Healthcare

Earning Your Phlebotomy Certification in Connecticut

No matter the field, one thing is for certain: Professional certification is a game-changer. Professional certification builds credibility, validates a person’s competency, increases earning potential, and often leads to more opportunities in one’s career trajectory. Even when it’s not required, it offers many benefits.

This is especially true in industries like healthcare, where patients’ health and well-being are in the hands of practitioners. Enter, phlebotomy certification.

Phlebotomy certification is a credential that demonstrates a person’s expertise and skill in venipuncture, or the process of drawing blood. Certified phlebotomists have completed training and proved their ability to collect blood samples safely and effectively, all while making patients feel comfortable.

Not all phlebotomists are required to become certified, but employers prefer to hire candidates with this credential. So, if you’re looking to become a phlebotomist, earning certification can help you stand out.

Learn all about phlebotomy certification, including its benefits and requirements, in this guide.

What is phlebotomy certification?

Phlebotomy certification is a professional credential that verifies a person has the skills, training, and expertise needed to successfully perform venipuncture and collect blood samples for testing.

The work of phlebotomists is crucial, as it’s needed to conduct medical testing, perform transfusions, make diagnoses, carry out blood donations, and conduct research. Phlebotomy certification confirms that these professionals can carry out these responsibilities in a safe, effective, and sanitary way, all while keeping their patients calm and comfortable.

Phlebotomy certification is typically administered by examination, via credentialing bodies or organizations like the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA). Usually, phlebotomists become eligible for a certification exam after completing an approved Phlebotomy training program, in which they gained both classroom and clinical practice.

Types of phlebotomy certification

The following organizations offer professional certification for phlebotomists. Many of these organizations are recognized and respected nationally. However, please note that certain states may require/prefer certification from specific credentialing bodies. Be sure to research your state’s specific requirements prior to getting certified.

  • American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) – Phlebotomy Technician (PBT) certification
  • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) – Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
  • American Medical Technologists (AMT) – Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT)
  • National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) – Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
  • American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) – Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
  • American Certification Agency for Healthcare Professionals (ACA) – Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
  • National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT / MMCI) – National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT)
  • National Performance Specialists (NPS) – Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) under NPS
  • National Association of Phlebotomy Technician Professionals (NAPTP) – Phlebotomy Technician Certification

Depending on the type of phlebotomy certification you pursue, eligibility requirements will vary. For example, some credentialing bodies will require a certain number of blood draws, or a minimum hours requirement in the lab, before you are eligible to take the certification exam. In general, most phlebotomy certification pathways require the completion of a recognized training or postsecondary program.

Phlebotomy certification requirements

Whether or not phlebotomy certification is required will vary by state. For example, in California and Nevada, licensing or certification is a must for phlebotomists. Most states, however, do not have statewide certification requirements. Rather, some postsecondary education (a non-degree award) is the standard expectation.

Despite a lack of formal requirements, many employers express a strong preference for phlebotomists with a professional credential under their belts. As previously discussed, this level of certification validates one’s skill sets in the field and ensures they are fit to provide compassionate, safe, and effective care.

Becoming a certified phlebotomist in Connecticut

As of this writing, the state of Connecticut does not require phlebotomists to be certified or licensed.

However, to be recognized by the state’s health department, employers can require that phlebotomists be certified by one of the following organizations:

Additionally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost all employers will require phlebotomists who have completed a postsecondary training program, ensuring they have the foundational techniques and knowledge needed to work in a clinical setting.

If you are looking to become a phlebotomist in the state of Connecticut or even advance in your current role, it is also recommended that you pursue your phlebotomy certification. Certification will vastly improve your job prospects, as well as your future earning potential.

Today, most modern laboratories and health care clinics will not hire a phlebotomist without some level of certification. On the other hand, if you are a nationally certified phlebotomist, you can be employed at any laboratory, clinic, or hospital.

How to prepare for the phlebotomy certification exam

Phlebotomy certification exams typically include written and practical components. To prepare for certification, therefore, phlebotomists typically need some extent of classroom education and clinical experience. A postsecondary Phlebotomy certificate program can provide you with just this, bolstering you for successful completion of any certification exam.

Phlebotomy certificate programs involve both classroom instruction and hands-on training, preparing you for a flourishing career. At Goodwin, you can achieve the skills below in as few as 15 weeks’ time:

  • Perform venipuncture and capillary blood collection with precision and accuracy
  • Label, transport, and process specimens in compliance with OSHA and CLIA standards
  • Record and manage specimen data using electronic lab information systems
  • Maintain infection control, safety, and quality assurance during medical procedures and handling of lab samples
  • Help patients feel comfortable, easing anxieties and teaching them about phlebotomy procedures
  • Collaborate with other medical staff (nurses, medical technologists, and other care team members)

Goodwin’s Phlebotomy certificate program combines small-group lab instruction with patient-centered best practices. Students learn how to anticipate patients’ needs, maintain strict safety and hygiene protocols, as well as communicate and empathize with patients every step of the way.

Earn your phlebotomy certificate at Goodwin

The Phlebotomy certificate program at Goodwin University is designed with your success in mind. We can help prepare you for professional certification in phlebotomy in a matter of weeks!

For those who are looking to get even more out of their phlebotomy training, too, the Patient Care Associate (PCA) certificate program is a great alternative. In addition to hands-on phlebotomy training, PCA students gain:

  • Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training
  • EKG training
  • Robust internship experience in phlebotomy
  • Eligibility to sit for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam—through the National Health Career Association—after graduation

The Patient Care Associate program is a great way to gain valuable phlebotomy experience as well as other, versatile skills to utilize in patient care. In addition to positioning you for professional phlebotomy certification, this program can also help you stand out to healthcare employers due to your well-rounded skill set.

 

Call Goodwin University at 800-889-3282 to learn about our Phlebotomy training programs, or visit us online to see how we can help you earn your phlebotomy certification in next to no time at all.