Phlebotomy Training in Washington
Phlebotomy, otherwise referred to as venipuncture, is the art and science of drawing blood from a patient for medical reasons. The field of phlebotomy provides an excellent entry-level opportunity into the healthcare field. A phlebotomy technician is specially trained to work in a clinical setting to collect blood for various purposes including blood transfusion and testing for underlying diseases. In addition to drawing blood, a phlebotomy is also trained for organized data entry, data processing etc.
The field of phlebotomy is clearly a very exciting one, and has a high growth potential, offering an overabundance of career opportunities for people entering the field of medicine. If you are contemplating taking this career path, you might want to factor in all your training options for you to be fully equipped to penetrate this exciting career path,
Phlebotomy training in Washington can take 4 months up to one year depending on the program you choose. Most schools offer a wide gamut of course work and extensive classroom work including the right lab procedures. You should take a course that equips you with the knowledge and skills, and prepares you in the legality of collecting blood, safety in blood collection, anatomy, physiology, and blood composition, lab methods, together with blood collection and sampling techniques as well as practical experience requirements. When looking for the phlebotomy program in the Washington state that suits your needs perfectly, you have to be certain that the program is fully accredited by an accrediting agency. This agency could be any of the following: –
- The American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)
- The American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- The American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)
- The American Association of Medical Personnel (AAMP)
- The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA)
Taking your precious time to ensure that the program you plan to pursue is recognized by at least one of the above mentioned agencies will give you the peace of mind of knowing that it meets the requirements and standards that potential employers are looking for. Some bit of research will without a shadow of a doubt increase your odds of employment upon successful completion of your training in phlebotomy. It is further advisable that you verify that the program you want to pursue is recognized by the state where you plan to work after graduating. Be advised that most of these accrediting agencies expect members to attain some given number of hours of continuing education on annual basis, for re-training and to be able to keep up with new technologies, practices and strategies.
Washington residents that are looking to embark on the path to an exciting career in the allied health fields, are taking notice of phlebotomy. Experts in this field are responsible for performing vein punctures on people in a medical setting in efforts to collect blood specimens for testing and donations. There is no legal requirement for people to have formal training or certification to work in this field, but it may hard to find an employer willing to take a chance on you without these skills.
Prerequisites for Phlebotomy Courses in Washington
To be accepted into a dynamic facility that provides phlebotomy training in Washington, you will need to have a GED certificate, high school diploma, and be at least 18 years of age. Additionally, you need to be in good health, have documentation of current vaccinations, or be willing to have them upon acceptance into the program. Most schools will ask you to take a two-part evaluation for tuberculosis. If you plan to take classes at a university in Washington, additional prerequisites may include competency test in math, reading and writing prior to enrollment.
Description of Phlebotomy Training in Washington
Once accepted by a school, you will be ready to begin your phlebotomy classes. Basic courses will cover medical terminology, basic labeling and storage practices of blood, and the legality and confidentiality issues associated with performing this task. Human anatomy will be covered, and issues concerning infection and management control will be a large part of the training.
One of the most essential parts of a phlebotomy course in Washington, is the actual practice time you will get in a laboratory setting on subjects. Performing successful skin pricks is the heart and soul of makes a phlebotomist truly remarkable, and a certain number of these are required for certification in this field.
Expected Phlebotomist Salary in Washington
Phlebotomists in Washington can expect to earn anywhere from $30,000 per year up to $35,000 annually. Wages are highly dependent on the area in which you choose to live and work, so do your homework before committing to a final location.
Top Phlebotomy Institutions in Washington
Phlebotomy Training in Everett, Washington
Everett Community College
2000 Tower Street
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-9100
Phlebotomy Programs in Seattle, Washington
University of Washington
Department of Laboratory Medicine
Box 357110
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 598-0428
Shoreline Community College
16101 Greenwood Ave North
Shoreline, WA 98133
(206) 546-4101
Phlebotomy Programs in Renton, Washington
Pima Medical Institute
555 S. Renton Village Place Suite #110
Renton, WA 98057
(800) 477-7462
Phlebotomy Education in Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee Valley College
1300 Fifth Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 474-3382
Phlebotomy Classes in Lakewood, Washington
Clover Park Technical College
4500 Steilacoom Boulevard, SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
(253) 589-5625
Phlebotomy Courses in Toppenish, Washington
Heritage University CLS Program
3240 Fort Road
Toppenish, WA 98948
(509) 865-8642