How Long Is Phlebotomy Training?

Proper training is an integral part in any profession, but it is more than crucial in the healthcare industry, especially in phlebotomy. Drawing blood without prior training can prove fatal, and anyone proven guilty of doing so can be sued for malpractice. With all the procedures and safety protocols a phlebotomist must learn, the appropriate training is important.

But when you are eager to get started in your career as a phlebotomy technician, you would prefer to cut your training program short. Unfortunately, there are plenty of factors that come into play, and it is not really up to you.

How long does it really take to complete phlebotomy training?

Phlebotomy Career Training Timeframe

• It depends on work experience

If you are switching from a career completely unrelated to phlebotomy, training could take a while. The same thing is true if you have a very limited experience. Considering that you are dealing with patients and blood, taking on this particular job should not be taken lightly. This means a huge chunk of your time will be allocated to training.

To ensure that you acquire the essential skills and knowledge, you must choose a phlebotomy training course that includes an extensive clinical portion, complete with an externship. The program must have didactic portion where you will be taught about the fundamentals of phlebotomy, from medical terminology to safety practices. The clinical portion, on the other hand, should focus on the actual blood collection procedures, with emphasis on developing blood-drawing skills. Programs in primary training usually run for four to eight months.

Externship is where you are given an opportunity to work at an offsite location, such as clinics, hospitals and laboratories, during the course of your training. Most training schools have established links with a nearby hospital or clinic, but slots for externship might be limited. So make sure that you apply well in advance, if this is the case. Make the most of your course program by gaining additional classroom training time through externship.

• It depends on the certification you want to gain

You can seek employment immediately after you graduate from an accredited phlebotomy training course, but a majority of employers prefer to hire someone who is certified. If you want to ensure a good spot in a laboratory or clinic of your choice, you must undergo additional training, so you can take the certification exam through the National Phlebotomy Association or the American Society of Clinical Pathology. The minimum requirement you must meet is at least 40 hours of classroom instruction, 100 hours clinical training, and at least 100 hours of skin puncture and venipunctures done without any supervision.

The most popular certification program is the Phlebotomy Technician Certification that offers three main courses for students.

1. Basic 101 consists of a 20-hour theoretical course where you will learn about human anatomy, physiology and infections, a practical portion of which includes how to keep infections under control. To enroll in this course, a student must have a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification.
2. Advanced 102 cover the cardiovascular system, infection control and instructions on how to prevent pre-analytical mistakes. The 20-hour course may also include ethics of phlebotomy and the legal side of things. The same enrollment qualification in Basic 101 applies in Advanced 102.
3. Clinical 103 is a 40-hour course that focuses on the proper use of phlebotomy equipment. It is geared towards mastering blood drawing and collecting, which heavily relies on various factors, including the tools to be used. This part of the program gives students an opportunity to gain experience beneficial for their job, but under the supervision of a trained instructor or phlebotomy training specialists. So any concerns or mistakes learned will serve as great lessons.

• It depends on the state you want to work in

Different states have different training requirements from a phlebotomy technician. On average, a training program can run anywhere from 120 to 300 hours, and some states may only need the least amount of hours. In this case, consider yourself lucky.

In California, the number of required hours depends on the level of phlebotomy training you want to acquire and its corresponding certification. Prior experience will also play a role in the training length you must undergo. To become a CPT I, for example, there are certain criteria you must meet.

1. If you don’t have prior phlebotomy experience, you must complete a 40-hour phlebotomy class training from an approved school, another 40-hour phlebotomy practice that must include at least 10 skin punctures and 50 venipunctures.
2. If you have less than 1040 hours of work experience in the field of phlebotomy, you must complete a 40-hour phlebotomy class training, and on-the-job completion of at least 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures, all of which must be documented.
3. If you have over 1040 hours of phlebotomy experience, you will only need 20 hours of class training and documented on-the-job completion with similar requirements.

Louisiana and California have similar certification requirements. In Philadelphia, however, most accredited training program will have at least 42 hours of classroom lecture and 120 hours of clinical experience.

All things considered, phlebotomy training can run up to six months or more. If you are working on the side or are involved in other activities, it can take longer. But once you passed, you will have higher chances of getting hired.

Don’t think, however, that your training period is done once you are already employed. Compared to other professions in healthcare, phlebotomy has the lowest education requirements and income, particularly the entry level positions. You have to train some more if you want to get promoted and earn more. There are two ways to go about this:

1. Cross-Training

Rather than just be a phlebotomist all throughout your career, you should cross-train in related fields. Extend your veninpuncture or skin puncture skills to blood banking, cytotechnology or histotechnology. With multiple certifications attached to your name, the more employable you are, resulting in higher wages. Cross-training, however, would require money. The good news is some hospitals or similar institutions offer subsidies or assistance to anyone who wish to improve their skills and knowledge. So be sure to ask about it and then take advantage of the opportunity.

2. Continuing Education

Rather than cross-train in related fields, you can also continue your education. Since a minimum requirement to get into the training program is only a high school diploma, an equivalent or GED, anyone who satisfies this criterion can become a phlebotomist. If you want to upgrade, however, pursuing higher education is one way to go about it. There are also instances when employers mandate that phlebotomy technicians to obtain five to six hours of continuing education every year.

To excel in phlebotomy, training should not be just for employment purposes. It must be used for career improvement as well.