Becoming a Phlebotomist in Minnesota

Phlebotomists are probably among the lesser-known professionals in the healthcare field. However, they play a big part in helping hospitals and doctors’ offices function from day to day. That’s true because these trained professionals bear responsibility for drawing blood samples from patients. In addition, phlebotomists label and catalog those samples for future use. They also perform a variety of essential secondary tasks and help safeguard both patients and the rest of the medical staff.

Experienced phlebotomists are paid well for their work. This is especially true in Minnesota, where the average salary exceeds the national average by several thousand dollars a year. Want to learn more about what it takes to get a job as a Minnesota phlebotomist? Just keep reading this brief guide. It contains everything you need to know to get started on your way.

Training Process for Phlebotomists in Minnesota

Some states require you to meet national certification standards before you can work as a phlebotomist. People living in Minnesota don’t have to fulfill such a requirement. However, like all other healthcare workers in the state who make contact with patients, prospective phlebotomists must pass a criminal background check.

It’s also highly recommended that you go through some sort of rigorous phlebotomy training before beginning your job search. There are important reasons for this recommendation. First, phlebotomists must have an understanding a wide range of subjects in order to carry out their daily tasks. In addition to drawing blood, these tasks include:

• Understanding the basics of human anatomy and physiology
• Accurately entering patient data into a computer system
• Accurately using the medical terminology associated with phlebotomy
• Following current guidelines on medical law and medical ethics
• Taking the steps needed to protect patient confidentiality at all times

Prospective employers won’t expect to have to train their new phlebotomist candidates. Instead, they’ll expect any serious candidates to have solid grounding in all aspects of the job. A high-quality training program helps ensure that you meet these expectations.

Phlebotomy Training Options

Minnesotans have a variety of options for phlebotomy training. A short list of the state’s programs includes:

• The Lake Superior College Phlebotomy Certificate Program – To enter this program, you must demonstrate basic competency in math, English and reading. To earn your certificate, you must gain a total of 16 college credits. Courses you must take as part of your work include basic lab skills, phlebotomy collection skills and procedures, and a phlebotomy internship. You must also choose from additional courses such as medical ethics and law and health-related human anatomy and physiology.
• Anoka Technical College Health Technology Certificate Program – This program provides training in several different healthcare specializations, including phlebotomy. To gain your certificate, you must earn a total of 26 credits. You can select phlebotomy-related courses to meet this requirement and complete the program. All told, you’ll receive about 40 hours of classroom instruction. In addition, you’ll log about 100 hours in practical training.
• The St. Catherine University Phlebotomy Certificate Program – This program includes two separate courses. In the five-credit Phlebotomy course, you’ll learn all of the basic skills you need to work as a phlebotomist. In the two-credit Phlebotomy Clinical Experience Course, you’ll put your skills to the test in a supervised setting.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

Phlebotomists in Minnesota enjoy a slightly higher annual income compared to the national average. The average annual salary for phlebotomists in Minnesota is $39,860, which is above the national average of $38,530. The top 10% of phlebotomists in Minnesota earn $48,930 or more, which, while lucrative, is slightly below the national top earners who make $51,610 or more. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area stands out as a particularly high-paying region for phlebotomists within the state.

National vs. Minnesota Annual Wages for Phlebotomists

Regional Annual Wages for Phlebotomists in Minnesota

Phlebotomists Employment Trends in Minnesota

In Minnesota, the employment landscape for phlebotomists is expected to see a 15% growth from 2020 to 2030, with the number of employed phlebotomists rising from 1,730 to 1,990. This growth is indicative of a healthy demand for phlebotomists in the state. Annually, there are projected to be 240 job openings for phlebotomists in Minnesota, which includes positions due to both new job growth and replacements. In comparison, the national employment for phlebotomists is projected to grow by 8% from 2022 to 2032, with an estimated 19,500 job openings each year across the United States.

Employment Trends for Phlebotomists

Sources of Data:

• For Minnesota: Projections Central’s 2020-2030 long-term projections, which provide state-specific employment trends and projections for various occupations.
• For the United States: The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2022-2032 employment projections, which offer national data on occupational employment trends and projections.

Employment Forecast for Phlebotomists

Things are looking good for people who hope to find work as phlebotomists. Federal figures show that this field will gain close to 30,000 job openings during the ten-year period ending in 2028. That’s an increase of roughly 23 percent in just a decade’s time.

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