| Phlebotomy is a career that many people choose due | | | | part-time course. Part-time courses are usually ideal |
| to its reputation for requiring a relatively short | | | | for students that have other obligations, such as |
| certification period. However, getting certified does | | | | children or a part-time job. Full-time courses are ideal |
| not necessarily mean that you are a phlebotomist. In | | | | for students that wish to complete their phlebotomy |
| fact, some hospitals may not hire a person solely | | | | training in a relatively short period of time. |
| upon looking at their phlebotomist certification. Many | | | | Phlebotomy Certification |
| hospitals require on-the-job training to be completed | | | | After a full training course in phlebotomy is |
| before even a certified phlebotomist is allowed to | | | | completed, a student may then choose to take the |
| perform duties without supervision. In some cases, | | | | phlebotomy certification exam. This exam is usually |
| this training period is also accompanied by "training | | | | given by an association that has national recognition in |
| pay", which may be less than the average salary for | | | | the medical field, and is approved for giving out |
| a phlebotomist. However, this does not stop many | | | | certifications for phlebotomy. There are currently |
| people from wondering, "How to become a | | | | three different agencies that can give out |
| phlebotomist?" | | | | phlebotomy certification. These agencies are: the |
| Phlebotomy-Related Coursework | | | | National Phlebotomy Association, the Association of |
| For most phlebotomy training programs, you must | | | | Phlebotomy Technicians and the American Society |
| complete a designated amount of coursework in | | | | for Clinical Pathology. The exam usually includes a |
| order to fully complete the training. This type of | | | | written portion, which tests a student's knowledge of |
| training is usually divided into two (or sometimes | | | | phlebotomy and the proper procedures for a |
| three) coursework-related sections. In most cases, a | | | | phlebotomist. Certification may also require a student |
| student is required to complete 40 hours of | | | | to complete 200 hours of phlebotomist training in a |
| non-technical coursework, which includes basic training | | | | clinical practice, as well as 100 venipunctures. |
| in science. In addition to this, an additional 40 hours is | | | | On-the-Job Training |
| usually required to be spent in actual clinical training, | | | | Many hospitals may also require you to complete |
| before the training course is complete. | | | | several hours of on-the-job training before you are |
| Length of Courses | | | | able to be a phlebotomist at their hospital. This is also |
| A phlebotomy course may vary in length, depending | | | | training that may be offered to current employees |
| on the frequency and time frame of the classes. | | | | of the hospital, in order to give them the opportunity |
| Most phlebotomy training courses are designed to be | | | | to increase their knowledge about the practice of |
| set in a six-week program, or in a full semester | | | | phlebotomy. Many hospitals do this in order to |
| length of time. In most cases, the length of the | | | | increase the versatility of their current staff, and |
| training course depends almost entirely on if a | | | | may even offer this type of training for a set wage. |
| student opts to take a full-time course, or a | | | | |