Phlebotomy, if you are not familiar with the term, is the medical field dealing with the drawing of blood from medical patients. There are valid reasons why you may need to have your blood drawn. You will almost always need to have it done at some point in your life. Some individuals need to have it done frequently.
Since this is such a common practice, there is always a call for phlebotomists, the individuals who perform this service. You might look into phlebotomy schools if you feel like this career path appeals to you.
Before you do, though, you might be wondering about what kind of prior medical training you need to become a phlebotomist, if any. We will talk about that right now.
You Don’t Necessarily Need to Get a College Degree to Become a Phlebotomist
If you’re thinking about becoming a phlebotomist but you’re not so inclined to look into attending a four-year college, there’s some good news. You do not typically need a four-year degree to become one, nor do you need a Master’s Degree or a Ph. D.
There are two paths you may take if this career appeals to you. The first thing you might do is learn this skill set after you’ve already studied a related field.
Nursing is a common one. If you’re a nurse or certified nursing assistant, it is relatively easy to learn the skills that go into phlebotomy. You will also already know about human anatomy to some degree, and you will have been in and around the medical field for some time.
You Can Get Into Phlebotomy After Taking Classes
Even if you’re not in the nursing profession, though, or indeed the medical profession at all, you can still become a phlebotomist. The qualifications are a little different in every state, but usually, you can get into phlebotomy by taking courses such as venipuncture class. That’s where you learn how to draw blood from a vein.
What Other Classes Must You Take to Become a Phlebotomist?
Along with a venipuncture class, you will also need to take a skin puncture class while you are under expert supervision. This is a simple course where you can learn about doing procedures where you penetrate a patient’s skin.
The combination of these two classes or a medical background and expansion into this area is usually how you find yourself on the path toward becoming a phlebotomist. Once you have the necessary background and skill set, you can take a test that will lead to you getting certified.
Again, this test will be a little different depending on what state you’re in, but the main skills you’ll need are the same. If you can pass the test and get certified, then you should be able to get a job as a phlebotomist relatively easily, even if you have not spent very much time in the medical field to date.
Maybe this is enough to motivate you to get into this profession sometime soon.
Photo by Yunus Tuğ on Unsplash
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
