How to Become a Registered Phlebotomist

A necessary profession in the medical industry is that of the registered phlebotomist. A phelbotomist is a healthcare worker who is trained in drawing blood from patients. This profession does require some training, but the training program is not very long compared to training required of Licensed Practical Nurses or X-Ray Technicians. Training and registration requirements differ from state to state, but there are some common basics.

Instructions

• 1

  Call your local medical laboratory where you have blood drawn to find out the state requirements to become a registered phlebotomist. If there is no medical laboratory in your area, ask your family physician where they send blood for testing or contact the laboratory at your local hospital. You might also contact a local technical or vocational school to see if they have a phlebotomist training program.

• 2

  Complete your high school requirements for graduation and get a copy of your transcripts. Try to do well in sciences and math.

• 3

  Enroll in a technical or vocational school or sign up to train at a laboratory. Make sure the school is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), among others.

• 4

  Study the required courses, including basic anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system. Learn safe ways to collect blood from capillaries and veins, how to label and sort specimens, how to prepare them for testing, and how to deal with fearful patients, among many other important topics.

• 5

  Recertify your designation each year by taking a test or a required course.