A Phlebotomy technician‘s role in the health care field is an important one, since their main job is to draw patient’s blood for testing. They are employed in a number of different settings such as:
– Hospitals
– Private clinics
– Blood laboratories
– Blood banks
– Nursing homes
Demand for phlebotomy technician’s is high, and therefore those with the right credentials have little difficulty finding jobs.
Although only two states legally require that their applicants have a phlebotomy technician certification, very few institutions throughout the United States will hire those who are not certified. It should also be noted that those with certifications will earn a higher salary or hourly wage than those who are not. Fore these reasons, we recommend that anyone considering becoming a phlebotomy technician become certified.
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), American Medical Technologists and the American Society for Phlebotomy Technicians offer testing that awards the title Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) or Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) to those who pass. Certified phlebotomy technicians must obtain continuing education credits or complete certification management programs to maintain their status.
Phlebotomy Technician Responsibilities
In addition to a phlebotomist technician’s main duty of drawing patients blood, there are a number of other duties that are expected to be perform on a day to day basis.
Those additional duties include:
1. Labeling and storing blood samples, and transporting them to laboratories.
2. Monitoring patients’ blood pressure, pulse and respiratory readings.
3. Computer data entry and record keeping, entering patient information and blood testing results.
4. Clerical duties, such as reception work, answering the telephone, writing down requests for blood draws and cleaning/sterilizing equipment.
Since a phlebotomy technician will be interacting with patients on a daily basis, strong interpersonal skills are considered an asset.
Phlebotomy Technician Salary
The salary of a phlebotomy technician will depend on a number of factors, but will generally range from between $18,000 – $25,000. Hourly wage ranges from $8.00/hr – $12/hr. Full time workers that hold a certification will earn the most money.
Phlebotomy Technician Educational Requirements
Becoming a phlebotomy technician requires a high school diploma or equivalent and usually 6-8 months of specialized training, either on-the-job or through a formalized program. Online phlebotomy training is also a convenient and cost effective option that will allow you to obtain your certification without having to attend classes.