If you are looking for a career in the healthcare profession, phlebotomy may not be the first occupation that comes to mind, but it is easy to get a trained and get a phlebotomy certification. Although phlebotomy technicians are very important, specially trained individuals who work with the medical laboratory team, they often go unnoticed or misinterpreted as nurses. Having worked several years in a medical laboratory, I have experienced this first-hand. Even though we are often misunderstood, we truly enjoy our job and the knowledge that comes with working in the medical laboratory field.

The job of the phlebotomist is to properly collect blood specimens from patients for the laboratory to analyze. Their role is critical in delivering accurate results to the doctors as quickly as possible. Knowing the correct collection techniques for certain tests is extremely important and will help the medical laboratory team deliver precise, accurate results to the doctor. The steps towards acquiring a job as a professional phlebotomy technician are important and must be followed through with dedication.

Step 1: High School Diploma – Due to their importance, there are certain requirements that must be met before someone can apply for their phlebotomy certification. You need to have a high school diploma with classes that concentrated on math and science to give you a solid foundation before beginning your phlebotomy training.

Step 2: Associate’s Degree or Phlebotomy Training Course – After receiving your high school diploma or GED, you need to complete ASCP or NCCT approved phlebotomy training courses. Once you have completed the necessary training, you can apply to take the national certification exam. In some cases the phlebotomy training course requirement can be substituted for a full year of on-the-job training with a certified phlebotomist.

Step 3: National Phlebotomy Certification Exam – The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Registry offers a national certification exam that a phlebotomist can get to demonstrate competency throughout their careers. Another recognized avenue towards certification is the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), which offers a phlebotomy certification test. Both the ASCP and NCCT have phlebotomy practice exams that you can take online to get a feel for the test and help you prepare for your phlebotomy certification exam.

 

 

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Filed under: Phlebotomy Certification

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