Phlebotomy Training and Career Guide Phlebotomy Training Resources and Guides for becoming Certified as a Phlebotomist!
Phlebotomy Certification in Phoenix, AZ:
As Arizona’s capital and largest city, Phoenix offers something for everyone. The hot
desert climate makes Phoenix an appealing destination for those in search of escape
from excessively snowy winters. The city itself boasts a population of more than
1,400,000.
Once a thriving agricultural community, Phoenix has emerged as a thriving cultural
center for Arizona and the rest of the country.
Today many industries contribute to the economy of the city, and to the state. These
include manufacturing, retail, professional services, tourism, food processing, and the
health care field.
The average salary for a certified phlebotomist in Phoenix is $30,500. With a great cost
of living in and around the city, this is a respectable salary that could of course be
impacted by a number of factors.
Pursuing your Phlebotomy Certification:
It can be overwhelming to consider everything that needs to be done in order to
establish yourself as a medical professional in the healthcare field. But the reality is that
it is a fair bit easier than you may have once thought.
Phlebotomy is a great choice in careers for those looking to work in medicine, but it can
also serve as a very useful way to becoming familiar with health care. In fact, many who
become certified phlebotomists actually go on to pursue further careers in healthcare.
Working as a phlebotomist allows you to become comfortable working with patients and
other medical professionals, and it also help you to establish that valuable foundation
which will serve you well as you continue to work in medicine.
Many who start working as phlebotomists later go on to pursue careers as medical
assistants, registered nurses, and other specialties that could include x-ray or
ultrasound tech.
Follow these steps to kick off pursuing your career as a phlebotomist:
- Look into the requirements of the job so that you can be sure it is the right choice
for you. It’s not the ideal option for those who are squeamish over blood and
other specimens.
- Find the right training course to meet your needs. Some courses offer just the
training needed for passing your phlebotomy certification, while others may offer
the course as a part of a 2 year associate degree program.
- Some courses may last just one semester, anywhere from 4 to 6 months, so
make sure that you find one that will work with your current obligations.
Once you have completed your training, including the required clinical rotation hours,
you can then take the phlebotomy certification exam. The exam is a written test that will
assess your theoretical and practical knowledge.
What to Expect from Phlebotomy Training Courses:
All of the courses from accredited educational organizations are going to offer
curriculums that are very similar in design. After all, the goal of the programs are to get
you qualified to pass your phlebotomy certification exam.
A well-trained and qualified phlebotomist is someone who can take blood and other
samples from a patient quickly and as painless as is possible for patients.
Some of the topics that you’ll find yourself learning during your certification course will
include the following:
- Basic medical terminology
- Patient care
- Procedures for drawing blood, including heel and finger sticks
- Safety protocols
- Handling of specimens
- Patient privacy
Training to become a phlebotomist is of course more than just practical knowledge
learned in a classroom. It requires hands-on clinical rotations so that you can work
directly with patients. Under supervision, you will need to complete 100 blood draws on
patients.
Once you’ve demonstrated that you can perform the requirements of the job, you should
be well equipped to take the certification exam.
Finding Your Educational Path:
It can sometimes prove to be a challenge to find the right training program that will meet
your needs. Perhaps you are already working a full time job somewhere else, or you
might have children that need to be cared for. It can sometimes be hard to fit your
education into your busy schedule.
This is why it’s so great that there are so many programs meeting in the evenings, on
the weekends, or even offering online instruction. This will let you pick the training
program that will work best for your needs.
As you start to research all of the schools in and around Phoenix, you will start to notice
that many have some prerequisites that need to be considered. There are some that
might not have any prerequisites beyond your needing to demonstrate that you have
finished high school.
You will also find that most require students are at least 18 years old. There may be
some exceptions for the practical portion of the course, but you will not be able to work
with patients until you are 18.
It is also fairly common to be required to hold your CPR certification course.
Make sure that the school you are looking into is accredited. Not only does this assure
you of a good solid education, but it also assures you that your school adheres to the
requirements set by the certification organizations.
Working as a Phlebotomist:
With your certification in hand you’ll find it a snap to secure a position in any number of
medical facilities. These could include hospitals, private practices, blood banks, nursing
homes, large colleges, and even home health care.
The medical field is constantly expanding in order to meet the needs of the population,
so you are certain to find your skill set in great demand in Phoenix, and other cities
around the country.
Finding Phlebotomy Certification Training Programs in Phoenix:
Phoenix College:
Phoenix College prepares students to pass the certification exam, with a
comprehensive course taught by qualified medical professionals. Students can also use
credits earned toward continuing education.
Their official website:
http://www.phoenixcollege.edu/academics/programs/phlebotomy
Central Arizona College
Central Arizona College offers a great training course. Before enrolling, students will
need to demonstrate having a high school diploma or GED. Proof of immunizations, as
well as pass a background check and drug test. Students will also need to pass a
reading test.
http://www.centralaz.edu/Home/Academics/Divisions_and_Programs/Health_Careers/Phlebotomy.htm
Pima Medical Institute:
Pima Medical Institute runs training courses taught by medical professionals who can
guide students through the process of honing skills and getting prepped to pass the
certification exam.
View their website for more info:
http://pmi.edu/Programs/Certificate/Phlebotomy-Technician
More Phlebotomy Schools in the Phoenix Region:
Fortis College-Montgomery
University of Alaska Anchorage
Alaska Career College
Phoenix College
Coconino Community College
Pima Community College
Brookline College-Phoenix
Brookline College-Tucson
Yavapai College
Arizona College-Glendale
External Resources Used in this Post:
Salary.com – This amazing website is where our facts and figures for average Phlebotomist salaries comes from. Highly recommended.
