Phlebotomy Technician Schools & Degree Programs Online

Top Phlebotomist Tech and Health Science Schools

Phlebotomists are key to the ever-growing healhtcare industry, as they are the ones trained to draw blood for lab tests or donations. In the U.S. the requirements for becoming a phlebotomist vary from state to state. But most will require at least a high school diploma, and getting some additional college education will surely improve one's chances of beginning a career. Below are some of the best schools offering related health science programs online.

BBA in Health Services	DeVry University — The BBA in health services management from DeVry quite frankly is more training than a typical phlebotomist will need to begin a career. This degree is better suited for the phlebotomy technician looking to expand his/her career with a more managerial role.
AS in Medical Assisting	Keiser University — The medical assisting associate's degree from Keiser is a perfect curriculum for anyone looking to enter the field of phlebotomy, as students of this program will learn skills such as taking X-rays, giving injections, performing venipuncture, and more.
AS in Allied Health Science	South University — South provides an associate's in allied health science that will teach students most of the healthcare knowledge that they will need to being an entry-level position as a phlebotomist.
BS in Health Services Mgmt	Virginia College Online — The BS in health services management degree program is another bachelor's degree-level program that will provide an aspiring phlebotomist with more schooling than is necessary to begin in an entry-level position. Graduates of this program are well suited to begin in healthcare management.
BS in Medical Imaging	Grand Canyon University — GCU's medical imaging bachelor's degree degree will look fantastic on the resume of anyone applying for a job in phlebotomy. A graduate of this program will be head and shoulders above most other job applicants in terms of education and training.
BS in Clinical Lab Science	University of Cincinnati — Cinci's BS in clinical lab science is a degree program that will provide anyone training to become a phlebotomist with more than enough education and skills to enter a career in the healthcare field. In fact, graduates of this program will be overqualified to work as a phlebotomist and will be candidates for jobs with more responsibility if anything.
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What is a Phlebotomy Technician?

In recent years, there's been a major boom in certification and training programs for the medical field that require about two years or less of schooling. What is happening in some states is too many people vying for the same medical trade programs such as ultrasound technician or dental assistants. Phlebotomy technician is a position that is still growing and has yet to be oversaturated with qualified applicants. In each state the training requirements to become a phlebotomist tech is different. Some have programs that train in as little as a day, while others require a couple of months of training or several months (usually up to eight months). In every state you must take a licensing exam after acquiring clinical hours in order to begin working as a paid phlebotomy technician.These programs are usually referred to as a certified phlebtomy technician or a CPT. Look for an accredited school in your area, ideally one that sets up clinicals for you. In some cases, a program will leave clinicals up to a student to organize, which can be difficult when you have no on-the-job experience. Many phlebotemists are not willing to take on a a tech with no work training, so it's important to seek out a program that sets this up for you.What does a phlebotomy technician do? A phlebotomy technician draws blood and collects specimens of any type. This can be, but is not limited to, urine, feces and other bodily fluids. In every case, a doctor needs this specimen collected in order to better diagnose a patient or see what plan of action should be taken to improve a patient's condition. A phlebotomist technician can be employed by a private practice, labs, university hospitals, hospitals or even blood banks. Phlebotomy techs are responsible for taking blood samples, transporting the specimen to the appropriate place, transport blood between labs using proper protocol and ensuring none of the specimens are damaged while in transit. Phlebotomy technicians can also be responsible for record keeping and data entries using a computer. In some cases, a phlebotomy tech may also be asked to keep up with everyday clerical duties around the office. In a private practice, a phlebotomy technician may answer the phone or also set up appointments for patients coming in to have lab work performed.

A phlebotomy technician should have excellent communication skills, as you deal with a myriad of people on a daily basis. For one position, you may only deal with other techs and hospital personnel, only occasionally interacting with patients to draw their blood. In other positions, such as in the case of a private practice, you will see numerous patients throughout a day's work, so your patience and desire to care for others should be akin to a nurse. In some parts of the U.S., it is helpful if a phlebotomy technician speaks Spanish. As a phlebotomy technician, it is your job to ensure the patient is at ease and to draw blood regardless of the person's medical state or condition.

Types of Phlebotomy Technician Certification Programs

There are three different types of phlebotomy technician certification programs. Qualifying for the next program involves being certified in the previous program first. Different states have different requirements for phlebotomy technicians and the more training you have, the more job opportunities will be available to you. These phlebotomy technician certificate programs are phlebotomy technician I and phlebotomy technician II.

What steps do I take to become a phlebotomy technician?

To become a phlebotomy technician, you'll be required to attend courses that have been approved by the Department of Public Health. This program will consist of classroom or online course hours in conjunction with clinicals. There are a certain number of skin punctures and venipunctures a person must perform, which vary by state, but usually max out at 50. In addition to this, you'll have to pass a written exam over the material learned in the phlebotomy technician I program.

Clinicals do not have to take place under a doctor's supervision. Phlebotomy technicians can complete their clinical hours under a medical doctor (MD), registered nurse (RN), physician's assistant (PA), clinical lab scientist (CLS) or clinical laboratory bioanalyst (CLB).

From here you will have to sit for your state's licensing exam for phlebotomy technicians. You can register for this test online and find out about the various testing venues in your area. It is important you plan appropriately to sit for this exam as they are often given only certain dates and if you miss it, it may be several months before you have the opportunity to take the test again.

What is the average salary of a phlebotomy technician?

The salary of a phlebotomy technician varies by state, but the average is $38,000 per year. Salary for a phlebotomy technician rises substantially when working in a private facility such as a private care cancer clinic or private practice. Your salary can also depend on what area you work in. Phlebotomy technicians are often in demand in urban areas where there are large hospitals that see hundreds of patients per day. In a position like this, there is much room for growth as large medical facilities, whether they're labs or offices often have a head technician or assistant head technician, which command a higher salary than other phlebotomy techs.

What else do I need to know about being a phlebotomy technician?

It is important to note that within the industry, phlebotomy technicians have a high turnover rate due to burnout. This is common within the medical field, even for nurses, as performing the same tasks with patients can be mentally and physically taxing. Many phlebotomy technicians find themselves so interested in a career in the medical field that they go on to explore nursing, to work one-on-one with clients for longer durations of time and learn more about the human body.