The best way to demonstrate that you have mastered the fundamentals of phlebotomy and possess the expertise and knowledge required to carry out your job in a safe, effective, and accurate manner is through certification. Plus, many employers do require or strongly prefer certification. It demonstrates that you are prepared to perform the more difficult or specialized tasks that particular workplaces demand. No matter what state you reside in, getting certified is therefore a wise decision.
According to D’Vaughn House, a phlebotomist, medical assistant, and research associate at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center’s Division of Infectious Diseases, “Every institution has different requirements for phlebotomists, but many institutions require a basic certification.” He explains that certified, trained phlebotomists are prepared to fit into any medical setting. Once they are employed by a facility, they are prepared to undergo clinic-specific training.
You must complete a phlebotomy training course to become certified. One to two semesters, or 4 to 8 months, depending on your school, are the typical lengths for phlebotomy school. You will receive a certificate—not a certification—that will enable you to work with patients in a variety of settings, including clinics, blood banks, and hospitals. Search Phlebotomy Technician Programs.
You can take the PBT if you have a high school diploma or a GED and have recently graduated from a phlebotomy program that has been accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) or the California Department of Public Health. A formal phlebotomy training course that has been individually approved by the ASCP can also be used to qualify you, as can a year of full-time phlebotomy employment at an approved lab. RNs, LPNs, and other licensed healthcare professionals are also eligible.
What is phlebotomy?
The procedure of taking blood from patients or blood donors is known as phlebotomy. A phlebotomist is a medical practitioner who conducts these procedures. Hospitals, clinics, testing labs, and blood donation facilities all need phlebotomists. By giving them patient blood samples, they help doctors properly diagnose diseases. Other duties and responsibilities of phlebotomists include:
Phlebotomists must complete a phlebotomy training program course, which can take anywhere from four months to a year, and have a high school diploma or its equivalent. To diversify their skill set, allied medical professionals such as nurses and certified nursing assistants can also pursue a phlebotomy certification.
Some states demand certification before a phlebotomist can work A certification in the field can help you position yourself as a strong candidate and can increase your chances of landing a job or a higher salary regardless of where you want to practice.
13 types of phlebotomy certifications
You can choose from the following various phlebotomy certifications to advance your career:
1. Phlebotomy technician certification, PBT-ASCP
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) grants certification for phlebotomy technicians. You must complete one of the following paths and possess a high school diploma at the very least to be eligible for this certification:
It takes 120 minutes to complete the 80 multiple-choice questions on the certification exam.
2. Certified phlebotomy technician, CPT-NHA
The National Healthcareer Association offers a CPT for certified phlebotomy technicians. The CPT-NHA certification is offered in the following levels:
Candidates must hold a high school diploma, have completed 20 hours of phlebotomy training, and have received a certificate from those courses in order to be eligible for this certification.
3. Registered phlebotomy technician, RPT-AMT
The American Medical Technologists (AMT) offers the Registered Phlebotomy Certification (RPT). One of the following requirements must be satisfied in order to qualify for this certification:
The RPT-AMT certification exam covers basic phlebotomy questions. Candidates can retake the exam up to four times.
4. Certified phlebotomist technologist, CPT-NPA
The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) offers this certification. The completion of an allied health program that included venipuncture training is a requirement for eligibility. The training course should include at least 200 hours of clinical practice in addition to 160 hours of classroom instruction.
The written, two-hour NPA-CPT certification test is a multiple-choice test. Candidates must also pass a drug and physical test.
5. Phlebotomy technician certificate, PTC-ASPT
A phlebotomy technician certificate is offered by the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT). Candidates must fulfill one of the following requirements in order to be eligible for the PTC-ASPT certification:
In addition to fulfilling any of the requirements listed above, you must demonstrate that you have performed at least 75 venipunctures and five skin punctures.
Both theoretical and practical questions are on the certification exam. Six hours of continuing education must be completed annually to maintain your certification.
6. Phlebotomy technician certification, PTC-AMCA
The American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) offers this certification. Candidates must complete a phlebotomy program and clinical practice to be eligible. Additionally, you must have completed at least 10 capillary punctures and 30 venipunctures.
The certification exam lasts two hours and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. The exam tests candidates on topics such as:
In addition to obtaining their EKG technician and patient care certifications, candidates can also obtain their phlebotomy certification.
7. Certified phlebotomy technician, CBT-ACA
The American Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals (ACA) offers the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CBT) certification. Eligibility requirements for this certification include:
You can complete the ACA-CPT theory exam online. But to obtain the certification, you must also succeed in a practical test held in a medical facility or a laboratory.
8. Phlebotomy technician certificate, PTC-AAH
The American Allied Health (AAH) offers this certification. Candidates must fulfill one of the following criteria in order to be qualified to take the exam for this certification:
Candidates can choose to take the PCT-AAH certification exam online or in person at a testing facility connected to AAH.
9. Chicago School of Phlebotomy certification program
Phlebotomists and other healthcare professionals can receive certification training from the Chicago School of Phlebotomy. You have the option of choosing either the standard or the accelerated certification programs. The accelerated program lasts four weeks, while the regular program lasts seven weeks. Candidates must meet the following criteria to be eligible:
Advanced venipuncture techniques and typical blood-drawing difficulties are covered in some of the courses.
10. American National University Phlebotomy Program
Phlebotomy training is offered entirely online by the American National University (ANU), which holds DEAC accreditation. Candidates must have a high school diploma to be eligible. The program consists of 36 credit hours and is completed in six to twelve months.
Due to the online nature of the training, students might need to look into internships to gain hands-on experience performing venipuncture, dermal punctures, and other related procedures.
11. Heart to Heart healthcare training
It takes eight weeks to complete the Heart to Heart healthcare training course for phlebotomists. The training is delivered in person and online. You must be at least 18 years old, able to attend in-person classes, and able to practice in a clinical setting in order to be eligible. Expect to learn both hard and soft skills, such as appropriate venipuncture techniques and soft skills like patient communication.
12. Phlebotomy technician (NCPT)
The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) offers the phlebotomy technician (NCPT) certification. You must fulfill one of the following requirements in order to be qualified for phlebotomy certification:
Additional healthcare professionals, including registered nurses and laboratory technicians, can be certified by the NCCT.
13. Certified phlebotomy technician-NPS
The National Phlebotomy Solutions (NPS), an organization that evaluates medical professionals to raise healthcare standards, is a provider of this certification. Eligibility requirements for this certification include:
Please note that Indeed is not affiliated with any of the businesses mentioned in this article.
A day in the life of a phlebotomist 2021 : The difference between certificate vs certification
FAQ
Which certification is best for phlebotomy?
- Best Overall: Phlebotomy Career Training.
- Best Accelerated Program: Chicago School of Phlebotomy.
- Best Intensive Program: National Phlebotomy Association (NPA)
- Best Online Option: American National University.
- Best Value: Heart to Heart Healthcare Training.
What are the different types of phlebotomist?
- Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PBT-ASCP) …
- Phlebotomy Technician Certificate (PTC-ASPT) …
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT-NHA) …
- Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT-AMT) …
- Certified Phlebotomist Technologist (CPT-NPA)
Are there different levels of phlebotomy?
A phlebotomy program may offer certification at one of three levels. These include: Limited Phlebotomy Technician (LPT) – Authorized to collect blood through skin punctures Authorized to perform venipuncture and skin puncture blood collection, Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I)
What is a phlebotomist 1 vs phlebotomist 2?
Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT I) – skin puncture and venipuncture. Skin pricking, venipuncture, and arterial draws are all performed by Certified Phlebotomy Technicians (CPT II).
