Phlebotomy Training

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If you are planning to start a career in the health care industry and you have no qualms about collecting blood samples, then you may consider taking a phlebotomy training course. Phlebotomists have the responsibility of collecting blood and other bodily fluid samples for medical analysis. They provide an essential service to doctors and nurses in different settings such as laboratories, private clinics, blood banks and hospitals. The phlebotomy field is predicted by the US Bureau of Labor to grow in demand within the next ten years.

Phlebotomy training can start as early as right after one finishes high school. This is a good opportunity for those who would prefer to work right after high school, rather than pursue a college education. The course can be a short-term one or one that lasts for two to four years, leading to an associate or bachelor's degree. There are some community colleges, hospitals, trade and vocational schools that offer training in phlebotomy. Those whose schedules prevent them from studying full-time can choose to do online phlebotomy courses on the internet.

Aside from considering the location, tuition fees and class structure, there are other factors to look at when choosing a training program for phlebotomists. The organization conducting the training should be recognized or accredited by the United States Department of Education or any of the ten national accrediting agencies such as the NAACLS (National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences).

Schools that are accredited comply with the standards set by the Clinical Laboratory Sciences (CLS) and use materials recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Taking a training program conducted by an accredited school can increase your chances of being hired because most employers prefer those who have acquired training in these schools.

Although there are many variations in the training programs, there are some essentials that are covered by most of these courses. 

A discussion on the various bodily systems, particularly the cardiovascular, the lymphatic, the skeletal and muscular systems is an important component of the course. Training on how to draw, collect and store blood is included, as well as the basics of infection control. Some schools will also teach students how to improve their interpersonal skills to help them deal with patients and colleagues. Other essential topics to be covered are CPR, first aid, administrative tasks such as data encoding and record keeping.

Some of the online phlebotomy training courses only provide the theories and will help students acquire clinical practice in hospitals or laboratories. Training programs, both those conducted in traditional schools and online, should prepare the students to pass the phlebotomy certification exam that can help the students get their license. Short-term certificate training program costs vary from $1500 to $3000. Longer programs that lead to associates or bachelors degree can cost about five to ten times this amount.

Some health care workers who previously have phlebotomy working experiences but no formal training can also apply for certification. Documents proving their previous work experience and detailing how many successful blood collections they have already completed are required for certification.

Exams for certifying phlebotomists are conducted by any of the ten accredited organizations, which include the National Center for Competency Training (NCCT), the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and the American Phlebotomy Association (APA). These accrediting institutions also provide study guides and sample tests on their websites that can help students pass the certification exam.