Once you finish one of the many accredited phlebotomy training courses offered around the United States and take the final step of passing the phlebotomy certification exam, you become a certified phlebotomist. Being ‘certified’ to practice is not technically a law in 48 of the 50 states however, you will absolutely want to go through these hoops as it will substantially increase your likelihood of finding the job you want, as opposed to settling for a mediocre position, at best.
Depending on which route you choose, there are phlebotomy training programs that last anywhere from a few months up to a full year. There are many variables involved in course duration with the decision of part-time classes or full-time classes being the primary ‘game changer’. Due to the natural structure and layout of phlebotomy training courses, there’s typically enough schedule flexibility to accommodate anyone willing to put in the time and effort; course difficulty is not usually an issue for committed students.As mentioned, there are many different options when it comes to the route you take. Some people decide to take the ‘quick and dirty’ approach, meaning they enroll in a full-time vocational course where they blast through all the classroom and clinical training in a very short, intensive period of time, take the certification exam, then immediately start looking for employment.
The other popular option is to enroll in a longer term certificate program – usually offered by community colleges – where phlebotomy is just one of the jobs you’re trained in. The reason some people choose this route over the previous one is due to the number of directions you can go afterwards. For example, after completing a two year certificate program, most schools offer bachelor articulation options of some form that translates into an open ended degree.
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