Phlebotomy Tech Certification
Being a phlebotomy tech--that is, a medical professional trained to collect blood samples--does not require getting a certification. However, many employers prefer to hire those who do because it indicates that such people adhere to a certain set of medical and industry standards. Professional organizations like the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) offer phlebotomy tech certifications.
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Education
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Although many phlebotomy techs enter the field with only a high school degree, job candidates with at least a phlebotomy or clinical laboratory tech diploma have an edge over those without formal education. Associations that offer phlebotomy certifications have differing requirements. ASCP and ASPT require a high school degree plus experience in an accredited setting or a high school degree plus graduation from a program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences or NAACLS. Diploma programs can be completed within a year at community colleges or technical schools.
Certification
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Candidates must pass an exam for certification. Once their eligibility documentation is approved, the sponsoring organization, such as ASCP or ASPT, provide the study materials for the exam, as well as the exam schedule, sites and policies. ASCP exams are usually administered at Pearson Vue sites in computer adaptive testing format. Exam takers receive their scores within anywhere from six to eight weeks and a certificate is included if they passed the association's exam.
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Recertification
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Once phlebotomy techs receive their certifications, they have to maintain them by adhering to standards set by the awarding organization. For instance, ASPT requires that every year certified techs take six continuing education units (CEUs) and renew their membership to maintain certification.
Employment
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With certification, as well as formal training, phlebotomy techs can expect to work in hospitals or laboratories. Other major employers include physicians' offices and medical centers at educational institutions and government sectors.
Salary and Job Outlook
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According to the Salary website, phlebotomy techs make a median salary of around $29,000, as of July 2010. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 14 percent increase in employment of phlebotomy techs--as part of the entire clinical laboratory tech population--between 2008 and 2018. This is a faster rate than that of the entire U.S. workforce for the same period.
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