All phlebotomists undergoing training in this field aspires to get good paying jobs after the completion of the course. A few take it for granted that a course is a gateway to paying jobs. The type of certification granted at the completion of the course decides the market value. A nationally accredited certifying agency carries more weight age. It becomes synonymous with competence. As the job applications per job advertised is increasing the hiring process has laid down guidelines to filter the applicants at the initial level. Certification is mandatory.
Places of job offers
Phlebotomists are absorbed in the job market as clinical support workers or assistant healthcare scientists or at par positions. Some phlebotomists find openings as part time personnel in this field. The job openings for phlebotomists exist in patient service centre, in-office attached to doctor clinic such as endocrinologist, HIV clinics, oncology centers, gastroenterologist and places where repeat patients come for regular treatment. Hospital phlebotomist caters to the needs of patients with moderate to critical sufferings and those terminally ill. Here the communication skills come into play because situations can be nerve wrecking. The trauma and allied emotions has to be diluted. Such jobs require lot of energy because of long standing hours and premises walking in connection with work. Long term care phlebotomist is mobile most of the time using official transport to visit the patients on site. The visits are directed towards rehabilitation centers or patients homes. All personality skills come into play as the interaction is at individual level and the patient is not to be disturbed unnecessarily. Here the phlebotomist works in shifts. Pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, public health clinic, blood banks, and commercial laboratories take their services.
Job prospects
Certified courses with prescribed clinical training courses are gateway to good job openings. Those with unrecognized certification or no certification will find it hard to get appropriate openings in this field as the competition is tough. A lot of stress is laid on communication skills as during the extraction process the phlebotomist has to put the patient at ease. Caring tone and gestures makes a difference in the lives of those being served. As per the publication of US Bureau of Labor Statistics the graph of job vacancies for phlebotomists will show a hike till 2012. The work is regular shifts with specified work schedules.
Salary Structure
US states Government Bureau of Labor Data sheet states that salary varies from job to job because the locations and rules governing them are different. The upmost salary is $42,000 offered in the Virgin Islands and West Virginia. It is followed by District of Columbia at $38,000 annually. The third highest salary is paid at New York at $38,000. In California it is $ 33,350. If hourly payment is considered it is on an average at $19.38 per hour. At the lower level it is $ 13.19 per hour and the highest slab is $30.00 per hour. Salary structure differs from candidate to candidate based on experience, skill, and qualification work situation location and employer capability. In the broad bracket the salary range is $15,000-$50,000. Certified personnel are in demand because they liberate the doctors and nurses to do more critical work. Phlebotomists can hope to earn $ 29,000 annually and the slab increases with experience. In terms of hourly break up it is $13 for 40 hour every week work.
Career prospects
The market of employment is likely to witness 10-20% hike in the coming decade. It is because of the increase in longevity of the elderly population. The aging factor will bring forth allied medical problems. Medical labs are likely to flourish as most medical doctors prefer to get test done in labs not attached to the clinic.