What is Phlebotomy? How Can You Become a Phlebotomist?
17 September 2018 By Kate
Pioneer Pacific College offers Certification in EKG & Phlebotomy for students interested in pursuing a career in the Phlebotomy field. What is phlebotomy and what qualifications do you need to become a phlebotomist? Read below to find out more about launching your career.
What is Phlebotomy?
Phlebotomy is the removal of blood from the body. Medical experts extract blood from a patient for testing or to remove harmful substances from the bloodstream. Phlebotomists will also draw blood to donate minerals such as iron. A certified phlebotomist, nurse, or trained technician can perform the procedure.
Phlebotomists utilize tools and equipment to draw and clean the blood including:
Tubes & a tube holder
A gauze
The equipment used for phlebotomy is specific to the person who will have their blood taken, and also specific to the reason it will be taken.
Phlebotomists can work either in federal or state hospitals, private practices, or laboratories. Phlebotomy is an entry-level medical career that can provide opportunities towards more higher-level jobs, like nursing assistant, registered nurse, or even medical doctor. Working in this field helps you decide whether working with patients is what you want to continue doing.
Preparation & Education
Your path to phlebotomy begins with maintaining good grades and receiving a diploma in high school. An incoming student must have a high school diploma or its equivalent such as a GED. To apply to an accredited phlebotomy training program, you must be at least 18 years old. You will study a wide range of field-related topics including chemistry and biology. Maintaining a high GPA give you a competitive advantage over other candidates when applying for a phlebotomy job.
Programs are short-term, usually less than one year, and will allow you to learn the necessary skills required to work as a phlebotomist.
Some of the required skills include:
Drawing blood
Utilizing various techniques
Knowledge of equipment
Legalities associated with the job
Job safety & health hazards
In addition to learning medical concepts, you will also undergo hands-on training in a medical facility or laboratory.
The average certification program lasts 1-2 semesters, or 4 to 8 months, depending on which college you attend. You can complete an entire program in 6 to 10 months depending on the program of your choice.
Once you have completed a phlebotomy training program, you may want to pursue certification. Advanced certification allows you to broaden the range of job duties you may perform and possibly increase your rate of pay.
You can earn your certification from the following professional associations:
American Medical Technologists (AMT)
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Salary and Job Advancement
With the rising demand for phlebotomists and other medical professionals, you may be approached by recruiters when you complete your training or earn your certification. Therefore, you may have options if you are contacted by multiple recruiters.
The national average salary for phlebotomist around $30,000 annually.
Phlebotomist job advancement opportunities include:
Phlebotomy Specialist
Medical Lab Technician (MLT)
Traveling Phlebotomist
Donor Phlebotomy Specialist
Phlebotomist Supervisor
Hematology Technologist