Achieving certification as a phlebotomist acquires for an individual, an edge above others when applying for employment in their field. Remarkably, in every state in the United States, with the exceptions of California and Louisiana, one does not require certification as a phlebotomist in order to begin their career in their desired field.
Both Louisiana and California, state law commands that “all persons who are not doctors, nurses, or clinical lab scientists” to be licensed in order to draw blood from other human beings. However, while in most states certification in the field is not required, it is nearly impossible to obtain a job in the field without it.
While there are numerous institutions that offer training courses for phlebotomist certification, there are only three certifying bodies through which you can become certified.
Those three are:
1 – The American Society for Clinical Pathology
2 – The Association of Phlebotomy Technicians
3 – The National Phlebotomy Association
Each offer authentic certification for phlebotomists. Each certifying body is widely recognized and accepted.
In order to qualify for certification, an individual must meet specific criteria assigned by the certifying bodies, and obtain satisfactory phlebotomy training. While it is not clear as to whether any of these three bodies is more favorable than the other, the certification that can be granted by each greatly increases an individual’s ability to acquire employment throughout the United States.
Each of the three certifying bodies has its own specific set of requirements that must be met prior to certification. These qualifications follow a wide range, and differ in each certifying body but may include anything from specified numbers of completed venipunctures, to skin punctures, high school certification of graduation, specific number of classroom hours and hands on training, and prior existing membership to APT (Association of Phlebotomy Technicians).
Phlebotomy courses themselves, in order to qualify their graduates for certification, must meet certain criteria such as 200 hours of practical experience either with mannequins, clinical practicum or both, and the curriculum must meet the requirements of the National Phlebotomy Association. Some training courses for phlebotomy may focus more on training individuals for work, rather than for specifically for certification, and may then likewise not include all the required element for certification.
If the program you wish to attend does not meet the requirements, it is possible to obtain the additional experience in the field or volunteering at hospitals, nursing homes, or doctor’s offices.
Within phlebotomist certification, there also exists three specific designations. These three levels of certifcation are:
1 – Limited Phlebotomy Technician
2 – Phlebotomy Technician I
3 – Phlebotomy Technician II
To achieve each additional level, new training must be undertaken, and then the individual must apply for re-certification as a phlebotomist to include their new designation. Not all states require or recognize these additional segregations however, California and Louisiana are examples of states that do, and the recognition of these additional designations also increases an individual’s likelihood of acquiring employment.
Like many other similar fields of work, those that acquire training and employment in phlebotomy should also consider continuing training and upgrading their certification throughout their careers.
This is especially important for technicians, as medical equipment and methods of operating equipment may change regularly as technology adapts and changes. Seeking additional upgrade training and certification will maintain and possibly even enhance, an individual’s appeal to employers as the field grows and changes.