If you are looking for a career in the health care industry and are not uncomfortable around blood, then phlebotomy, and phlebotomy training, could be for you. Phlebotomists are responsible for collecting samples of blood and other bodily fluids for analysis. Phlebotomists work alongside doctors and nurses in a variety of health care settings, including hospitals, private health care facilities, and blood banks. The health care industry is growing and phlebotomists are in high demand.
Education and training is very important for phlebotomists. A phlebotomist’s education begins in high school. People wishing to pursue a career in phlebotomy must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. After high school, students can choose to begin their phlebotomy training at a community college, trade or vocational school, or online.
In addition to location, cost, and class structures, there are a few important things to consider when selecting a phlebotomy training course. The school or organization should be accredited or approved by governmental agencies, like the United States Department of Education, or national accrediting agencies, such as the National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Accredited schools meet the guidelines and use materials set by the Clinical and Laboratory Sciences Institute and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. If you are hoping to work for a specific employer after graduation, check to see if they are affiliated with or prefer certain training programs. Some employers may prefer their employees to be trained through their affiliates.
Training programs will vary across schools. Courses will cover human anatomy and physiology, including the cardiovascular, lymphatic, muscular, and skeletal systems. Other courses will cover blood collection and storage methods. Phlebotomists will also learn interpersonal skills, administrative aspects (like record keeping and data entry), first aid and CPR. Traditional schools will offer both classroom and clinical instruction. Good online courses will involve a clinical component or help students set up internships to gain hands-on experience. Certificate training programs vary in length, ranging from 12 weeks to one year. The average cost of a training program ranges from $1500 to $3000. Associate and bachelor’s degrees are available, however they take two to four years to complete and cost five to ten times the amount of a certificate course.
Once students have completed an accredited phlebotomy training program, they are not automatically qualified as a certified phlebotomy technician. Certification is not required by law, except in California and Louisiana, however many employers will not hire non-certified phlebotomists. To become certified, the phlebotomist must apply to write a certification exam through a national certifying agency.
There are ten nationally recognized agencies in the United States. These include the American Phlebotomy Association, the National Center for Competency Testing, and the American Society of Clinical Pathology. The requirements for phlebotomists without formal training vary from agency to agency, but phlebotomists that have graduated from an accredited program are eligible to apply for the certification exams.
There are many study guides and practice tests available online and through the certification agencies for phlebotomists. As well, some training programs are affiliated with certifying agencies and the exam is administered at the end of the program. Certification, in addition to graduation from an accredited program, gives inexperienced phlebotomists an advantage when finding employment.