Phlebotomy technicians are healthcare professionals responsible for obtaining patient specimens. They can perform various functions such as venipuncture, micro-collection, and specimen processing and handling while maintaining patient safety and confidentiality.
A phlebotomy technician certification demonstrates to employers a level of professionalism and commitment to the profession that they value in candidates for employment.
The certification test contains 145 questions that must be answered in 150 minutes with a passing score of 70%.
There are many organizations that attempt to certify phlebotomists. Before choosing one, make sure that your choice teaches according to the standards published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.
Two such organizations are the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Certification exams are typically available to those who satisfy one of the following conditions:
- You're a current Student in a Phlebotomy Technician program from an authorized school or have graduated from such a program with the past five years.
- You have one year of verifiable full-time experience as a Phlebotomy Technician practitioner within the past five years.
- You have completed Phlebotomy Technician training or its equivalent during U.S. Military service within the past five years.
Testing sites are available across the United States and abroad with most students testing at the site associated with their college or vocational program.
Although ASCP certification is voluntary, individuals demonstrate to employers a commitment to their profession by becoming certified and many employers
have come to expect it and make it a condition for being hired.
You can expect to be eligible for many more career opportunities as a certified phlebotomy technician.