How to Become a Phlebotomist
Phlebotomists have a primary duty to draw blood needed for medical purposes. Phlebotomy is a steady career path that is growing at an incredible rate of 17%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). They require less than a year of non-degree training to get started, making "how to become a phlebotomist'' a fairly easy and positive question to answer.
What Does a Phlebotomist Do?
What is a phlebotomist? They're the medical professionals who draw patients' blood for testing and donations. They work in hospitals, doctor's offices, labs, blood donation centers, and more.
Steps to Becoming a Phlebotomist
A high school diploma or equivalent is usually required to become a phlebotomist. Completing any remaining study and taking a GED exam starts your path toward a phlebotomist career if you haven't secured your high school diploma. You can usually secure a GED for up to $150, depending on your state.
Many community colleges, technical schools, and vocational schools offer short phlebotomy programs resulting in a certificate. How long it takes to become a phlebotomist depends on the program you choose, but it shouldn't take more than a year.
Ensure that your program successfully prepares students for professional certification as this is your next step. These programs usually cost between $700 and $1,400, but individual schools may be more expensive.
You can find professional certifications in many healthcare organizations, including the National Healthcareer Association, National Center for Competency Testing, or American Medical Technologists. If you take a training program in the same state where you'll be getting professionally certified, your instructor may have insight into the certification that is most valued in your area.
You'll usually sit for an exam and a practical component or clinical hours before becoming certified. Exams cost around $100, with study guides available for between $30 and $50 in some places.
Once you have your education and certification, you'll be able to seek employment as a phlebotomist. Hospitals, physicians' offices, blood donation centers, and blood drives all need phlebotomists to operate, and given the industry's massive growth, you shouldn't have a problem finding a position.
Phlebotomist Salaries and Job Growth
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Projections Central
The job outlook is incredibly strong for phlebotomists. The BLS projects jobs to grow by 17% — compared to the national average growth for a career field of 4%. Some states, however, have even more astronomical growth in this field.
Top 10 States With the Highest Job Growth:
- Tennessee: 48.7%
- Utah: 45.2%
- Arizona: 41.3%
- Colorado: 40.3%
- Maryland: 38%
- Virginia: 34.9%
- Nevada: 32%
- Iowa: 31.4%
- Florida: 31.2%
- New York: 30.4%
Career Paths for Phlebotomists
Working in phlebotomy with the same company or hospital network can lead to regular raises and a steady full-time job in a very high-demand field. That said, phlebotomists also often choose to pursue additional healthcare certifications, from medical technician roles to roles in nursing or physician's assistant programs.
Part of the advantage of being in a high-demand job for which the training is fairly quick is that you can begin work as a phlebotomist and keep working while pursuing part-time schooling that adds to your medical and healthcare certifications and skills.
Components of a Successful Phlebotomy Career
One helpful way to think about whether a phlebotomy career is right for you is to consider the skills you'll need and the tools you'll use to do the job.
Getting Financial Help with Your Phlebotomy Program
Given the affordable nature of phlebotomy programs (you can often train for under $1,000), your best bet is to find the nearby schools that offer a combination of coursework and in-person clinical training and evaluate their prices for your best choice. If you attend a community college for your phlebotomy program, you might be eligible for federal aid.
You can also find out whether you're eligible by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Here are some points to note:
- Income based qualification, but worth applying even with family support.
- Total amount varies, up to the total cost of attendance.
- Deadline is June 30th of the summer before the year you'd like to attend.
- Can produce subsidized loans or grants
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- Provide first responder care, often as part of a fire department or ambulance crew.
- Average salary: $40,370
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