Welcome to the Phlebotomy Schools Directory, your resource for finding information on Phlebotomy Training to begin a new and exciting career in this quickly growing industry.
Congratulations on making the decision to pursue your Phlebotomy Certification! When you complete your training, you will have a promising career which will allow you the freedom to get a job just about anywhere in the country. You will have the opportunity to work in an exciting environment where you get to help people every day!
What Is Phlebotomy?
Definition: The practice of drawing blood from a patient’s vein for analysis in a medical laboratory or for blood transfusion.
A phlebotomist may also collect urine samples to check for the abnormal presence of blood in the urine.
As blood analysis is essential to the healthcare industry, this is a booming industry that is growing and becoming more specialized. All registered nurses are trained to draw blood, but phlebotomy is quickly becoming a specialized field due to the strict safety standards being adopted by health institutions. It also reduces the workload for nurses to have a qualified phlebotomist on staff.
Phlebotomists always draw blood under the supervision of a doctor or other supervising medical practitioner. Only those who have been certified and have had classroom training can practice phlebotomy.
There are strict protocols that must be followed in order to ensure patient safety. Training is provided in specific skills and testing is administered in each skill. Certification is required every three years as continuing education.
There are various skills required of phlebotomists, including:
- Accurately inserting a needle into the patient’s vein
- Drawing blood to get a sterile sample
- Adhering to safety standards
- Dealing with difficult situations or emergencies with patients
- Maintaining a good bedside manner with patients
- Keeping accurate records and taking proper care with analysis of the speciman
Phlebotomists are in demand in a wide variety of medical institutions, including hospitals, blood banks, commercial laboratories, private medical practices and clinics, public clinics, home health care agencies, hospices, prison hospitals, military base hospitals, and more.
How To Get Your Phlebotomy Certification
In order to become a certified phlebotomist, you will need to complete specialized training to learn the required skills. The training will educate you in a variety of topics, including human anatomy, heart and circulatory system, protecting from infection, techniques for detecting veins and drawing blood, and building patient trust.
Some schools will include certification exams after completion, but you may have to arrange it yourself. Some states may not require certication, but it will be a lot easier to find a job if you have it, and you may even get a higher salary.
Here are the steps you will need to take to start your journey to becoming certified:
- Find out what the prerequisites are in the state you reside in or will be working in. Requirements can vary from state to state.
- Look for universities or vocational schools near you that have phlebotomy certification training courses that meet your state’s requirements. You can check the Department of Health to make sure the certification programs are approved.
- Complete your phlebotomy certification training. Training courses vary in duration, anywhere from 4 months to 2 years is normal.
- Take the phlebotomy professional certification exam from an accredited examining authority. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your certification.
Phlebotomy Certification Requirements
Before you can become a certified phlebotomist, you must be able to meet the following criteria:
- You must be 18 years or older and have your high school diploma or GED
- You must be able to pass a criminal background check
- You must meet your programs health requirements, including vaccination requirements
- You must have comprehensive health insurance that covers both injuries and accidents
- You must take the proper phlebotomy certification training necessary to take the examination
- You must meet any requirements for hours of practical experience
- You must pass the certification exam
Average Phlebotomy Salary
The average starting salary for phlebotomists is in the range of $26,000 to $28,000. Salaries vary depending on the location and the size of the facility. With more experience, you can make more or even advance into supervisory positions or seek new positions as a Medical Assistant.
Phlebotomists enjoy many benefits and job perks as well. They get paid holidays, paid sick days, paid vacation days, premium health insurance, and a 401(k) retirement plan. They can also get further training and education to advance in their career.
Many people may also use a career as phlebotomy as a foot in the door to the healthcare industry. When you gain more experience with patient care, you may be able to get more training to advance into higher paying positions.
Finding Phlebotomy Jobs
Once you have completed your training and received your certification, there will be many places you can look for jobs. Besides hospitals, there are plenty of other facilities that hire qualified phlebotomists. You can look for jobs at private testing labs, pathology labs, research labs, public or private blood banks, and pharmaceutical companies.
The demand for phlebotomists in the healthcare industry is steadily increasing. 12 of the top 20 fastest growing careers in the United States are in the healthcare industry, and phlebotomy is no exception. Due to such steady growth, qualified applicants will no problem finding jobs, especially in large metropolitan areas that have large healthcare facilities.
Most schools will have resources and career counselors to help you find job positions immediately after you receive your certification. You should expect to find employment quickly and easily once you are certified. Job positions are posted online on centralized job boards as well as healthcare facility websites, so it is very easy to find open job positions.
The first step to finding a phlebotomy job is finding the right school to complete your training so you can get your certification. Once you complete those steps, you will be well on your way to finding a great job that will be fulfilling and rewarding for the extent of your career.