The chronological development of clinical laboratory science education is reviewed.

The profession of medical technology began as an apprentice-type job with the pathologist training his own « girls. » Gradually, as the scientific base of pathology and the technological base of clinical laboratory science grew, more formal education programs emerged, but most were still hospital-based programs.

Pathologists generally controlled the educational standards of programs until the formation of National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

Subsequently, the number of university-based programs grew.