Unlike in most states, phlebotomy certification in California is required before you can work as a phlebotomist. This means that in addition to a training course, students must pass the national certification exam administered by one of the major medical assistant certification organizations. Phlebotomists are responsible for maintaining a safe and sterile environment for their patients and for themselves, while properly drawing blood for testing. Quality controls must be strictly adhered to so that the correct samples are labeled and transported to the proper lab, and so that the results are associated with the correct patient.
The basic training course for phlebotomy certification in California requires that students complete very specific criteria. You must have a GED or high school diploma. Accredited programs will have minimum hours for real training (40 hours) and approved classroom instruction (40 hours). Additionally, you must complete 10 successful skin punctures, 50 successful venipunctures, and then you must pass the state exam.
Classroom work will include anatomy, physiology, and courses on the specifics of the circulatory system. Additionally, phlebotomists must learn how to collect blood specimen, avoid risks and complications involved with blood draws, and complete courses in skin puncture procedures as well as venipuncture hands-on training. Much of the training course work will prepare students for the state and national exams, as well as the demands of a job as a phlebotomist.
Another requirement of phlebotomy certification in California is that students complete a clinical externship in a hospital, clinic, or lab where blood work is required. Students need 40 hours of hands-on training in the field.
Jobs for phlebotomists are popping up all over the place as the demand for medical care grows. The elderly population of the United States is getting larger, which means that demand for screenings, testing, and other medical services is going to rise in the coming decade. This projection is well understood by medical service providers as well as training programs and the push to train highly qualified medical professionals has already begun. Becoming a phlebotomist may completely change your life for the better, with a steady job and career opportunities opening up all across the state of California, as well as all around the country.
California is a big state, and as such it offers many educational opportunities for people interested in a career in phlebotomy and medical technician jobs in general. Below is a list of some of the schools that offer sufficient, quality training for students of phlebotomy in California. There are many other options, and if you do not see one below that is near your home, you should check into the local educational institutions to see if a phlebotomy certification course is offered.
Santa Rosa Junior College
1501 Mendocino Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95401-4395
De Anza College
21250 Stevens Creek Blvd
Cupertino, CA 95014
National Career Education
11080 White Rock Rd, Ste 100
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
http://www.nceschool.com/programs/10-lab-assistant-ekg-technicianphlebotomist
Central Nursing College
3500 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90010
MiraCosta College
1 Barnard, Dr
Oceanside, CA 92056
www.miracostatraining.org