Any person that wants to gain a phlebotomy diploma needs to join a phlebotomy school. Phlebotomy is the technique of finding and extracting the blood out of a vein. A phlebotomist is trained to extract blood for transactions or tests. Those who want to enroll in a phlebotomy school need to have a high school diploma or a GED. In order to get a job as a phlebotomy you must have a degree and it can only be gained at accredited learning institutes.
Online programs, from enrolling to getting the diploma, take about three months, but getting associate degrees can last up to 18 months. In an online phlebotomy school you will learn basic anatomy, physiology and a series of techniques that can help you distract the patient while taking his blood, making the experience easier. After the theoretical training, you will need to go though the clinical internship and you will start taking blood from patients in special laboratories.
If you graduate from a phlebotomy school, you will be able to find a job anywhere in the medical field because all medical areas require a phlebotomist. An online phlebotomy school takes about a year to graduate, including the internship in a hospital. Besides finding and getting blood from a vein, phlebotomists also learn CPR and other techniques. After graduation they are able to perform more than one task in a hospital. If you want a bachelor degree you need to finish a program that takes up to four years. California and other states do not require phlebotomy certification, but most phlebotomists are certified by the American Medical Technologists, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists or the American Association of Medical Personnel. |