subject: The Reasons Phlebotomy Is A Rewarding Career [print this page] Being a phlebotomist is a enjoyable jobBeing a phlebotomist is a enjoyable job. Phlebotomists are actually competent clinical personnel that work together with people without the stresses that comes with being a physician or nurse. Phlebotomists take blood for testing, the results of which physicians utilize as an essential diagnostic tool. Just like many health care employees, getting started as a phlebotomist requires a sound education. Being a phlebotomist would mean learning and knowing human anatomy and physiology, blood drawing techniques, safe practice protocols, first aid and CPR.
Becoming a phlebotomist starts off with high school. Phlebotomists need to possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Phlebotomists then take a phlebotomy certification program. Phlebotomy courses are made available by training colleges, some hospitals, on the internet, career and vocational schools. There are generally 3 choices of phlebotomy courses: certificate, associate, and bachelor's degrees. Certification training courses are the most popular amongst students who have the idea of becoming a phlebotomist. Certification programs take twelve weeks up to one year and set you back $1500 to $3000 to complete. Associate and bachelors degrees need two to four years and set you back up to ten times more than certification programs. An individual serious about becoming a phlebotomist need to be certain to find a program that has already been recognized by the United states Department of Education, the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NAACLS), or other agencies. Accepted or accredited programs fulfill the requirements and guidelines set by 2 very important institutes, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Getting started as a phlebotomist does not finish on graduating from a training program. Certification will be the next step in start a career as a phlebotomist. Though not mandatory by law for practicing phlebotomists, except in California and Louisiana, the majority of companies are not going to use non-certified phlebotomists. Having official certifications means that the phlebotomist is completely knowledgeable with collection procedures and techniques together with safety procedures and protocols. Accreditation is provided thru ten nationally accepted certifying agencies. These organizations include the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), and the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA). Phlebotomists are required to make an application for accreditation (which often can be submitted on the internet) then successfully pass a standard exam.
Those interested in being in the medical industry ought to consider becoming a phlebotomist. There is definitely a shortage of qualified people, since the health sector is continually growing because of an aging general public. In fact, the United states Bureau of Labor anticipates a 14% boost in job prospects from 2006 to 2016. Phlebotomists earn an average hourly wage of $12.84 and an normal yearly income of $26,710. Lots of organisations offer employee benefits to phlebotomists, including vacation, paid sick days and access to health care and pension plans.
