subject: Benefits Of Advancing Your Career With Phlebotomy Certification [print this page] Is phlebotomy the right career for you? It really depends on a few things. As long as you are not concerned about giving needles and handling other peoples blood samples.
So what does a phlebotomist (pronounced "flebotomist") do? Simply put, they are responsible for assembling samples of blood and additional bodily fluids for analysis. They do not actually perform the analysis however. The are only responsible for drawing the blood and making sure it gets to the lab safely.
Blood donation clinics, health clinics, and hospitals or emergency rooms are the kinds of places where phlebotomists frequently work. The growth of the health care sector is forever happening at a flying rate so you don't have to worry about a lack of phlebotomy jobs, and this demand is not going to dry up anytime soon.
Practicing phlebotomists require training and education. High school is where the education process for a student starts. People wishing to pursue a occupation in phlebotomy must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. There are a lot of enrolment options for students who want to get started on their phlebotomy training as soon as they end school.
Depending on where you're applying there's some fairly basic course factors that you should think about before entering a phlebotomy program. It is important that you attend a school which is accredited because they use the appropriate course material that is required. If you are hoping to work for a specific employer after graduation, check to see if they are affiliated with or prefer certain training programs. To get hired at some job sites, you'll have to go through the training process offered by their specific affiliates.
Phlebotomy courses change from school to school. There are lots of different bodily systems which are discussed throughout phlebotomy courses and training programs. You will learn how blood is stored and drawn from patients. In addition to the tougher course subjects, phlebotomists need to pick up on required desk work knowledge.
More times than not, students will be taught both inside, and out of the classroom. A portion of your course experience is typically completed through a clinic or real life coop articulation. Phlebotomists can generally complete their program requirements within a year. The average cost of a training program ranges from $1500 to $3000. Being a phlebotomist doesn't involve years of schooling or a ton of money which is why many people choose a certificate program over a bachelors.
Just because you have successfully finished a phlebotomy course, you are not directly made into a certified phlebotomist tech. Certification is not mandatory by law, except in California and Louisiana, although a number of employers will not engage uncertified phlebotomists. A test for phlebotomy certification is administered by the National Certification Agency if you want to become fully certified.
The United States is currently home to ten, official phlebotomy agencies. The phlebotomy certification exam is available for anyone who has passed a phlebotomy course that's nationally recognized, but if you haven't, then you will need to do some research as to your circumstances.
If you're worried about passing the certification test, you should take a look at all the practice tests and resources that are out there. To kill two birds with one stone, students can enrol in a phlebotomy training course that allows them to take the national exam as part of the course. Certification, in addition to graduation from an accredited program, gives inexperienced phlebotomists an advantage when finding employment.