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3. What Phlebotomy Certification Is Best

Although most states do not require a license to practice as a phlebotomy technician, many employers will prefer or even require their phlebotomy technicians to hold an industry certification.

There are a few well-known and respected industry certifications that phlebotomy technicians may choose, including:

Phlebotomy Technician (PBT)

Offered through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), this certification is often considered the “gold standard” among phlebotomy professionals and their employers. To be certified as a PBT, you must have your high school diploma and have completed an accredited phlebotomy training program within the past five years. Your training must include both classroom learning and clinical skills training. Additionally, you must have successfully performed 100 unaided blood collections including venipunctures and skin punctures. You may also be eligible for this certification with full-time work experience at an approved lab. Once certified, you will need to complete continuing education credits and renew your certification every three years.

Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

Offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), this certification is widely recognized in the industry, which makes it a great choice for phlebotomy technicians. To be certified as a CPT, you must have a high school diploma and either have completed an accredited phlebotomy technician training program within the past five years or have supervised work experience (i.e., one year of experience within past three years or two years of experience within the past five years). Additionally, you must have successfully performed a minimum of 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live individuals. Once certified, you will need to complete continuing education credits and renew your certification every two years.

U.S. Career Institutes Phlebotomy Technician certificate program graduates may sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam with the cost of the exam, study guide, and practice test included with tuition; however, graduates will need hands-on experience completing a minimum of 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks or finger sticks on live individuals, following completion of the program, to receive certification. This experience is not included in the program. Graduates must complete this experience within 90 days of passing the CPT exam and are responsible for securing their own experience site. Students must contact local blood testing providers (e.g., Labcorp or Quest), hospitals or doctor’s offices to seek out live experience opportunities.

Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT)

Offered through American Medical Technologists (AMT), this certification is another great option for phlebotomy technicians. There are a few certification routes you may take to earn your RPT.

• Option 1: Complete an accredited phlebotomy technician training program within the past four years and successfully perform 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures on live individuals.
• Option 2: Complete 40 in-classroom hours, 160 hours of full-time work experience as a phlebotomy technician within the past three years, and have successfully performed 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures on live individuals.
• Option 3: Complete 1,040 hours of acceptable work experience as a phlebotomy technician within the past three years and have successfully performed 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures on live individuals.

Once certified, you will need to complete continuing education credits and renew your certification every three years.

Certified Phlebotomist Technician (CPT) or Certified Phlebotomist Technologist (CPT-T)

Offered through the National Phlebotomy Association (NPA), this certification offers national recognition and focused continuing education resources strictly on phlebotomy. To be certified, you must complete a format phlebotomy training program that includes 160 hours of classroom learning as well as at least 200 hours of practical experience with a mannequin, live individual, or both. Once certified, you will need to complete continuing education credits and renew your certification every year.