If you are interested in improving your career prospects in the medical field, you might one to consider pursuing a certification in phlebotomy. In case you are not familiar with phlebotomists, they are the ones that help patients providing samples for testing and assist those who donate blood.
Apparently, there are different types of phlebotomy certifications that are available to take. If you are thinking of taking one of them, here is the brief information of each of them for you:
- Phlebotomy technician certification, PBT-ASCP
A phlebotomy technician certification is the one that is offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology or ASCP. If you are interested in taking this certification, it will be needed for you to have at least a high school diploma and take one of the paths such as undergo an approved phlebotomy program, complete 40 hours of class training and 100 hours of practice, earn a minimum of one year of experience as a phlebotomy technician in an accredited laboratory, or get a medical degree that is include din the phlebotomy training.
Talking about the exam to get this certification, it consists of a total of 80 multiple choice questions and these questions have to be completed in 120 minutes.
- Certified phlebotomy technician, CPT-NHA
The certified phlebotomy technician CPT is able to be earned from the National Healthcare Association. Apparently, this certification is offered in some levels, including limited phlebotomy technician, certified phlebotomy technician 1, and certified phlebotomy technician 2.
For anyone who wants to be eligible for this certification, you will have to get a high school diploma and attend 20 hours of phlebotomy classes.
- Registered phlebotomy technician, RPT-AMT
The American Medical Technologists or AMT is the one that offers the Registered phlebotomy certification, RPT. If you are interested in taking this certification, you will have to complete one of the conditions such as pass an accredited phlebotomy course in the last four years, earn a cumulative 1040+ hours of experience as a phlebotomy technician in the last three years, work as a health program instructor with a minimum of three years of teaching experience, or pay a fee in case you have a phlebotomist certification from another organization.
The exam of the Registered phlebotomy certification, RPT offered by the American Medical Technologists or AMT covers the basic phlebotomy questions. The good news is that every candidate has a chance to retake the exam up to four times, making it possible for them to success in case they fail in the first try.
- Certified phlebotomist technologist, CPT-NPA
The certified phlebotomy technologist, CPT is offered by the National Phlebotomy Association or NPA. To be eligible, you have to complete an allied health training that included the venipuncture training. Usually, the training program cover a minimum of 160 hours of classroom lessons and 200 of clinical practice. If you are curious about the exam of this certification, it has a written multiple choice format. To complete everything, you only have two hours. In addition to the exam, it is also needed for you to pass a drug and physical test.
- Phlebotomy technician certificate, PTC-ASPT
The phlebotomy technician certificate is offered by the American Society of Phlebotomy Technician or ASPT. If you want to be eligible for this, you will have to meet one of the criteria, such as completing six months of full time or one year of part time experience as a phlebotomy, successfully completing a phlebotomy training program or getting a letter from a supervisor that confirms your experience in venipuncture and specimen handling. Apart from one of them, you will also need to show a proof that you have performed a minimum of 75 venipunctures and 5 skin punctures. At the end of the program, there will be an exam that involves both theoretical questions and a practical section.
- Phlebotomy technician certificate, PTC-AAH
The phlebotomy technician certificate is offered by the American Allied Health or AAH. If you want to be eligible to take the exam for this one, you will have to complete of a phlebotomy training program, have at least one year of experience as a phlebotomist, have certification from other bodies, or get a military training. As a candidate, you are free to choose to take the certification exam online or offline at any examination center that is affiliated with the American Allied Health.
- American National University Phlebotomy Program
The phlebotomy program that is offered by the American National University or ANU is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission or DEAC. It is an online program. To be eligible for this, you must have a high school diploma.
- Phlebotomy technician (NCPT)
The National Center for Competency Testing or NCCT is the one that offers the phlebotomy technician or NCPT certification. If you want to be eligible for this certification, it is needed for you to meet one of the some criteria. Basically, you must be a student in a phlebotomy program that is approved by the NCCT, have completed a phlebotomy training program in the last five years, have earned a minimum of one year of experience as a phlebotomy technician within the last five years, or have graduated in a phlebotomy technician training in the United States military in the last five years.
For your information, the National Center for Competency Testing or NCCT also offers certification for the other healthcare professionals, including registered nurses and laboratory technicians.
- Certified phlebotomy technician-NPS
The National Phlebotomy Solutions, which is also known as NPS, is the one that offers the certified phlebotomy technician-NPS. For those who have no idea, it is a body that provides evaluation of the healthcare professionals in order to improve the standards in the healthcare. There are several eligibility requirements for those who want to get this certification, such as a high school diploma, completion of a phlebotomy training program, and a proof of at least 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks.
