In forty-eight out of our fifty states, you do not have to be certified to be a phlebotomist. California and Louisiana are the only two states that require those that are not nurses, doctors or clinical laboratory scientists to be licensed in order to be able to draw blood. However, even if you do not need certification only proper supervision in the other states, finding a job as a phlebotomist without certification is nearly impossible.
Certification as a phlebotomist gives you that foot-in-the-door when you apply for a job because it tells the employer that you have met all of the requirements in the field. There are certifying bodies that are respected in the field of Phlebotomy that make up the standards for both education and experience. You are expected to pass a test to show that you are eligible for the certification. Your entire school curriculum has to equal two hundred hours of practical experience. You should have gained this experience using mannequins of clinical practice or both in combination. In addition, the curriculum must also meet the requirements of the National Phlebotomy Association.
You can study phlebotomy at a reputable school by either physically going to classes or online. Whichever way you choose, you will have to show a high school diploma or a GED. To get a phlebotomy job, you are required to graduate from an accredited phlebotomy college, university or vocational school. The online schools offer only basic courses that prepare you for an internship. You can complete your phlebotomy certificate and diploma requirements in about three months. If you want an associate degree in phlebotomy, that may take up to eighteen months to complete.
Online coursework in an online phlebotomy school includes anatomy, physiology and phlebotomy techniques. They also include patient communication so that you will know how to make the patient feel relaxed and positive about the procedure. You will learn to make the procedure as painless as possible.
To apply for your certification online, you will be required to answer some questions that also appear on the paper application. When you have filled out the application you will submit it to the Laboratory Field Services together with the certification fee associated with online registration. This can be paid by a valid credit card. At the end of the application you will be asked to submit a paper attesting to the fact that all of the information in contained in that application is true and correct. This page will be mailed to the LFS with other documents that will be required for certification as a phlebotomist. The application and the attestation page will be reviewed by the LFS. However, do take note that they will not review the application without the attestation page.
Final approval of the online certification is granted only on completion of a written exam. This exam is overseen by the American Medical Technologists, The American Society of Clinical Pathologists and the American Association of Medical Personnel.