Degree Overview: Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Phlebotomy
Majors Overview March 17, 2015Get information about bachelor’s degree programs in phlebotomy and their educational requirements, coursework, career choices, job and wage outlook, and certification and accreditation choices.
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Phlebotomy
There isn’t any schools that offer bachelor’s degree programs in phlebotomy. An individual who aspires to be a phlebotomy technician, or phlebotomist, which is an allied health professional employed to draw blood from patients, can complete a certificate program and embark on careers that would require them to work directly with patients and collect fluid samples and blood in various diagnostic medical tests.
Phlebotomists may require certification in some states, which can be obtained by graduating from an accredited program. Some organizations offer profession certifications devised to enhance the career prospects of these professionals.
Coursework in these certificate programs is devised to teach how to collect and handle samples safely and efficiently.
The curriculum pays special attention to safety precautions seeking to prevent the spread of disease through improper handling of blood samples. Coursework in medical terminology, physiology, and allied health ethics is devised to train students to pursue a career in such work settings.
Apart from instruction on venipuncture and microtechniques for collection of samples, training is also imparted in basic medical data entry and CPR. Students can complete a phlebotomy certificate program within a year.
Educational Requirements
Admission criteria typically require incoming students to hold a GED certificate or a high school diploma. Students enrolled in some programs may have to purchase their malpractice insurance. Also required may be proof of immunization and vaccination history. Students may commonly be required to submit to a drug screening and criminal background check.
Coursework
Coursework combines classroom lectures and clinical lab experiences. Core coursework may include topic areas such as:
•Medical terminology
•Biology
•Pharmacology
•Anatomy and physiology
•Allied health ethics
Career Choices
Those who complete the program may seek entry-level careers in:
•Physician’s offices
•Insurance offices
•Hospitals
•Health clinics
Job and Wage Outlook
Over the 2012 – 2022 decade, job growth rates of 22% have been predicted for medical and clinical laboratory technicians (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In May 2012, phlebotomists employed in hospitals brought home an average hourly wage of $14.35, while those employed in physicians’ offices and labs earned respective hourly wages of $14.56 and $15.54 over the same period (BLS).
Continuing Education, Certification, and Accreditation Choices
The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), a non-profit trade organization, offers continuing education programs and accrediting services. The NAACLS lists about 60 accredited programs in the United States, wherein phlebotomy certificates are available. Currently, professional certification is mandatory in only a few states for phlebotomists that wish to practice professionally there.
Students who seek continuing education may earn a bachelor’s degree program in allied health or other related field. These programs are devised to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for becoming allied health educators in order to educate the succeeding generation of clinical lab technicians.
