Home > Steps for Phlebotomy Certification

What is required to become a Phlebotomist

Phlebotomist in LaboratoryOnce you have completed your phlebotomy training, you must take your phlebotomy certification exam. Although not all states require certification to practice phlebotomy or venipuncture, securing a job in this field without a recognized certification is rare. Even in states that do not require it, phlebotomy certification will give you a decided advantage when looking for employment and show prospective employers that you are serious about your career.

Three of the top recognized certification bodies are:

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) www.ascp.org

The ASCP has very specific requirements in order to qualify for certification. For those without previous venipuncture experience one must:

  • Posses a high school diploma (or equivalent)
  • 100 successful and unaided blood collections
  • 120 hours of hands-on training
  • 40 classroom hours of study

Courses taken in the classroom must include:

  • Physiology (or the circulatory system)
  • Anatomy
  • Specimen handling and processing
  • Laboratory procedures
  • Specimen collection

In order to be eligible for certification through the ASCP your laboratory training must take place in a facility that is regulated by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1998 by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

  • The Association of Phlebotomy Technicians (APT) http://phlebotomycertificationguide.com/
  • The APT requirements for professional certification have the following criteria for prospective students without previous and directly related experience.
  • Member in good standing with APT
  • Successful completion of accredited phlebotomy training
  • 5 successful skin punctures
  • 100 successful and documented venipunctures
  • This certification is through The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
  • The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) http://www.nationalphlebotomy.org/

The NPA certifies phlebotomists in all 50 US states as well as in Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Barbados, Switzerland and Canada. They provide accredited phlebotomy programs in a variety of health care institutes, hospitals, colleges and universities. In order to qualify for certification with NPA your program of study must include:

  • Hands-on training through an internship program
  • Accepted techniques of venipuncture
  • 160 hours of classroom study

For detailed information on the costs of certification by the NPA you can visit the following site: http://estore.websitepros.com/761306/Categories.bok

It is extremely important that the school or learning institution you choose for studying phlebotomy is a professionally accredited one and that upon successful completion, you will be adequately prepared to take your phlebotomy certification exam. It is important to ensure that the courses within your program are in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and/or are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.

  • For more information on the CLSI you can visit their website at:  http://www.clsi.org/
  • For more information on the Better Business Bureau their website page for consumers can be found at:  http://www.bbb.org/us/consumers/

    • It is also recommended that before enrolling in any phlebotomy program you contact a recognized certification association to enquire about the validity of the particular school you are interested in. In addition to the ASCP, NPA and the APT, whose information has been listed above, the following are also professionally accepted accreditation agencies:

There is little doubt that becoming a trained and certified phlebotomist is an excellent portal for a career in the medical profession. The field of phlebotomy or venipuncture opens the door to a host of exciting job possibilities in a wide array of venues. Taking some time to do a little research before enrolling in any learning institution will enable you to make the academic and career choices that can provide you with a lifetime of exciting and challenging opportunities.

Phlebotomy Schools by State

Multi-State Schools

Phlebotomy Schools

Becoming a phlebotomist begins with extensive phlebotomy training. There are several schools and programs available throughout the United States that will prepare you to write your phlebotomy certification.

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