Phlebotomy Training and Careers in California
Whether it is in a doctors office, clinic or a hospital in California, a phlebotomist plays a vital role in these organizations. What a phlebotomist does is draw blood from either a person or in the case of a veterinarian practice, from an animal. However, if you are interested in phlebotomy training and careers in California, there are a few things you will need to know.
The first thing is that phlebotomists are regulated by the phlebotomy program, a department of the California Department of Public Health. All official requirements and certifications have to go directly through this branch of the CDPH.
In order to become a phlebotomist is the state of California, you have to meet a few requirements. First you must hold either a high school diploma or the equivalent GED. You also must have completed a state approved 40 hour phlebotomy training course. You have to have had at least 40 hours of phlebotomy practice, which has to include no less than 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures.
In addition, you must take and pass a state approved phlebotomy certification exam. Lastly you must apply for state certification to become a phlebotomist and pay the application fee, which is $100; this fee is non-refundable.
As far as what sort of salary you could potentially earn in the field of phlebotomy in California, an entry level phlebotomist salary may be as little as $20,000 to $27,000 per year. A phlebotomist salary for those with the certification of level 2 or level 3 can potentially reach $31,000 to $40,000 annually. Of course, these numbers are simply averages. In some specific situations, a phlebotomist with experience can earn slightly more.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the outlook for growth in the field of phlebotomy is quite encouraging. According to their projections, phlebotomy is expect to see a growth of around 10% in the next 7 years. These official numbers, however, are somewhat conservative considering other career outlook reporting agencies are looking to upward to a 20% growth through 2018.
The field of phlebotomy is growing and this career can be an excellent choice for someone who wants to delve into the field of medicine but doesn’t want to spend years doing it. With the right training and certification, you can become a phlebotomist in no time at all!