Phlebotomy Certification Exam

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 13th, 2010

Steps to a Phlebotomy Certification Program

The steps to acceptance into a phlebotomy certification program vary from one school to the next but many times schools will require that students apply for an interview before being accepted into a program. Most of the qualities the school looks for when interviewing a potential student is whether they have good communication skills and a high level of professionalism. Once students pass the interview process, there is typically a drug screen and background check they need to complete before being accepted into the program. No prior experience or knowledge in phlebotomy is required to enter these programs.

Duration of Formal Phlebotomy Certification Programs

In California, which is the most tightly regulated state for phlebotomy, there is an 80 hour requirement which typically takes students no more than 12 weeks to complete. Students are usually able to complete that 80 hours at a pace that works best for them. For example, if they chose to put in eight 10-hour days they could potentially finish the program in ten days. Or they could stretch the training over a six-month span if they work full time. Some programs offer an accelerated six-week program mainly geared toward individuals right out of high school who can attend class full time to become a phlebotomist. Other programs stick with the 12-week format which is usually an evening class geared toward adults who have jobs during the day and want to have the skills to be a phlebotomist.

Phlebotomy Certification Exam

There are two main organizations that offer a certification exam: the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP www.ascp.org) or the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA www.nationalphlebotomy.org). The American Society of Clinical Pathologists exam is offered year-round and is computer based. To sit for this exam you must complete 40 classroom hours in the field, complete 100 practical training hours and have performed at least 100 successful venipunctures. To sit for the National Phlebotomy Association certification exam you must complete 160 classroom hours and a practical internship.