Phlebotomy Certification Information

A phlebotomist is a person who draws blood from the patients for medical testing or blood exchange. Like most of the medical professions, phlebotomy comes with rewarding wages and high employment prospects. However, in order to ensure a sound profession, phlebotomists are encouraged to undergo a certification course. Currently, only two states in United States, Louisiana and California, do not require certification. Although uncertified phlebotomists are widely employed, employers usually tend to look for certified phlebotomists, as it greatly reduces the risk of lawsuits in healthcare sector. Not only do certified phlebotomists get higher wages, their patients also trust them with their jobs.

There is a common misconception that phlebotomists are in fact nurses. Although some nurses can work as phlebotomists, nurses do not specialize in taking out blood. On the other hand, phlebotomists are only experts in drawing blood, unless they are trained for medical or health related tasks.

For all those who wish to excel in the medical field, acquiring a phlebotomy certification can be a useful step. However, in order to get a phlebotomy certification, one needs to enrol in phlebotomy courses first. In United States, there are currently ten institutes that certify the phlebotomists. Out of these, the most renowned are National Phlebotomy Association, The National Society of Clinical Pathology, and The Association of Phlebotomy Technicians.

Each institute has different pre-requisites for enrolment in the courses. Usually interested candidates need to have a high school diploma, single-handed blood transfusion experiences, certain classroom and training hours along with an internship certificate. However, the training period may differ, depending upon the course of study one adopts. For instance, a certification can be obtained in a few months, whereas, an associate degree in phlebotomy may require two years. Furthermore, the institutes follows separate curriculum that generally includes collecting of blood specimens, anatomy, basic laboratory training and detailed study of circulatory system. At the end of the term, the students are required to take a few tests that include a written examination with few demonstrations. Upon completion of the certification, the respective institutes help their students in acquiring internships at different places. Students can complete their required work hours in hospitals, private clinics or nursing homes.

Qualified phlebotomists can work in various fields including healthcare, nursing homes, medical laboratories, blood banks and hospitals. Although the phlebotomists are always in demand, an ordinary phlebotomist earns from $ 20,000 to $ 30,000 per annum. On the contrary, a qualified phlebotomist can easily make up to $ 50,000 or more in a single year.

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