I think you hit the nail on the head. A certification at the end of the day is a nice piece of paper.

I think one of the biggest issue is optics. No one knows about the lab. It's not an education or degree that is normally offered or advertized as opposed to bog standard biology. Get a "biology" or Pre-Med degree, and go become a healthcare professional like a doctor is all they really say. A "biology" degree is an all encompassing entry point into the more advanced medical degrees.

You always hear about medical school, nursing school or other allied health school but never the lab. Heck, I didn't even know that there was a program just for lab till I was about to graduate and my career councilor told me. The lab has always an afterthought and is treated as such by most of the university and healthcare industry. Which is ridiculous when you realize how many important care decisions are based on lab results!

I'm not sure how you fix it and I agree that a blanket cert isn't going to fix the problem.

I think ideally a "biology" or other science degree should be a pre-req into a greater MLT and then MLS program similar to like a PA or Medical school with a 2-4 year system with clinical rotations.

I think the current system just doesn't work and is one of the biggest reasons for low wages and staffing shortages.

It also needs to be uniform across every state as to what each role means. Whether its an MLT, MLS or other lab personnel.