, and respi- rology. The Technologist in Laboratory examination started in 1954, and, as of today, it has been passed by 34,646 people. The Specialist in Laboratory examination started in 1956, and due to its level of difficulty, it has been passed by only 232 people. Meanwhile, the Technologist in Emergency Laboratory examination start- ed in 1992, and it has been passed by 5,047 people. These certificates prove that their holders have acquired a certain level of knowledge and technical aptitude, and that they represent the caliber of personnel necessary for clinical laboratories to obtain facility authentication from organizations such as the International Organiza- tion for Standardization (ISO) and the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Therefore, the significance and value of acquiring these qualifications are marked. [Review].