Phlebotomy Certifications -  The Benefits Of Getting Yourself Certified

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Obtaining phlebotomy certifications can greatly increase one's potentials for success in the healthcare field.   If you are interested to enter the field of phlebotomy, you need to remember that completing an accredited phlebotomy program is not the only requirement to become a certified phlebotomist.  You need to take and pass a certification exam conducted by any of the ten nationally recognized accrediting institutions in the United States. 

Currently, the only two states that require phlebotomy certifications before one can practice as a phlebotomist are California and Louisiana.  However, most employers all over the country prefer to hire certified phlebotomists, because a certification is a guarantee that the applicant has passed the standards set by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute.

The first step towards a phlebotomy full-time career is to complete an accredited phlebotomy training program conducted by some community colleges, medical schools or hospitals.  This program usually has several hours of on-campus lectures and a practical component which requires the student to complete clinical hours of practice.  Phlebotomy training programs should be approved by the US Department of Education or any of the accrediting agencies, such as the NAACLS (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences), the AMT (American Medical Technologists) and the NPA (National Phlebotomy Association). 

The phlebotomy training can take about 8-24 months to complete.  It should be designed to prepare the students to pass the certification exam.  There are also some online phlebotomy courses that are now available for those who are interested to take the training but are restricted by their schedules.  When choosing an online phlebotomy course, choose one that provides a hands-on component, because all the certifying agencies require that applicants should have acquired clinical hours of practical experience in either a laboratory or a hospital.

Those who are already working as Registered or Licensed Practical Nurses or belong to other healthcare professions can also become certified phlebotomists.  By presenting documents proving years of work experience as a phlebotomist, a health care professional may also obtain a phlebotomy certification.  Applicants are required to present a proof that they have successfully completed about 50-100 blood collections in the past.  Those who have no formal training as phlebotomists may still be required to take a written exam in order to be certified.

Medical personnel who already have backgrounds in chemistry and biology can attend the two-day phlebotomy workshops conducted by the American Phlebotomy Association (APA).  The principles of phlebotomy, including procedures in drawing blood, blood flow, test recognition and other phlebotomy theories are discussed in these workshops.  Upon completing the workshop, the participants are qualified to take the APA certification exam.  These workshops are currently being offered in Maryland at least one weekend each month. 

If you are interested to take the phlebotomy certification exam,  check the websites of any of the certifying agencies.  Most agencies offer written exams that may be taken online, while the clinical component of the exam may be taken in specified locations.  There are usually study guides, sample tests and other student resources on these websites.  The cost to take the phlebotomy certification exam varies, but is usually within the range of $90 to $135.  Getting phlebotomy certifications will help greatly in boosting your worth in this lucrative field.