What Certifications Are Needed for Phlebotomy?

Phlebotomists are essential members of the allied health care team, performing venipunctures to collect blood for lab tests, as well as other lab analysis tests. Becoming a phlebotomist is an attractive entry-level choice for those looking to work in the ever-growing medical field, and obtaining certification is an excellent way for beginning phlebotomists to command higher salaries and better positions.

History

• The National Phlebotomy Association created the first national certification standards for phlebotomists in 1978. They are still recognized as a prestigious certifying body with rigorous certification and registry standards, although since then, there have been several other institutions that have begun certifying phlebotomists, most notably the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians and the American Society for Clinical Pathology. For most phlebotomy positions, certification is optional. It can, however, make you more attractive to a potential employer as well as help you network and stay educated about new developments in the field.

Education Requirements

• All three of the major certifying bodies have some sort of education requirement that must be fulfilled in order to qualify to take their exams for initial certification. The National Phlebotomy Association requires graduation from a program that includes160 contact hours of instruction plus 200 hours of practical experience doing venipunctures. Both the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians and the American Society for Clinical Pathology each require graduation from an accredited phlebotomy training program with a minimum of 100 documented successful venipunctures.

Qualifying Via Employment

• The National Phlebotomy Association requires, in addition to its education requirements, that those seeking certification have at least 1 year of work experience (volunteer experience is acceptable for certification).

  The American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians and the American Society for Clinical Pathology will waive their education requirements if the applicant has at least 1 year of work experience as a phlebotomist.

Considerations

• Phlebotomy certification is optional in all states except California and Louisiana, which have their own standard for certifying phlebotomists. However, phlebotomy is often an entry-level position used as a gate into other allied health care fields, and competition for open phlebotomist positions can be stiff. Certification helps assure potential employers that your education and experience levels are above a set standard, and some employers even make certification a requirement for application.

State Certification

• Only two states, California and Louisiana, have their own certification requirements to practice as a phlebotomist. In California, there are graduated levels of phlebotomists: for the most entry-level title, a Limited Phlebotomy Technician, you must have graduated from high school (or equivalent education), have completed a minimum of 20 hours of phlebotomy instruction, have successfully completed a minimum of 25 venipunctures and register with the state. In Louisiana, you must have completed a minimum of 20 hours of phlebotomy instruction, completed 100 successful venipunctures and 25 successful capillary collections; be certified with any of the national certification agencies; and register with the state.