*At this time California Residents cannot take the Medtexx Phlebotomy Workshop/Online Certification Exam for Licensure in the state of California.
Who Can Attend our Workshop Right Now?
All nurses, physicians, clinical research personnel, EMT II’s, Medical Assistants not working as strictly Phlebotomists, and private health care workers. In short, anyone who is NOT drawing blood inside a hospital or clinical laboratory under the title Phlebotomist may attend our workshop at this time.
Who Can Not Attend our Workshop At This Time?
Phlebotomist working in a hospital or clinical laboratory, EMT 1’s, nursing and medical students wanting to work as Phlebotomists in a hospital or clinical laboratory while going to school, foreign medical personnel who want to work as Phlebotomist in a hospital or clinical laboratory while waiting to take your Board Examinations, or anyone who wants to become a new Phlebotomist.
Why Can’t I Take your Workshop Now?
New State of California regulations require that all Phlebotomists become "State Certified" in order to practice within this state. You are now required to attend educational training programs, followed by taking a national certification exam through an approved provider, and then apply for your license through the State. At this time the Medtexx Medical Corporation Phlebotomy Certification can not be used to obtain the California Certification/License.
NOTE : This only applies to those working under the title Phlebotomist in a hospital or clinical laboratory, and to those whose duties do not already include blood drawing. If you are working in a private facility that is not affiliated with a hospital or clinical laboratory, or your job already requires you to draw blood, then you are exempt from the new mandate.
NOTE : The terms "State Certification" and "License/Licensure" have the same meaning.
Do You Need the State Certification?
The new regulations state:
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Experienced Phlebotomist have 3 years to comply (This means that if you were a Phlebotomist before April 2003, then you have until April 2006 to become licensed)
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Hospitals, Reference Labs, POL’S, and Human Resources can still hire experienced Phlebotomist. Some are not hiring unless the applicant is "State Certified". As this has just recently become law, no one is "State Certified" yet.
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If you are a Medical Assistant or an EMT, intending to work as Phlebotomists employed by a clinical laboratory or hospital, then you are working beyond your original scope of practice as an EMT or MA. You must obtain a state phlebotomy certificate to be qualified to perform phlebotomy with a clinical laboratory or acute care employer. However, if you are a MA or EMT II, working under these titles, then you do not have to be licensed.
Phlebotomy Instructors : All Phlebotomy Instructors will be required to take a national phlebotomy exam. Instructors have until December 31, 2003 to become CPT’s and continue teaching if they are Phlebotomists. To teach, the Instructor must be a CLS, RN, MD, LVN, PA, or CPT. However, a Phlebotomist cannot be a CPT until approved by the State.
How to Become State Certified?
Ok, you have assessed that you do need to become licensed. How do you get it? This is not a simple, one-step process, but rather a long, multi-step process.
First, you need to realize that there is not one level of Phlebotomist in California.
There are 5:
- Limited Phlebotomist (LPT)
- CPT 1
- CPT 1 - 1
- CPT 1 - 2
- CPT 1 - 3
- CPT 2
Within those three levels are even more categories of Phlebotomist:
- LPT
- CPT 1
- No Experience
- Less than 1040 hours of On The Job Experience (OTJE)
- Equal To or Greater Than 1040 OTJE
- CPT 2
What duties does each level allow me to do?
LPT: Can only perform skin punctures
CPT 1: Can perform both venipunctures and skin punctures
CPT 2: Can perform skin punctures, venipunctures, and arterial punctures
How to Become a Limited Phlebotomist (LPT)
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You must acquire a High School Diploma or GED (note that other examinations that indicate equivalence to HS graduation may qualify).
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Submit documentation and application to a CA approved Phlebotomy Training Program.
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Complete the following:
- 20 hours of basic classes at a CA approved training program
- 25 successful skin punctures in a clinical setting on real patients through a training program or on the job
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Obtain a certificate of completion from the phlebotomy training program
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Perform 25 successful skin punctures in a clinical setting on real patients
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Obtain a certificate signed by a licensed MD, PA, RN, CLB, or CLS stating completion of 25 successful skin punctures while on the job
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Obtain a CA Certified Phlebotomy Technician application from CA DHS-LFS by writing, calling, e-mailing, or printing from the DHS Forms website at: www.dhs.ca.gov/publications/forms/labs.htm.
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Direct your high school to send your transcript to CA DHS-LFS, Phlebotomy Program.
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Make a copy of your certificate from the CA approved phlebotomy training program that you attended.
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Submit by mail to CA DHS-LFS the following:
- Completed CPT application
- Copy of certificate from training program
- Copy of certificate signed by licensed MD, PA, RN, CLB, or CLS if punctures are done on the job
- Check or money order for $54
- 2 Passport size photos
How to Become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician 1 (CPT 1)
*No Experience Level
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High school graduate or GED
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Submit documentation and an application to a CA approved Phlebotomy Training Program
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Attend a phlebotomy training program and complete the following:
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20 hours of basic classes
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20 hours of advanced classes
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40 hours of practical training in a clinical setting
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50 successful venipunctures and 10 successful skin punctures on real patients
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Obtain a certificate of completion from the phlebotomy training program
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Submit documentation and an application to a CA approved Certification Organization to take a written phlebotomy examination
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Pass a written phlebotomy examination and obtain a certificate of completion
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Apply for licensure as directed under Limited Phlebotomist
How to Become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician 1 (CPT 1)
*Less Than 1040 Hours OTJE Level
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High school graduate or GED
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Submit documentation to a CA approved Phlebotomy Training Program
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Attend a phlebotomy training program and complete the following:
- 20 hours of basic classes
- 20 hours of advanced classes
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Obtain a certificate of completion from the phlebotomy training program
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Perform 50 successful venipunctures and 10 successful skin punctures on real patients
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Obtain documentation from employer(s) of 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures – signed by laboratory director(s)
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Submit documentation and an application to a CA approved Certification Organization to take a written phlebotomy examination
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Pass a written phlebotomy examination and obtain a certificate of completion
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Apply for licensure as described under LPT
How to Become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician 1 (CPT 1)
*Equal To or Greater Than 1040 Hours Experience OTJE Level
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High school graduate or GED
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Submit documentation and an application to a CA approved Phlebotomy Training Program
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Attend a phlebotomy training program and complete the following:
- 20 hours of Advanced classes
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Obtain a certificate of completion from the phlebotomy training program
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Perform 50 successful venipunctures and 10 successful skin punctures on real patients
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Obtain documentation from employer(s) of 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures signed by laboratory director(s)
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Submit documentation and an application to a CA approved Certification Organization to take a written phlebotomy examination
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Pass a written phlebotomy examination and obtain a certificate of completion
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Apply for licensure as described under LPT
How to Become a Certified Phlebotomist Technician 2 (CPT 2)
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High school graduate or GED
- Qualified to be a CPT 1 and
- Obtained 1040 hours OTJE within the last 5 years
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Submit documentation and an application to a CA approved Phlebotomy Training Program
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Complete the following:
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20 hours of Advanced classes at a CA approved training program
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20 successful arterial punctures under a licensed MD, PA, RN, CLB, CLS, or RCP while training on the job
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Obtain a certificate of completion from the phlebotomy training program
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Perform 50 successful venipunctures and 10 successful skin punctures and 20 arterial punctures on real patients
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Obtain documentation from employer(s) of 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures signed by laboratory director(s) and documentation of 20 arterial punctures signed by licensed MD, PA, RN, CLB, CLS, or RCP
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Submit documentation and an application to a CA approved certification Organization to take a written phlebotomy examination
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Pass a written phlebotomy examination and obtain a certificate of completion
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Apply for licensure as described under LPT
Summary of Regulations
In the end, all phlebotomists will have to take training courses to some extent. If you are not satisfied with performing only skin punctures under the title of LPT, you will not only have to take training courses, but also a written exam.
On the job experience (OTJE) is also required for all phlebotomist. This means you will have to find a facility willing to permit you to volunteer or work while you acquire your required skin punctures and/or venipunctures and/or arterial punctures.
What happens after I am "State Certified?"
All Phlebotomists must satisfy 2 on-going requirements after LFS issues the initial certificate:
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Complete 3 Continuing Education (CE) hours per year (6 CE hours for 2 years) from a state approved CLS CE Accrediting Agency - note that 1 contact hour is equal to 0.1 continuing education unit (CEU),
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Renew the state certificate every 2 years with a $54 fee and documentation verifying completion of 6 CE hours.