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Phlebotomy Schools

It seems that phlebotomy schools are appearing all over the country now as universities and other educational interests realize the great need for entry-level workers in the health care field. These schools essentially train people to work as medical assistants. There are different levels of training available for these assistants. Those who specialize in phlebotomy mainly draw blood and care for the samples. Fully trained medical assistants also draw blood but experience more interaction with patients and other medical professionals.

Many local community colleges offer programs in phlebotomy.  Some offer short certification programs while some offer 2 year degrees.

  • Miller-Motte College
    • Cary, NC
    • Charleston, SC
    • Greenville, NC
    • Jacksonville, NC
    • Raleigh, NC
    • Wilmington, NC
  • Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC
  • Shoreline Community College, Shoreline, WA
  • Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, IL
  • MTI College, Sacramento, CA
  • Columbus State Community College, Columbus, OH
  • El Paso Community College , El Paso, TX
  • Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO
  • Phoenix College, Phoenix, AR
  • Delgado Community College, New Orleans, LA
  • Houston Community College, Houston, TX
  • Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA
  • Cape Fear Community College, Wilmington, NC
  • Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, NY
  • Barton County Community College, Great Bend, KS
  • Portland Community College, Portland, OR
  • Cascadia Community College, Bothell, WA
  • Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD

This is just a sample of the community colleges offering phlebotomy.  Go to Campus Explorer for a complete list.

In the following article, you will learn about:
• The names of several phlebotomy schools
• The locations of those schools
• The level of training that they provide
• How long training will take
• Whether they instruct their students online, on campus or in a mixture of environments

1. Keiser University
Keiser University is one of many online phlebotomy schools that take advantage of the Internet’s ability to allow access to all the information that trainees need. The instructors here train students to become fully trained medical assistants and grant them an Associate of Science degree in Medical Assisting after they complete 60.5 academic credits during a rigorous two-year course. While most of the training and studies occur online, students are required to complete two externships before they receive their degree.

2. Pima Medical Institute
This school is located in Denver, Colorado and also in two locations in Arizona as well as in Las Vegas, Nevada. The teachers at this institute train their students to become phlebotomy technicians over a three-month period. During this time, students complete ten college credits in first aid, anatomy and phlebotomy. The training is hands on. When students graduate, they receive a phlebotomy technician’s certificate.

3. Kaplan University
This online university goes beyond the requirements of some phlebotomy schools and trains students to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Assisting. In order to obtain this degree, students will work mostly online but must also complete an externship and acquire certification in CPR. During two years of courses, students will learn about pharmacology, and the diseases of the human body.

4. Spencerian College
Though this program is located on two different campuses in Kentucky, it also offers distance education as a supplement to its courses in phlebotomy. If you attend on campus, you can choose between night and day courses. The night courses put you on track to complete 33 college credits and receive a phlebotomy certificate in nine months. Taking the daytime courses will accomplish the same in just six months. Graduates from one of these phlebotomy schools are ready to work in hospitals, doctor’s offices and other environments.

5. Illinois School of Health
This Chicago-based program spends three months preparing students to work in entry-level posts as phlebotomy technicians. Courses are taught on campus in a variety of subjects. Besides courses in anatomy and physiology, students must also study the specifics of blood collection and the equipment that is required in this work. Before graduating, students are required to complete an externship at a recognized health care facility.

6. Phoenix College
This college sits in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. The instructors here prepare students to receive a phlebotomy certificate over the course of a few months as they acquire 8.5 college credits in various prerequisite and anatomical courses. Notably, this college requires that each student complete 120 hours of clinical experience before graduation. These 120 hours must occur in three straight forty hour weeks at a health care facility in the metropolitan area.

7. Herzing University
Unlike some phlebotomy schools, Herzing University offers two separate series of courses in medical assisting. Each series of courses is taught online, but each ends with an externship and a proctor preparation program that is in the real world. At the end, one series of courses ends with the award of a Diploma in Medical Assisting and the other with an Associate of Science in Medical Assisting.

The Diploma in Medical Assisting requires anywhere from 12-20 months to complete, depending on a student’s class load. Students complete a total of 43 college credits for this diploma. The training enables them to work in hospitals, offices and laboratories.

The Associate of Science degree requires students to complete 60 college credits over the course of 16-24 months. The degree prepares students for the same jobs as the diploma, but enables them to advance farther in their field.

The great variety of programs and the multiple options available to students makes it easy to consider this line of work as a new career. In order to apply to any one of these phlebotomy schools for any of the degree programs mentioned, you should have completed high school and received a diploma or its equivalent.

Phlebotomy Technician Salary

While there are many top-paying medical professions in high demand, the phlebotomy technician salary is one that is both reachable and fairly profitable. Even within the medical field, this profession is more than attainable for someone who has the determination and perseverance to complete a little bit of schooling and training. After all the courses have been completed, there is competition within the job market, of course; but a dedicated job-seeker can soon find comfortable employment in a hospital, doctor’s office, etc.

A typical salary for a professional phlebotomist will average around $29,000 per year in the United States. In some areas of the country a phlebotomist may expect just under $20,000, but in others the average is nearly $45,000. Of course, location and the ups and downs of the job market can influence the expected starting salary in any place, but most phlebotomists can hope to earn enough to reasonably support themselves and their families.

To become a phlebotomy technician in many states, one must take a training program at an accredited school. After the training is completed, a phlebotomy certification exam must be taken and passed. Certification is not required in every state; however, as in any highly competitive medical career, certification will greatly improve the chances of getting a job even in states that do not require it. Where certification is not required, on-the-job training will be provided for applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent.

There are a number of places to take the training program. Many technical colleges and vocational schools offer phlebotomy courses that last only a few weeks, culminating in the completion of the certification exam. Most community colleges also offer courses in phlebotomy. Some of the top phlebotomy schools in America include:

 Kaplan College and Kaplan University
 ATA College
 Newbridge College
 National College
 Everest Institute

While these are the top schools for phlebotomy training on campus, some schools also offer online courses; however, online courses do not provide the hands-on experience that many employers would expect a potential employee to possess.

Some of the most important tips for phlebotomist job seekers are tips that anyone in almost any profession can use. A well-written resume is a must; there are websites where one can post a resume and it is also handy for an applicant to keep a resume in a purse, briefcase, etc. just in case. It is also a good idea to know contacts within the profession on a personal basis; friends or acquaintances are more likely to help a potential employer and a potential employee get in touch on a professional level. Finally, an interview that is well prepared for is an interview that is likely to go smoothly.

As with any job, a hopeful phlebotomist can only earn the goals to which he/she aspires through dedication and persistence. Whether it is the phlebotomy technician salary that is the motivation for a job, or the simple desire to help people in need on a medical level, it only takes some commitment to start a career as a phlebotomy technician.