Is Phlebotomy a Good Career
By: Lance Elmore; CMA & EMT-B
August 2023
Many people want to work in the medical field, and there are a plethora of opportunities one can pursue. Being a phlebotomist is a good career for an entry point into the field of medicine.
Phlebotomist Training & Education
One benefit of becoming a phlebotomist is that the training and education is fairly short. Most phlebotomy certifications are anywhere from 6 months to one year, depending on the training venue. For individuals who are looking to enter the medical field quickly, phlebotomy certification is a great choice. Once an individual completes a phlebotomy training course they can sit for the national certification exam to become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician or CPT. Phlebotomy can also be an integrated course in another field of medical study. Medical Assisting Certification (CMA), Registered Nursing (RN), Emergency Technician (EMT), or Paramedics all learn to draw blood as a part of their course of study. Many individuals work as a phlebotomist while they continue their medical education in these various fields.
Phlebotomy Settings
Phlebotomists can work in a variety of different settings with their skill set. Hospitals, Doctor’s Offices, labs, clinics, and plasma donation centers all employ phlebotomists as part of their medical team. Each setting can offer different opportunities for a phlebotomist to learn other skills outside of their certification. In hospitals, a phlebotomist may be required to draw Arterial Blood Gases or ABG’s, or draw a patient in the Emergency Room. A clinic might expand a phlebotomist’s skill by certifying them to start an intravenous line or IV. Laboratories may use a phlebotomist to help process patient samples, from centrifuging, urine dipstick, preparing specimen slides, or reporting results to physicians. Mobile phlebotomy is another setting a CPT could work. Mobile CPT’s travel to clinics, patients' homes, nursing facilities, or wellness events on job sites to draw blood. Mobile CPT’s then transport specimens to designated labs or hospitals for testing. Phlebotomists encounter many different patients in their daily duties. Having a strong, positive, and confident “bedside” manner is extremely important in your patient interactions. A CPT must learn to be comfortable with all ages of patients when drawing blood, as well as having the skill set to perform venipuncture on difficult patients.
Hours & Pay
Hours for a phlebotomist can vary depending on the work setting. In a hospital, a CPT could work overnights, whereas in a doctor's office they would probably have your typical daytime hours with no holidays or weekends. As of May 2021, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS places the national wage average for a phlebotomist at around 37,380/year. There are currently 11 states which pay above the national average with Hawaii being the highest at 59,000/year possibly. In comparison, CMA’s average is 37,100/year, EMT’s average is 30,00/year, Paramedics' average is 46,000/year and an RN’s yearly average is 75,330/year.
Saturated Field
Phlebotomy is a saturated field, often making it difficult for new graduates without experience to find a job. Since phlebotomy certification training and education is fairly short to finish, many people pursue this route. However, even though the field is saturated, there is also has a high turnover. Many CPT’s use phlebotomy as a stepping stone to further their career or education in the medical field, moving on to be Paramedics, RNs, Medical Technicians, or Physician Assistants (PA’s). The high turnover does allow balance for the over-saturation.
Limitations
If you are an individual looking for medical or career advancement, phlebotomy can be limited without further education. After several years you may find the need for a more challenging career or opportunity. Regardless of your career or educational goals, phlebotomy is an excellent entry point to test the waters of medicine. Phlebotomy is an opportunity to help patients, interact with other medical professionals, and discover the amazing possibilities that exist in the medical field. If you would like to learn more about phlebotomy certification programs check out our online phlebotomy certification course outline.
