As you might have known before now, you can easily become a phlebotomist in New Jersey once you finish your post-secondary education. New Jersey is one of the many states that does not have any law that requires licensure in order to become a phlebotomist.
Nevertheless, phlebotomy certification in New Jersey is necessary if you want to be the preferred candidate for employment and that can be achieved if you possess proof of completion of an accredited phlebotomy training program and certification by a recognized national agency.
Steps in Phlebotomy Certification in New Jersey
- Plan for Phlebotomy Training
- Check Your Requirements to Attend a Phlebotomy Training
- Take Note of The Prerequisites to Take the Certification Exam With Most Agencies
- Look For a Third Party Certification Agency
- Preparing And Passing the Certification Exam
- Starting Your Medical Career in Phlebotomy
- Renewing Your Certification
1. Plan for Phlebotomy Training
The very first step to your phlebotomy training is to choose a training school.
New Jersey is home to many state-accredited phlebotomy training programs that will prepare students for a Phlebotomy Technician career.
A phlebotomy training program is generally a total of 40-80 in-class hours and 20-40 clinical hours that will take place outside of the class, usually at a laboratory or medical institute joined with the program.
Below are some phlebotomy schools in New Jersey you should be considering:
- Academy of Allied Health Sciences
- Programs Offered: Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.aahsc.com
- ACE Healthcare Training Institute
- Programs Offered: EKG/Phlebotomy Program
- School Website: www.acehti.com
- Allied Health Training Institute
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Program
- School Website: www.alliedhealthnj.com
- Advantage Career Institute
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.aci.edu
- American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education
- Programs Offered: Electrocardiography/Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.aimseducation.edu
- AMG Medical Institute
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.amgmedicalinstitute.com
- Atlantic Community College
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.atlantic.edu
- AVTECH Institute of Technology
- Programs Offered: Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.avtechusa.com
- Branford Institute
- Programs Offered: EKG/Phlebotomy Technician Program
- School Website: www.branfordinstitute.org
- Brookdale Community College
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician Certification
- School Website: www.brookdalecc.edu
- Cumberland County College
- Programs Offered: Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.rcsj.edu
- Healthcare Training Institute
- Programs Offered: EKG/Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.htinj.edu
- New Educare Institute of Healthcare
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.neihusa.com
- Ocean County College
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician Training
- School Website: www.ocean.edu
- Rutgers School of Health Professions
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy & Specimen Accessioning Certificate Program
- School Website: www.shp.rutgers.edu
- Salem County Vocational-Technical School
- Programs Offered: Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.scvts.org
- Samuel Morris Career Institute
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.smcinj.com
- Warren County Community College
- Programs Offered: Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- School Website: www.warren.edu
- William Paterson University
- Programs Offered: Phlebotomy Technician Program
- School Website: www.wpconnect.wpunj.edu
2. Check Your Requirements to Attend a Phlebotomy Training
The following are the requirements you must have to enroll in a phlebotomy program:
- High School Diploma or GED
- Over The Age Of 18
- Clean Background Check (No Felonies)
- Negative Hepatitis Test
- Negative TB Test
- Immunization Records
Once you complete your program in a phlebotomy training school, you will earn a Certificate of Completion.
3. Take Note of The Prerequisites to Take the Certification Exam With Most Agencies
- High School Diploma or GED
- Completion of a Phlebotomy Training Program OR 1 Year of On-The-Job Experience in the Past 3 Years
- 30 Successful Blood Draws
- 10 Successful Capillary Sticks
The aforementioned are prerequisites for taking the certification exam.
4. Look For a Third Party Certification Agency
The following are National Certifying Organizations for Phlebotomy in New Jersey:
- American Medical Technologists. If you decided to get this certification, there are requirements to meet, such as adequate work experience, and an oral or written exam. It also requires renewal every three years through CEU and re-examination.
- American Society for Clinical Pathology, Training, or work experience, in combination with an oral or written exam, is obligatory for this license. Furthermore, a renewal every ten years through CEU is necessary as well.
- American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians, So as to get it, an applicant must pass a practical and written exam. Also, an annual CEUs is obligatory to maintain certification.
- National Phlebotomy Association. In order to get this certificate, an oral or written exam is required.
5. Preparing And Passing the Certification Exam
When you find a certification agency and have registered to attempt the competency exam, you should prepare by reviewing related materials provided to you by the credentialing agency.
Most agencies have examination materials based on their certification exam. After the examination, you are certified.
Starting Your Medical Career in Phlebotomy
Now that you’re a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), you’re ready to begin your medical career in New Jersey.
Phlebotomists can expect to be working a typical 40-hour work week and earn an average annual salary of $31,000. This salary is the national average.
Renewing Your Certification
Once certified, a phlebotomist will have to renew their certification every two years by completing Continuing Education.
This can be completed through on-the-job workshops or online education units.
Certified Phlebotomy technicians will have to renew their CPT certification after two years.
Job Prospects And Salary Expectations for Phlebotomists
Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 19,500 openings for phlebotomists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Highest paying cities for Phlebotomists in New Jersey:
- Morristown, NJ: $21.17 per hour
- Hackensack, NJ: $19.53 per hour
- South Plainfield, NJ: $19.47 per hour
- Cherry Hill, NJ: $19.28 per hour
Important Qualities
- Compassion
- Detail oriented
- Dexterity
- Hand-eye coordination
- Physical stamina
Compassion
Some patients or clients are afraid of having their blood drawn, so phlebotomists should be caring in performing their duties.
Detail oriented
Phlebotomists must draw the correct vials of blood for the tests ordered, track vials of blood, and enter data into a database.
Attention to detail is very necessary; otherwise, the specimens may be misplaced or lost, or a patient may be injured.
Dexterity
Phlebotomists work with their hands, and they must be able to use their equipment efficiently and properly.
Hand-eye coordination
Phlebotomists draw blood from many patients, and they must perform their duties successfully on the first attempt, or their patients will experience discomfort.
Physical stamina
Phlebotomists are on their feet for long periods and must continue to take accurate blood samples throughout their workday. Do you have suggestions on the phlebotomy certification in New Jersey? Please comment below.