How to Become a Phlebotomist in Idaho
A phlebotomist is the important medical professional who draws blood for medical purposes. This role also includes processing the blood, providing quality patient care, following safety precautions and entering data. Your exact job duties could vary by your place of employment and the purpose of the blood collections, but you know that you’ll be helping patients and contributing an important role within the medical field. There are plenty of places for you to train as a phlebotomist and work in the field in Idaho.
Requirements for Becoming a Phlebotomist in Idaho
The state of Idaho requires that you take an accredited training course in phlebotomy before you can work in this role. You can find these through community colleges, universities and technical schools that offer them. Some courses take place in person, while some are offered through online learning. Certification is not necessary in the state but is worth considering.
Training Courses in Idaho
These are some of the phlebotomy courses available to train you in Idaho:
- Idaho Medical Academy: The eight-week phlebotomy technician course and certification takes place in Boise. It includes classroom learning with simulated clinical experience and includes the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) exam for certification.
- Idaho State University:The phlebotomy technician training includes classroom lessons that take place during the evening in Pocatello, in addition to 40 hours of drawing blood in a clinical setting. The course prepares you for the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT) exam for certification.
- College of Western Idaho: The 10-week phlebotomy and specimen processing course combines classroom training in Nampa with online learning and in-class skills labs. It prepares you for the American Medical Technologists (AMT) exam.
Before you begin, make sure that a phlebotomy training course will meet Idaho’s training requirements.
Certification for Becoming a Phlebotomist in Idaho
Certification is not required to start working in this role in Idaho. However, you should still consider certification. The state requires you to take an accredited training course, which will prepare you to sit for one of the certification exams. Also, certification can provide a valuable credential to boost your chances of employment and higher pay, and some Idaho employers may require it even though the state does not. You can become certified through different organizations, including the AMT, the ASPT or the NCCT.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
As a phlebotomist in Idaho, you could expect to make a higher salary than the national average for this profession. The average hourly rate for Idaho phlebotomists is $13.28, while the average yearly salary is $34,546, according to Indeed.
This is also a growing field, which could mean more employment opportunities over time. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states a projected growth rate of 23 percent for this occupation from 2018 to 2028. This is much higher than the average growth rate across all occupations.
Working as a Phlebotomist in Idaho
You have various options of workplaces with a career as a phlebotomist. This necessary profession works in various medical settings including clinical labs, research labs, doctor’s offices, hospitals, plasma centers, dialysis centers, blood donation centers and research facilities. The BLS explains that the top employers are hospitals and labs.
If you become a phlebotomist, you will have a rewarding role in the medical field. You will be helping patients with their bloodwork, which is an important part of the medical field and a patient’s health. In Idaho, you can take a quick training course to get started as a phlebotomist, and certification is optional but helpful to your career prospects.