In the United States of America, there are various phlebotomy training options that all lead to becoming a certified phlebotomist. These options include training within a healthcare program, on-the-job training and training through a recognized accredited phlebotomy program at an accredited career training institution or college. To successfully enroll in any of these phlebotomy training options, the potential candidate must at least have acquired a high school diploma or its equivalent. Prior to joining a phlebotomy training program, proper research on the available medical care training institutions is essential if you are to get a good training deal to suit your education and career requirements.
On completion of the phlebotomy training program, a potential phlebotomist is required to sit and pass a written examination that is administered by a professional healthcare organization or association so as to get the necessary phlebotomy certification. Today, the majority of states in America do not require extra licensing requirements for certified phlebotomists to practice. However, so as to be allowed to practice as a phlebotomist in some states, such as California, extra practicing licenses in addition to the standard certificates are required. This being the case, it is recommended that you check with your state authorizing professional bodies for the existing licensing requirements prior to starting on your chosen career path.
Here are some phlebotomy training options that could lead to becoming a certified phlebotomist in the United States of America as recommended by the American Society for Clinical Pathology association.
First option: Join an accredited medical care school and enroll in an accredited phlebotomy training program. According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, an approved phlebotomy training program should consist of 40 classroom hours, 100 clinical training hours and a minimum of a 100 unaided but successful blood collections.
Second option: Another phlebotomy training option that may also lead to becoming a certified phlebotomist involves the completion of twelve months of working experience at an approved healthcare facility or an accredited healthcare laboratory, thereafter sitting and passing the necessary phlebotomy certification exams as is required.
Third option: You can also complete an accredited LPN or RN program (must include phlebotomy training) in an approved medical care training institution, thereafter opting to work as a phlebotomist in any of the many healthcare facilities that may require your specialized types of services.
After completing your phlebotomy training program, there are several phlebotomy healthcare associations in the US offering fee-based phlebotomy certification examinations. These include the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the National Phlebotomy Association and many others. The National Phlebotomy Association certification exams include a one-hour practicum and a two-hour written segment.
All in all, during the phlebotomy training, a potential phlebotomist is trained on the various blood collection techniques for laboratory purposes. Apart from this, a trainee phlebotomist is also trained on proper patient care handling techniques, so as to be able to make the patients as comfortable as possible when drawing blood from them. And although the nurses, physicians and several other medical care specialists are also well versed in blood drawing practice, the phlebotomists are the professionals due to the fact that they are more specialized in it.
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