I am a medical technologist for 18 yrs now, and our field is relatively new.
It's the kind of thing you say you are and are asked "What's that?" I would
guess LCs run into that also! There are techs that were trained"on the job"
by a boss who had some exp from the Army, later certified. Affectionately
called the Paul A school of med tech. My college was in the Chemistry dept,
and was the 2nd yr for it actually to be a real major, some got the degree
and training and later certified by taking the testing. Since there are
strict requirements and regulations now, some of these originals are set to
work at this one place indefinitely, as they are not "official" can take the
test thru HEW (gov't sponsored) and get into it grandfather clause, i.e., if
you worked as one before the regs, you get to take it because you already
were working as a tech before the regs were put in force. There were 3 levels
no college, 2yr, and 4yr. and 3 designations.
Now there is only the MT for newcoming students, hardly anyone offers the
lesser courses because mostly MTs are required for hospital and lab
inspection purposes to work alone w/o supervision. Others are able to do all
but microscopic and complicated testing under an MT. Years ago in our area, a
1 yr certification had a school in a local hosp, a local college had an
associate degree 2 yr college plu 1 yr internship, and the 4yr
college/internship at another college-down to only the 4 yr program now. It's
interesting to watch the way it developed(and odd to have been around long
enough to  know that much history!!)
It would be delightful to see a growth and development of a lactation science
degree come to pass (and soon!!)  We have to dream!!
          Georgeanne Mattise, LLLL, MT and especially MOM