Phlebotomy certifications refer to courses you can take online in order to start a career as a phlebotomist. The word literally means “to cut a vein” and thus involves the procedure of making an incision inside of a vein. This process is required in order to collect venous blood samples.
Phlebotomy certifications are a stepping-stone into the profession, which will be largely concerned with drawing blood from persons or animals for testing. In addition to testing, phlebotomists may also assist with transfusions, blood donations or miscellaneous blood research.
What should you know about the profession? Phlebotomists are required to be licensed or registered in most states. However, certification is not the same thing as licensing. Licensing involves the state, whereas certification involves achieving a landmark by expert phlebotomists all over the United States. The main organization that handles this is the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians.
Society has come a long way since the days of leeches, which early phlebotomists used to blood extraction. Nowadays, these medical professionals collect blood through sophisticated venipuncture methods. There are also fingersticks, which are objects that collect small quantities of blood. A heel stick refers to a special device that can extract blood from infants.
If you are interested in a phlebotomy career then certifications are a nice start. Some schools base their entire curriculum around the student becoming certified. Of course, the most important aspect is that of accredited schooling. Accrediting refers to validation for colleges, universities and other institutions. Accreditation standards are set by what is called a peer review board. This board is made up of faculty from various accredited schools.
In order for a school to become accredited, it must conform to the standards set out by the peer review board. Items of interest to the board include the mission of the college, objective and goals of the school and of curriculum, student requirements for admissions, services available, education quality and the reputation of the faculty members.
Since the medical profession is challenging to break into, you definitely want to make sure that you work with an accredited school—one that will not hold you back because of questionable reputation. Do some research on the school and make an informed decision based on curriculum research and online reputation.
The good news is that phlebotomy certifications can help you to land a job as a phlebotomist, one very promising career with an excellent outlook.
