Phlebotomy Technicians are professionals who are trained to draw blood for tests, donations and other purposes. They usually work in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers, and other medical facilities.
Each state differs on whether they require a phlebotomist is to be licensed or certified. And because you’re more than likely required to be certified, there are a few different ways to earn your phlebotomy certification.
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
– The pass rate for the PBT offered by the ASCP exam was 90% as of 2017.
– The PBT certification exam is a computer adaptive exam that is tailored to your ability level.
ASCP Phlebotomy Technician Exam Practice Test
The American Society for Clinical Pathology, or the ASCP, offers the Phlebotomy Technician certification (PBT). This exam is for those who have met certain academic and clinical prerequisites. The PBT certification shows that you are able to achieve the performance levels on the exam and that you are capable of being a phlebotomist.
The Phlebotomy certification exam contains 80 multiple-choice questions that will need to be answered within 2 hours. There are 6 content areas on the PBT exam:
• Circulatory System
• Specimen Collection
• Specimen Handling, Transport, and Processing
• Waived and Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)
• Non-Blood Specimens
• Laboratory Operations
To be eligible to take the PBT certification exam, you must meet at least one of these requirement routes:
Route 1:
• High school diploma or equivalent
AND
• Completion of a NAACLS approved phlebotomy program within the last 5 years
Route 2:
• High school diploma or equivalent
AND
• Completion of an acceptable two-part formal structured phlebotomy program within the last 5 years. This program must consist of 40 clock hours of classroom training that includes anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system, specimen collection, specimen processing, and handling, and laboratory operations.
AND
• 100 clock hours of clinical training and orientation in an accredited laboratory with a minimum of 100 successful and unaided blood collections including venipunctures and skin punctures.
Route 3:
• High school diploma or equivalent
AND
• One year of full-time work experience as a phlebotomy technician in an accredited laboratory within the last 5 years
Route 4:
• High school diploma or equivalent
AND
• Completion of RN, LPN, or other allied health profession/occupation education that includes phlebotomy training and orientation in a laboratory with a minimum of 100 successful and unaided blood collections.
Route 5:
• MT/MLS (ASCP) certification or MLT (ASCP)
Route 6:
• DPT (ASCP) certification
AND
• A minimum of 100 successful and unaided blood collections
Route 7:
• High school diploma or equivalent
AND
• Completion of a phlebotomy program approved by the California Department Public of Health within the last 5 years.
ASCP Official Website: http://www.ascp.org
Association of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)
– The ASPT requires that you have 6 hours of continuing education each year in order to maintain your certification.
The Association of Phlebotomy Technicians offers the Phlebotomy Technician certification.
To be eligible to take the Phlebotomy Technician exam, you must meet these requirements:
• One full year as a part-time phlebotomist
OR
• Six months as a full-time phlebotomist
OR
• A letter from a healthcare supervisor attesting that part of the jobs is taking blood specimens on a regular basis,
• Completion of an accredited phlebotomy training program that must include 75 documented successful venipunctures and 5 documented skin punctures and a current ASPT membership.
ASPT Official Website: https://www.aspt.org/
American Medical Technologists (AMT)
This Phlebotomy Technician exam is offered through American Medical Technologist contains 200 questions over 8 topics:
• Obtaining Blood Samples
• Specimen Collection and Processing
• Time Management and Assignment Organization
• Professional Communications
• Clerical Skills and Duties
• Safety Standards and Procedures
• Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations
• Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology
To be eligible to take the Phlebotomy Technician exam through AMT, there is one of two routes that can be taken in order to become certified:
Route 1:
• Have graduated or will graduate from a phlebotomy course that includes a minimum of 120 clock hours and have completed this course within the last 4 years.
Route 2:
• Have completed 1,040 hours of work experience as a phlebotomy technician within the past 3 years.
With either route, you should have completed a minimum of 50 venipunctures and 10 capillary punctures.
National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT/MMCI)
– A score of 70 is required to pass the NCCT exam.
– The pass rate for the NCCT Phlebotomy exam is 75.7%.
The National Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam contains 125 questions that are to be completed within 3 hours. Out of those 125 questions, 25 are unscored pretest items. There are 6 content categories on the NCPT exam:
• Quality and Professional Issues
• Infection Control and Safety
• Orders and Equipment Selection
• Patient ID and Site Preparation
• Collections
• Problems and Correction
To be eligible to take the Phlebotomy Technician exam, there are 3 routes that you can take:
Route 1:
• Be a current student in a Phlebotomy Technician program that is an authorize NCCT school
• Submit a copy of your diploma, certificate or transcript with graduation date
• Complete and submit the Phlebotomy Technician Certification Critical Skill Competency form
Route 1B:
• Be a graduate of an NCCT authorized Phlebotomy Technician program within the past 5 years
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Submit a copy of your diploma, certificate or transcript with graduation date
• Complete and submit the Phlebotomy Technician Certification Critical Skill Competency form
Route 2:
• Have one year of full-time experience or 2080 as a Phlebotomy Technician within the past 5 years.
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Submit a copy of your diploma, certificate or transcript with graduation date
• Complete and submit the Phlebotomy Technician Certification Critical Skill Competency form
Route 3:
• Completed Phlebotomy Technician training or equivalent during your U.S. Military service within the past 5 years
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Have one year of full-time experience or 2080 as a Phlebotomy Technician within the past 5 years.
• Submit a copy of your diploma, certificate or transcript with graduation date
• Complete and submit the Phlebotomy Technician Certification Critical Skill Competency form
NCCT Official Website: https://www.ncctinc.com/
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
– The pass rate for the NHA CPT as of 2017 was 91.6%.
The NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam consists of 100 scored questions and 20 pretest questions. These questions will need to be completed within 2 hours. There are 5 content areas on the NHA CPT exam:
• Safety and Compliance
• Patient Preparation
• Routine Blood Collection
• Special Collections
• Processing
To be eligible to take the NHA CPT exam, you must meet these requirements:
• Have a high school diploma or equivalent
• Complete a training program in the health field covered by the NHA certification
• Completion of a Registered Apprenticeship Program that is in the health field covered by the NHA certification exam or registered with the U.S. Department of Labor fulfills the Training Program
• Formal medical services training in the health field covered by the NHA certification exam offered by any branch of the U.S. Military fulfills the Training Program.
• Have one year of supervised work experience within the past 3 years
AND
• Provide evidence that you have successfully performed a minimum of 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary.
NHA Official Outline: https://www.nhanow.com/docs/default-source/pdfs/exam-documentation/test-plans/cpt-2016-test-plans/nha-2016-cpt-test-plan_public_detail.pdf
American Medical Certification Association (AMCA)
– The minimum passing score for the AMCA Phlebotomy Technician Certification is 69%.
The Phlebotomy Technician Certification offered by the AMCA consists of 100 questions that are to be completed in 2 hours. There are 5 content areas of the Phlebotomy Technician Certification exam:
• Patient Care
• Patient ID and Site Prep
• Order and Equipment Selection
• Specimen Collection/Processing
• Safety and Infection Control
To be eligible to sit for the Phlebotomy Technician Certification exam, you must have:
• A minimum of 30 venipunctures and 10 capillaries, upon completion of a clinical program.
AMCA Official Website: https://www.amcaexams.com/exam-candidates/certification-exam/phlebotomy-technician-certification/
Phlebotomy Practice Test
Phlebotomy Certification FAQ
Are you required to have a certification to become a phlebotomist?
Each state differs on their requirement when it comes to phlebotomy certifications and licenses. Most states will require you to have a certification while another state may want you to have a license. It’s best to check with your state to see what their regulations are.
How do I become a phlebotomist?
To become a phlebotomist, you will need to become certified by completing a Phlebotomy Technician program and passing one of the phlebotomy certification exams. Several associations that offer the Phlebotomy Technician Certification exam also require that you have a minimum number of hours completed as a full-time technician with a certain amount of venipunctures and skin punctures.
What is required to be admitted into a phlebotomy program?
To be admitted into a phlebotomy program, you will most likely need a high school diploma or the equivalent. Check with the program of your choice to see if they require anything more for admittance.
What is covered on the phlebotomy technician certification exam?
What’s covered on the exam differs from each exam to the next. However, the majority of the phlebotomy technician certification exams cover areas such as:
• Specimen Handling, Transport, and Processing
• Obtaining Blood Samples
• Terminology
• Anatomy and Physiology
• Safety
