How to Become a Certified Phlebotomist

How to Become a Certified Phlebotomist Online

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field of phlebotomy has a job growth rate of 25% which is one of the highest in the US. If you are interested in finding out how to become a certified phlebotomist, you have come to the right place.
The following article tells you how to become a phlebotomist and the phlebotomy course you need to complete along the way.

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How to Become a Phlebotomist

You will have to complete a series of steps to become a phlebotomist.

Complete high school

The minimum educational qualification for entry into this field is a high school diploma. You are advised to take courses in natural sciences and anatomy while in school, to prepare yourself for future coursework.

Get a postsecondary nondegree award

Once you have finished your high school, you will need to get the required training to become a phlebotomist. This means that you will need to enroll in a phlebotomy training program. If you found yourself looking up information on phlebotomy classes near me, you would be glad to find relevant information here.
Phlebotomy classes are now being offered in a variety of community colleges and vocational schools across the country. They cover subjects like basic medical terminology, venipuncture, ways to draw blood, medical equipment used by phlebotomists and techniques such as centrifuging. These training courses also teach aspiring phlebotomists the importance of attention to detail, especially when recording patient data or labeling vials. These training programs typically take one year to complete and lead to a certification.

Get certified

Almost all states across the US prefer to hire phlebotomists who have certifications. You can get certified through agencies such as The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), the American Medical Technologists (AMT) or the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
To be certified, students will need to complete some hours of classroom training, along with some practical clinical experience. The certification process itself would require a written exam, and would have some practical components such as blood drawing.

How Much Does a Certified Phlebotomist Make?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual mean wage for phlebotomists was $34,480 in 2018, which translates to $16.58 per hour. The lowest 10 percent in this occupation earned less than $25,020 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,060. The highest paying industry for phlebotomists was outpatient care centers, paying $39,420, followed by medical and diagnostic labs, paying $36,060.
Phlebotomists had the highest level of employment in California, with 12,190 people employed. The highest paying state for this occupation was also California, with phlebotomists here earning $45,030. Alaska was the second highest paying state for phlebotomists, paying $42,290. The top paying metropolitan area was San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, with an annual mean wage of $53,840, followed by Redding, CA, with an annual mean wage of $51,970. The Metropolitan area with the highest employment level in this occupation was New York – Newark – Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA with 7,310 jobs.