Become A Phlebotomist

Become a phlebotomist

Who is a phlebotomist?
A phlebotomist is the person who is trained to draw blood from patients as prescribed by a doctor, for drug tests for employers of for blood donations. Phlebotomists are also permitted to perform intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, and this skill is typically covered in the more advanced phlebotomist training performed at a career or technical school. In some states, phlebotomists can start and administer Heparin IVs, and flush IVs with saline. These skills are taught at the more intensive training programs as well.
How to become a phlebotomist?
The following information will give you some insight on how to become a phlebotomist. The first step is to get the training and education required from an accredited college or vocational technical school. These programs can take one semester to one year to complete to obtain a diploma and then an exam is taken for certification. Keep in mind a high school diploma or GED is required to take this formal education in order to meet all requirements for this field.
Some phlebotomists study and test to become certified medical assistants (CMAs). CMAs are responsible for a variety of duties, and are employed by hospitals and in doctors offices. Other phlebotomists may choose to earn a two-year degree as a clinical laboratory technician. Clinical laboratory technicians are responsible not only for drawing blood, but for shepherding it through the testing process. In some cases, the blood will be tested on site while other times the technician will prepare the blood for shipment to an outside laboratory.
Get certify and become a phlebotomist:
The certification exam is another step to become a phlebotomist. To become a phlebotomist, you need certification, which is offered by The American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) and is a comprehensive exam that tests on all areas of phlebotomy knowledge. This knowledge includes but is not limited to areas of physiology, anatomy, the circulatory system, and phlebotomy techniques. Hands on training are also valuable assets after certification which can be done through an internship at a hospital, clinic or doctors office.
Depending on your state, certification may not be required, but is highly recommended by healthcare experts because most employers do require a certification before employment. It makes sense if taking all the training to go ahead and complete the process with a certification.



Start a career as phlebotomist:
Making the decision to become a phlebotomist is a big step into the world of healthcare and requires patience and understanding toward the patients. Remember people, who are having any kind of blood test performed are usually a bit nervous, so it helps to have a calm phlebotomist.
For individuals, who consider phlebotomy as a career, investing the time into a degree program can increase earning power, as well as make it easier to find jobs in a tight market. Take up the certification exam and become a phlebotomist and get annual salary from $24,000 to $35,000. If you have experience in phlebotomy field, you will get more salary.