Guide to Phlebotomy Training and Certification
Phlebotomy technicians are healthcare professionals responsible for drawing and preparing blood for medical testing. Primarily, they are stationed in hospitals or doctor’s offices and are tasked to work directly with families and individual patients. Being such, they are required to have good communication skills. In addition, because there are patients who have fear of blood and needles, these health care professionals need to be able to maintain a sense of confidence and have no problem earning the trust of people.
While there are states that do not require technicians to be licensed, training and certification are highly recommended in the medical field as they make professionals more marketable nationwide. This is why aspiring phlebotomists are often strongly encouraged to aim becoming certified.
What are Phlebotomy Training Certifications?
Phlebotomy training certifications are programs designed to provide students and aspiring Phlebotomy professionals entry-level skills necessary for employment as trained phlebotomists. These programs typically comprise lab and class instructions including hands-on Phlebotomy practices such as sample collecting, venipunctures, lab processing, quality control, handling and point-of-care testing. Students will also get to develop critical skills in professionalism, safety, confidentiality and communication.
Aside from providing classroom knowledge, certification programs will also expose students to instructor-led clinical experience internship at local laboratories. Here, they will be trained to apply the knowledge they have gained through their classroom-set education. Typically, the classes, clinicals and labs will be completed in just one semester.
Phlebotomy training certifications are offered in universities and community colleges to prepare students for the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians certification or the ASPT exam. Although this certification is not required in states like Colorado, it is highly recommended being that it is the premier certification to acquire in Phlebotomy.
The Importance of Phlebotomy Certifications
There has never been a much better time to get certified in Phlebotomy than today. Aside from the profession being currently in high demand and having a rewarding pay-off, it doesn’t take as much as time as other courses to complete an accredited Phlebotomy program.
Completing a certification in Phlebotomy only takes a semester. In some schools, that stretches up to just 3 months. But more importantly, it will make you a better candidate for countless of job opportunities and also renders you eligible for much higher paying jobs.
Once you have completed your training program and have obtained the recommended certification, you will be ready to work as a professional Phlebotomist. Know that some states might require you to do phlebotomy internships before allowing you to work as a full-time Phlebotomist, however.
States that Require Phlebotomy Certification
In the United States, the only states that require special state certification for Phlebotomy are California, Nevada, Louisiana and Washington. Generally, phlebotomists can be nationally certified through different organizations. In California, however, there are currently only six agencies permitted to issue national certificates. These agencies are as follows:
- American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
- American Certification Agency (ACA)
- National Center for Competency Testing/Multi-skilled Medical Certification Institute (NCCT/MMCI)
- National Health Career Association (NHA)
- National Phlebotomy Continuing Education (NPCE)
- American Medical Technologists (AMT)
These and several other agencies also certify professional phlebotomists outside the Californian state.
How to Get Phlebotomy-Certified?
One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to Phlebotomy is how to go about becoming a qualified phlebotomist. In order to answer this, first start by finding out the Phlebotomy requirements in the area where you are residing.
There are states, like California for instance, that have very strict certification requirements in terms of education and experience. While in other states, like Arizona, getting licensed and certified does not entail any specific requirement. However, what’s important that you realize is that even if you are in a state where requirements are not particularly necessary, the best chance you get for employment will certainly come from having certification that will show you already possess the needed skills and expertise to properly get the job done.
- Find accredited programs.
For those seriously interested in obtaining Phlebotomy certification, first thing’s first: find accredited programs around your area. Even online certification programs offer valuable experiences for learning as well as great opportunities to attain clinical experience in laboratories or clinics operating near you.
Hands-on-experience must always be part of a quality certification program. So find a course that will teach you how to handle specimens and samples, perform first aid and draw blood physically. Exposure to these will get you more prepared and qualified for your job search.
- Prepare the necessary documentations.
Before you can qualify for an examination, you must first complete a phlebotomy course and be able to provide documentation of all your laboratory and clinical experiences. The National Certification Career Association NCCA provides certification in Phlebotomy which includes a two-part exam. Part 1 is a Skills Exam and Part 2 is the Written Exam. For candidates to be certified, they must be able to pass both of the exam contents. Take a free phlebotomy practice exam here and test your knowledge.
Considerations For Becoming A Certified Phlebotomist
Wondering if the decision to become a certified Phlebotomist is ideal for you? Then here are some things you must first consider.
- It’s not for the faint-hearted.
You must know that this job is definitely not for people with fear of blood and needles. It’s also not for people with health complications as the job description includes carrying out medical tests on patients infected with illnesses.
If, on the other hand, you are someone healthy and can handle the sight of needles and blood, then working as a phlebotomist will most likely be a paying career for you. It is a job that offers a lot of opportunities to people who can do it properly.
- Interacting with patients
Becoming a certified phlebotomist also entails interacting with patients of all kinds – young and old. It’s a great option for anyone with good social skills and for those who enjoy making other people feel relaxed and calm in very stressful situations.
- Phlebotomy can be a steppingstone for anyone who wants to further their medical study.
There are a lot of phlebotomists who find that the career provides them a good chance to further their medical study. It’s a great starting point for anyone who initially wants to gain basic knowledge and exposure in the field of medicine. Phlebotomists who choose to further their career path may end up becoming nurses and some even move on to become doctors.
Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, career paths within this field are expected to expand within the next 10 years or so. While majority of available jobs will still be hospital-based, phlebotomists may still land jobs in other settings such as in clinics or doctors’ offices. Facilities like diagnostic labs also employ phlebotomists regularly.
Because the medical industry is recession-proof, career in this field is guaranteed to be in demand. So, if you are looking for a job that’s able to offer not just stability but also significant opportunities, then why not try out becoming a phlebotomist? Aside from this career having a lot of perks, working in the field of healthcare is one of the top choices of many given today’s rough economy.
