Four States in the U.S. That Requires a Phlebotomy License

Phlebotomy  State License | Phlebotomy Now

Key Takeaways:

• In the United States, four states require a license to be a phlebotomist: California, Washington, Louisiana, and Nevada.
• Each state has its own requirements, but generally, you will need to graduate from an approved phlebotomy training program and pass a certification exam.
• Some states also require work experience.

To be eligible for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) certification, you must have a high school diploma or GED and complete a training program or have one year of work experience in the past five years. You will also need to pass a written exam and complete continuing education credits to renew your certification.

The Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) certification requires a similar diploma or GED, but you must have completed a phlebotomy program within the last four years and have performed at least 50 blood draws and 10 skin pricks. Alternatively, you can qualify with 1,040 hours of work experience as a phlebotomist in the last three years.

This article will talk about the four U.S. states that need a Phlebotomy license. It will also explain how to get a Phlebotomy license.

Continue reading to learn about Phlebotomy Technician certifications and licenses.

Certifications for Phlebotomy Technician

Earn a certificate to prove your training and qualification as a Phlebotomy Technician. To take the CPT exam and become certified, you must meet the eligibility phlebotomy requirements.

Education Requirements

You’re required to have a high school diploma or a GED certificate.

Training Program or Work Experience Requirements

• To qualify, you need training from an approved learning institution.
• Suppose you’ve received formal medical training in the health field while training or serving in any military branch. If you finished your training in the past five years, you’ve already fulfilled the educational requirements. To prove that your military training is credible, you also need relevant work experience.
• Work experience includes at least one year of experience working in a health services field approved by the NHA. To get this certification, you need recent hands-on work experience completed in the past three years.

Evidence of Skills

To get certified, you need to do 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks. To get your certificate, you must show proof of the blood draws for the examination. Live persons must perform the blood draws.

• Exam: The certification exam has 80 computer-based questions.
• Cost: $135
• To renew, you need 9 credits every 3 years for continuing education.

Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers the certificate to Phlebotomy Technicians. NHA is one of the most popular names in allied health certifications. Employers recognize and seek the CPT certification. Adding the certificate to your resume will help boost your employability.

Eligibility

You’ll need a high school diploma or GED to complete a formal phlebotomy training program within the last five years. If you have a high school diploma or GED and one year of supervised phlebotomy work experience in the past three years, you can also qualify.

• Exam: The exam has 100 computer-based questions.
• Cost: $117
• Renewal: You must complete ten continuing education hours every two years for renewal.

Registered Phlebotomy Technician Certification

Phlebotomy technicians can also get the Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) certification.

Eligibility for RPT certification

As an applicant, you must meet one of the following to be eligible to apply for an RPT certification exam.

Education

• To apply, you need to have finished (or be about to finish) an approved Phlebotomy program within the last four years.
• You need to have done at least 50 blood draws and 10 skin pricks from people.
• Please request a transcript from your school to show completion of the phlebotomy program.
• You should have proof that you have done at least 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures on people.

Work Experience

• To qualify, you need 1,040 hours of work as a phlebotomy technician in the last 3 years. This is like working full-time for 6 months. To do this job, you need experience in taking blood samples and processing specimens. You also need good communication skills and the ability to do office tasks.
• To qualify, the applicant needs experience with 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures on people.
• Phlebotomy work experience is only valid if it comes from an approved healthcare facility. This facility must collect, examine, or transport human body materials.
• The applicant should have a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or equal.

In the past three years, I have worked full-time as a phlebotomist for six months. I did 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures on people during that time.

• Exam for certification: The exam has 200 computer-based questions.
• Cost of certificate: $125
• Renewal: You can renew your phlebotomy certification yearly for a fee or every three years at no cost if you take 24 continuing education credits.

Phlebotomy License Requirements in California

• To get a Phlebotomy license in California, you must pass an exam from an approved California phlebotomy certification organization. Earlier, we talked about three types of exams at approved Phlebotomy certification organizations.
• When you get a Phlebotomy Technician I license, you can do venipunctures and skin punctures. If you have a Phlebotomy Technician I license from CDPH, and you have 1040 hours of field experience in the last five years, you can apply for a Phlebotomy Technician II license.
• To show you’ve done 20 arterial punctures, get a letter from an approved CDPH practitioner. If you have a Phlebotomy Technician II license, you can do venipuncture, arterial punctures, and skin punctures.

Becoming a Licensed Phlebotomist in Washington

To become a certified Phlebotomist in Washington, you need to pass a competency test by NPS. There are many certification agencies that you can choose to become certified with. After becoming certified, a phlebotomist needs to renew their certification every two years. They do this by completing Continuing Education. Employees can achieve this through on-the-job workshops or online education units.

Phlebotomy State License Requirements In Nevada

• Nevada recognizes phlebotomists as lab assistants. Phlebotomists must complete lab certification training. To become a certified phlebotomist in Nevada, you need a diploma before applying. The program needs 80 hours of classroom learning and 40 hours of hands-on lab training.
• The program also includes at least 200 successful blood draws. Nevada allows work in a blood bank to count as clinical experience, unlike other states.

Becoming a Licensed Phlebotomist in Louisiana

• To get started, you need to take a certification exam approved by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME). Then, you should send your exam scores and all required documents to the LSBME. You will need to provide a passport-sized photo and signed authorization forms for background checks.
• Pay the phlebotomist licensure fee and Log into http://www.lsbme.la.gov/  to check your application’s progress and verify approval.

FAQs

Do you need a phlebotomy license in Texas?

In Texas, phlebotomy technicians don’t need a license to work. But, many employers need Phlebotomists to pass a private organization’s test. This helps prove their skills in drawing blood and makes them more trustworthy.

Where are phlebotomists needed most?

Hospitals, labs, and doctor’s offices need phlebotomists the most. Phlebotomists are also needed at blood banks and blood donation centers.

Do phlebotomists need to be licensed in New York State?

No, phlebotomists are not required to be licensed in New York State. It helps to have a certification, but it’s not legally mandated. Phlebotomists may collect blood and receive urine samples from patients in the state.

Conclusion

So, you’ve learned about the different paths to becoming a phlebotomist, whether you need a license or certification depends on the state you want to work in. This article focused on the four states that require a license: California, Washington, Louisiana, and Nevada.

Remember, even if your state doesn’t require a license, getting a certification from a reputable organization like the NHA can boost your resume and make you a more attractive candidate to employers.

Considering a career in phlebotomy? Take the first step and research the requirements in your state!

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