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Phlebotomy Certification - How Important Is It?

By : taouodt
On : 01:56
In :
By Dan Rathers


Are you interested in a career as a phlebotomist? Are you a nurse or doctor who wants to list phlebotomy in your repertoire of skills? Most states don't require certification for phlebotomists (California and Louisiana are exceptions), but employers often do. Whether you want to establish your skills for a prospective employer or simply make your skills more marketable and improve your salary, phlebotomy certification will greatly increase your value as a medical professional. There are many different places at which you can train and many agencies that will be happy to certify your skills.

A phlebotomy technician is a healthcare professional that is responsible for drawing blood from patients and preparing it for further medical testing. Phlebotomy technicians are primarily stationed in doctor's offices or hospitals, and will routinely work directly with patients and families. Because some patients have a fear of needles or blood, it is important for the technician to develop a sense of confidence and trust with the patient. Some states require a technician to be licensed or registered, while others do not. Because of the nature of the job, excellent communication skills are required to thoroughly explain procedures to patients.

There are a couple of things to think about before applying for phlebotomy certification. Do you want to take the class at your local community college or would you benefit by taking an online phlebotomy certificate program? It is important to note that taking the course online will require a specified amount of hands-on training also. You also need to decide which organization you will apply to receive your phlebotomy certification. You have a choice of the ASCP, ASPT, and NPA. Depending upon what field you want to work in, will determine the type of certification you will need to get.

To become a Phlebotomist you must attend Phlebotomy classes and complete the required coursework. This training is generally divided into coursework sections of two where a student will need to complete non technical coursework of up to forty hours. This includes science training while the next section of forty hours includes the actual clinical training. The course for a Phlebotomist varies in length as it depends on the time frame and frequency of Phlebotomy classes. Usually it is supposed to be a six week program. Of course students have the option of following this course part time.

You will be required to have your phlebotomy certification if you are planning to work for a hospital, private blood clinic, or laboratory. As stated previously, different states require different training. For example, California has a three tier certification system of Phlebotomy Technician, Phlebotomy Technician I, and Phlebotomy Technician II. You will need to check with your state to see what specific requirements you must meet to become certified. Once you have completed your generalized and any specific state requirements, then you can sit for exam and gain your certificate. Most courses combine in class and hands-on training for phlebotomy classes.

So how exactly do you get your phlebotomy certification? Just to recap, you must take comprehensive phlebotomy courses , meet the requirements of one of the ten phlebotomy certification organizations, and sit for the exam. You will also be responsible for continuing education and courses to keep your certification current on all of the new techniques and breakthroughs. The phlebotomy certification exam is usually a paper exam, but it can also be taken on the computer. Computer phlebotomy exams utilize a computer technology called "CAT" which allows the software to choose the next question based upon the previous answer.




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