Certification for Phlebotomy Technician

Being a phlebotomy technician , ie a medical professional trained to collect blood samples , does not require a certificate . However, many employers prefer to hire certified individuals, as this indicates that these people adhere to a certain set of medical and industrial standards . Professional organizations such as the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians ( ASPT , for its acronym in English) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology ( ASCP , for its acronym in English ) provide technical certifications in phlebotomy.

Education
Although many phlebotomy technicians enter the field of work just to be high school graduates , candidates with at least a high school diploma or phlebotomy technician clinical laboratory have an advantage over those without a formal education. The associations that offer phlebotomy certifications have different requirements . ASCP and ASPT require a high school diploma as well as experience in a reputable , or a high school diploma plus have graduated from a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences ( NAACLS ) . These programs can be completed in a year at community colleges or technical schools.

Certification
Candidates must pass a certification exam . Once approved documentation of eligibility , the sponsoring organization , such as ASCP or ASPT provides study materials for the exam, and the exam schedule , sites and policies. ASCP exams are generally administered at Pearson VUE sites in the form of computer- adaptive testing . The examination takers receive their scores within 6 to 8 weeks, and are awarded a certificate if they pass the examination of the association.

Re certification
Once phlebotomy technicians receive their certification , they must remain attached to the standards set by the organization that have fixed your certificate. For example , the ASPT requires all certified technicians take six continuing education units ( CEU ) per year and renew your membership to maintain certification .

Employment
With certification and formal training , phlebotomy technicians can expect to work in hospitals or laboratories. Other major employers include medical offices and medical centers , educational institutions and government sectors.

Salary and job prospects
According to the Salary website , phlebotomy technicians have an average salary of about U.S. $ 29,000 , as of July 2010. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 14% increase in the use of phlebotomy technicians as part of the entire population laboratory technology clinic between 2008 and 2018 . This is a faster growth rate than that of the entire U.S. workforce for the same period .