A solid education is an asset to an inexperienced phlebotomist and fortunately, phlebotomy training programs provide courses that cover important safety procedures and protocols as set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Phlebotomists also learn human anatomy and physiology, blood collection and storage procedures, first aid and CPR. Phlebotomy courses require attention to detail and dedication, but are not difficult with an appropriate amount of effort.
There are many schools and organizations which offer phlebotomy courses. Students should be sure to enroll in programs that are nationally recognized by agencies like the United States Department of Education and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). Associate and bachelor’s degrees are available in clinical laboratory sciences. However, these programs take two to four years to complete and cost five to ten times more than certificate programs. Certificate programs take from 12 weeks to one year to complete. This type of program costs $1500 to $3000 on average to complete. The exact class schedule and difficulty of a phlebotomy training program will vary from school to school.
There are two kinds of certificate training programs: traditional courses set in a classroom environment and online courses. The Oakton Community College, located in Illinois, offers a two semester long, classroom-set training program. The program is considered to be part time and students attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. In the first semester, students attend Medical Terminology, Introduction to Healthcare Issues, and Phlebotomy classes. In the second semester, the students participate in Phlebotomy Practicum.
The Portland Community College, is offering a phlebotomy hybrid course in the fall semester of 2010. The course is 45 hours long, 32 of which are spent in a laboratory setting. The remaining 13 hours of instruction are accessed online. The topics covered in this course include, but are not limited to, laboratory information systems, anatomy and physiology, use of equipment, interpersonal skills, and safety. This course alone does not qualify students for certification; students will be scheduled to complete an additional 100 hours of clinical experience.
National certification after completing a phlebotomy training program is a good idea for all phlebotomy students. Except in California and Louisiana, certification is not legally required of practicing phlebotomists. However, many employers will not hire phlebotomists that lack certification. Phlebotomists are eligible to write certification exams upon successful completion of accredited or approved programs. Certification is available through ten nationally recognized agencies. These include the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA), and the American Certifying Agency (ACA) for Healthcare Professionals.
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