Phlebotomist Certification
Modern Phlebotomy Students
Phlebotomy students should take their education serious and seek their instruction through approved training
institutions, such as those accredited through National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
(NAACLS), National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
(CAAHEP), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), to name a few.
Why Certify?
Most phlebotomy training program graduates today elect to become certified. When
an approved independent entity certifies that a person has the knowledge it takes to do a job and attests
in writing that the professional fulfils the requirements of the respective industry standards, it creates
trust with employers and the general public.
One example of a trusted certification entity is American Medical Technologists, who provide the Registered Phlebotomyist Technician
(RPT) exam.
Certification Creates Trust
Passing the phlebotomy professional certification testifies to the fact that the certified individual has passed
certain standards in skills and knowledge, which includes human anatomy, physiology, phlebotomy techniques,
pathology, and medical terminology.
In some instances, for those without formal training from a qualifying school, they can take the
certification exam based on the years of uninterrupted work experience in the field, in lieu of formal
training.
Certification Requirements
Some states now require that their phlebotomists are certified.
One of these states is California. A certificate is an official document affirming some fact, for example, a
birth certificate testifies to basic facts regarding a person's birth, a marriage certificate testifies to basic
fact regarding a person's marital status. A certificate may also serve as an academic award to certify that a
person has received specific education or has passed a test. In this case it documents that someone has passed a
test or reached a specific standard of knowledge.
Professional Membership Associations
Many different organizations sponsor phlebotomy certification. Below are some of the better known and
recognized organizations in the USA.
National Examination Services that Certify
Phlebotomists
National HealthCareer Association (NHA)
800-499-9092
American Medical Technologists (AMT)
(847) 823-5169
National Center for Competency Testing
(913) 498-1000
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
(312) 738-1336
American Society for Clinical Pathology
(312) 738-1336
National Credentialing Agency
(913) 438-5110
Phlebotomy Certification in California
All regulations pertaining to California phlebotomists, clinical laboratory technicians, clinical
medical assistants and patient care technicians filed with the CA Secretary of State are published in the
California Code of Regulations, Title 17 (Public Health), Division 1 (State Department of Health), Chapter 2
(Laboratories), Subchapter 1 (Service Laboratories), Group 2 (Clinical Laboratory Regulations)
are available on the Office of Administrative Law website by searching under California Code of
Regulations, Title 17. More here.
In Louisiana
Louisiana phlebotomists that are working independently, such as those making home visits, and thus,
are not working under the direct supervision of a physician, or phlebotomists that are employed by a licensed
clinical laboratory must be certified.
In Nevada
Nevada state legislation mandates that all laboratory assistants must be phlebotomy certified.
Read: Washington Post: Drawing Without a License.
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