As a surgical technician, you see patients during critical junctures in their health, and you help doctors and nurses ensure that they recover successfully. It’s a deeply rewarding role for those who want to work in operating rooms without years upon years of medical school debt. Of course, it also means you have a specific area of patient care–and for those who want a more hands-on role with patients, it can be frustrating. That’s where a phlebotomy certification can make a world of difference.
Not only do you get to interact with patients in a whole new way, you also get a specialized, highly prized skillset on your resume.
If you’re a surgical tech ready for growth, here’s what a phlebotomy certification can offer you–and how to get one.
Why Surgical Tech Jobs Benefit from a Phlebotomy Certification
As a surgical technician, everyone from surgeons to nurses to anesthesiologists count on you. You’re the one who makes their work possible, preparing the operating room for surgery, preparing the patient, arranging equipment and ensuring that surgeons have the tool they need when they need it.
But there’s one area where you can’t assist surgeons: drawing blood. Unless you’re certified as a phlebotomy technician, that is.
A certified phlebotomist is responsible for working with blood–preparing a patient for blood draws, drawing blood, ensuring blood is stored correctly, and transporting blood samples. It’s a seemingly simple procedure that’s critical to healthcare, especially in surgery. After all, blood tests are used in 80% of diagnoses in modern medicine, and they’re incredibly useful for patients who can’t communicate.
How to Get a Phlebotomy Certification
For surgical technicians interested in job growth beyond what’s available as a basic surgical tech, phlebotomy is an exciting avenue for patient care–and better pay as a specialist. Better still, it’s relatively easy to get a phlebotomy certification.
In order to get certified, you have to pass a certification exam. At the National Association of Phlebotomy Technician Professionals, our exam is a 100-question test covering topics from order of draw to HIPAA to OSHA regulations. In order to register, you must have at least 65 live blood draws within a two-year period, or you must be a recent graduate of a phlebotomy program (within the past six months) with at least 30 live blood draws.
Choosing the Best Phlebotomy Certification Course
Looking for a phlebotomy certification. Don’t just Google “phlebotomy certification near me”. As with other elements of your career, it pays to invest in a worthwhile credential over an easy one.
When you’re looking for a phlebotomy certification course, a national certification is your best bet. This ensures that your credentials will be recognized anywhere and you won’t need a new certification if you move to a different state. It also gives you better name recognition, which can make it easier to get hired for your phlebotomy skills.
You should also look for a certifying body with a strong code of ethics and rigorously defined scope of practice. These are both hallmarks of a program that cares about producing capable, ethical medical professionals.
While many programs are offered online, look for one that requires clinical practice as a prerequisite of certification or as part of the exam. An online exam won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to perform a blood draw in real life.
We are the Gold Standard in Phlebotomy Certification
Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Your phlebotomy certification is right around the corner.
Founded in 1998, we are the nation’s leading organization in certifying phlebotomists, and we’ve helped thousands of students gain the skills, knowledge, and expertise to excel in their fields. And now, we’d like to help you do the same. Click here to register and receive your exam prep materials.
