How to Become a Phlebotomist in Ohio
The healthcare field attracts people who are devoted to helping others. Doctors and nurses are high profile workers in healthcare, but the industry couldn’t function without other allied roles, including phlebotomy. A phlebotomist is specially trained to collect blood samples from patients and prepare and label them for analysis and testing. Phlebotomists collect blood from capillaries, veins and arteries while keeping safety and hygiene protocols in mind. They work with patients with a broad variety of health conditions.
Requirements for Becoming a Phlebotomist in Ohio
Phlebotomy does not require a university degree, but even though there aren’t any state-level licensing requirements for Ohio phlebotomists, most employers will require applicants to have completed a phlebotomy course and sat for a certifying exam.
Phlebotomy courses are widely available throughout the state and require applicants to have a high school diploma or a GED equivalent. Courses often require applicants to have a clear tuberculosis screening and to undergo a physical examination.
Training Courses and Educational Programs in Ohio
A good phlebotomy course will give you both classroom education and practical experience working with real patients. You’ll also learn how to handle tricky blood draws, how to adhere to infection control protocols and how to comply with legal requirements around the processing of patient information. Courses are widely available at locations across Ohio. Here are a few examples:
- The Columbus based Ohio School of Phlebotomy offers a six-week course and a four-week accelerated course, both of which have options for day or evening classes. The course will have you drawing blood on your first day of classes, and has established relationships with outside clinics where you can get practical phlebotomy experience in a clinical setting. At the end of your course, you receive a certificate of completion and have the option to sit for an accreditation exam.
- The Ohio Medical Career College in Dayton offers a three-week daytime program and a six-week evening program. You’ll learn how to perform various types of blood draws, including skin puncture, venipuncture and vacutainer. Training also includes anatomy and physiology, infection control and interpersonal communication. The course offers the option to sit for the National Healthcareer Association accreditation exam.
- The Boardman Training Center in Boardman, Ohio, offers evening and daytime classes with small class sizes and trains students in all aspects of phlebotomy. Financing options are available. Upon passing the course, students can take the National Healthcareer Association exam.
Certification for Becoming a Phlebotomist in Ohio
Ohio does not license or certify phlebotomists at a state level, but most employers prefer to hire people who have completed a phlebotomy course and have passed an exam administered by one of the national accreditation bodies, such as the American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians, the National Healthcareer Association, the National Center for Competency Testing and the National Phlebotomy Association. These national exams allow you to carry the initials CPT for certified phlebotomy technician after your name. CPTs are also required to complete continuing education every two years to maintain their accreditation.
Career Outlook and Salary Expectations
With projected growth of 23 percent by 2028, the job outlook for phlebotomists is strong across the United States. In Ohio, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that beginning phlebotomists can earn a median wage of $12.53 per hour, with more experienced workers earning a median wage of $22.39 per hour. The annual median income for Ohio phlebotomists is $34,370.
Working as a Phlebotomist in Ohio
Phlebotomists are required anywhere that medical treatment, training or diagnostics occurs, from hospitals to nursing homes. Drug testing labs, blood donation facilities and even prisons can require phlebotomists. With strong job prospects, a skilled phlebotomist is likely to be able to find work in most areas of the state.