Becoming a Phlebotomist in Tennessee

Interested in working as a medical technician? You might want to consider your career options in the field of phlebotomy. Phlebotomists are the technicians responsible for drawing blood samples and preparing those samples for further use. You’ll find them working for a range of healthcare providers, including doctors and hospitals. You’ll also find them working in blood testing laboratories.

In Tennessee, there are plenty of opportunities for anyone planning to work in phlebotomy. But before you can look for a job, you’ll need to find a reliable source for training. In addition, you may need to seek out some kind of phlebotomist certification. Here are some more details on what it takes to enter the phlebotomy field in Tennessee.

Tennessee Guidelines for Training and Certification

Like more than 40 other states across the country, Tennessee has no statewide licensing process for phlebotomists. The state also has no set procedure for phlebotomist certification. However, in Tennessee, you will need to enroll in a training program that meets the standards of groups such as:

• The American Society of Clinical Pathologists, or ASCP
• The National Center for Competency Testing, or NCCT
• The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Services, or NAACLS
• The National Healthcareer Association, or NHA
• American Medical Technologists, or AMT

Each of these accrediting organizations has its own specific requirements for quality training. However, as a rule, they focus on the skills and knowledge that form the core of the phlebotomy profession. Topics you’ll need to be familiar with include:

• Blood-drawing procedures
• Proper labeling of blood samples
• Appropriate use of phlebotomy-related terminology
• Physiology and anatomy
• Current guidelines for the safe handling of bodily fluids
• Current guidelines for the protection of patient confidentiality

You’ll learn much of what you need to know in a classroom setting. In addition, a well-rounded phlebotomy education includes hands-on experience in a realistic work environment. You must be 18 to enroll in the typical phlebotomy program in Tennessee. You must also show proof that you’ve graduated from high school or gotten your GED.

Possible Sources for Tennessee Phlebotomy Training

You’ll find phlebotomy training options in multiple cities across Tennessee. Your choices include programs such as:

• The Austin Peay State University Phlebotomy Technician Program – Austin Peay is located in Clarksville, TN. Its phlebotomy program prepares you to meet the training requirements set down by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists. The program covers the costs of your ASCP exam, as well as your costs for attending a CPR class. Spring and Fall enrollments are available.
• The Healthcare Institute Advanced Phlebotomy Program – The Healthcare Institute is located in Memphis. Its program prepares you to meet the standards established by the National Healthcareer Association. If you attend full-time during the day, you can complete the program in six weeks. It takes eight weeks to complete your training while attending part-time in the evenings.
• Phlebotomy Training Specialists – This program is based in Nashville. It provides a total of 44 hours of phlebotomy training. Like all high-quality program providers, Phlebotomy Training Specialists prepares you to sit for a national certification exam. You can take classes during the day, at night or on the weekends.

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

In Tennessee, phlebotomists earn an average annual wage of $35,400, which is slightly below the national average of $38,530. The lowest 10% of earners in Tennessee make about $29,020, while the highest 10% earn approximately $44,320. According to the latest data, the highest-paying areas for phlebotomists in Tennessee include the Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin area, with median wages at $36,600, and Knoxville, where the top 10% can earn up to $45,960.

National vs. Tennessee Phlebotomist Salaries

Tennessee Phlebotomist Salaries by Region

Phlebotomists Employment Trends in Tennessee

In Tennessee, the employment of phlebotomists is expected to experience significant growth. As of 2020, there were 2,410 individuals employed as phlebotomists. By 2030, this number is projected to increase to 3,090, indicating a growth rate of 28%. This growth is substantially higher than the national average growth rate of 8% for the same period. Tennessee is also projected to have around 390 annual job openings for phlebotomists from 2020 to 2030, which includes new positions and replacements.

Table of Employment Trends Data for Tennessee

Sources of Data:

• Tennessee Data Source: The employment projections for Tennessee are sourced from Projections Central’s 2020-2030 long-term projections. Projections Central is a service that provides state-level employment projections which are developed by individual states and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

• United States Data Source: The national data for the United States is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2022-2032 employment projections.

What’s It Like to Work as a Phlebotomist in Tennessee?

Working as a phlebotomist in Tennessee involves performing critical tasks such as drawing blood for tests, transfusions, donations, or research. Phlebotomists in Tennessee are required to dispose of contaminated sharps and other biohazard fluids in accordance with laws and policies, organize and clean blood-drawing trays, and ensure all instruments are sterile. They must be skilled in various blood-drawing methods, including vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture, and match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.

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