Your career as a phlebotomist will start when you get your phlebotomy certification. In order to start your work as a phlebotomist in any medical institution, you must be recognized by the state as a specialist. The only proof that you are well qualified for the position is if you get a phlebotomy certification by passing the tests. California and Louisiana are the only states in the USA that require “all persons who are not doctors, nurses or clinical lab scientists” to be certified, so if you are planning to take on a career as a phlebotomy specialist in these states, you should get licensed. Most of the time, you need to get proper supervision to be able to draw blood. Regardless of former experience or education in the other remaining states, you should still comply with the regulations of the state where you are in. Your phlebotomist certification can open a slew of opportunities for you, especially if you live in California and Louisiana.
Phlebotomy certification will give you a competitive edge when you’re trying to apply for a job. A certificate in this specialization tells your employer that you are extremely capable of handling the job of a phlebotomist. You need to pass the stringent tests and maintain standards for education and experience. When you have all these requirements with you, you can apply for more jobs in a wide array of medical facilities. It is not enough to know the basics and get the required education. You must have retained more information and be able to apply them in the workplace. Most of all, you have to pass the exam that will be given to people who want to become licensed phlebotomy specialists.
If you want to pursue your certification, there are three agencies that are in charge of certification.
* American Society for Clinical Pathology
* Association of Phlebotomy Technicians
* National Phlebotomy Association
Each of these institutions are able to modify and regulate the examinations that comprise a phlebotomist certification exam. Herein are some of the requirements you need to meet to qualify for the exam.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) requires people with no experience to be high school graduates. They must have completed 40 classroom hours, 120 hands-on training hours and 100 successful, unaided blood collections
Academic training should include the basics of anatomy, physiology and the circulatory system. You must also know how to collect specimens and handle these specimens in the laboratory. Processing and handling laboratory operations. A phlebotomy training course page in the appropriate agency’s website will be able to point you in the right direction if you want to learn which other courses could be included in your training.
The ASCP specifies that the laboratory where you will complete your internship should comply with the rules stated in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1988. This act was established by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to make sure the quality of laboratory testing across the United States is standardized.
The Association of Phlebotomy Technicians (APT) requires phlebotomy technicians with no prior work experience to complete an accredited phlebotomy training program as well as complete 100 successful documented venipunctures. You also need to complete 5 successful skin punctures and you should already be a member of the APT. National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) requires completion of a training program.