Phlebotomists are important players in the healthcare industry. Becoming a certified phlebotomy technician has lots of advantages, including job security and lucrative career options. Each section in this guide breaks down everything you need to know about the practice of Phlebotomy, including what you can expect during training and what it’s like to start working in the field. We’ve compiled a big list of some of the top schools in Hawaii for you to explore.
What do phlebotomists do?
Phlebotomy is an ancient practice that goes back to the Egyptians. As with most medical terms, the word phlebotomy is derived from Greek. Phlebo, means vein, and tome, is the Greek word for cut or incision.
Phlebotomists are trained to make incisions and collect blood. This is done through venipuncture or dermal puncture. A phlebotomist’s main responsibilities are collecting blood samples, labeling them, and transporting them for analysis and diagnostic purposes.
Other reasons phlebotomists draw blood include removing a certain amount of blood for people who have a condition that makes their body produce too many red blood cells. Blood transfusion specialists remove blood for transfusions.
A typical day for a phlebotomist in a healthcare setting like a hospital will involve dealing with patients and preparing samples for the lab. Good qualities include being empathetic, compassionate, calm under stress, and highly organized. If this sounds like you, you may be perfect for this job.
Hawaii phlebotomy program requirements
One of the most alluring things about becoming a certified phlebotomist is that it doesn’t take long. While it’s not exactly easy to learn the practice of Phlebotomy, it does take skill and time. After your initial training, many skills will come from learning on the job.
You must meet the requirements below to enroll in classes:
- Be 18 years of age
- Have completed high school or equivalent
- Up-to-date immunization records
You may also have to pass a background check. One thing that students are surprised to learn is how many shots you need to work on the front lines of healthcare. You need to be immunized against hepatitis A and b, flu, tetanus, chicken pox, and other diseases.
Cities in Hawaii
What to expect from phlebotomy classes
It may take 4 to 6 months to finish your training or longer. Typically you’ll have at least 40 hours of classroom working and 40 hours of practice in a live setting. Below are some of the subjects that you’ll study if you choose to enroll:
- Human Anatomy
- History of Phlebotomy
- Modern phlebotomy procedures
- Handling transporting samples
- Histology
- Microchemistry
- Hematology
- Professional issues
- Medical terminology
- Laws and regulations
During your practical training, you will work with real patients under the supervision of a certified phlebotomist. After you get a certain amount of hours, you will be able to work one-on-one with patients without supervision until your training is complete.
Once you’re ready to take the test, you will register with a national accreditation agency like the national phlebotomy (NPA). Various agencies provide certification and certification tests. Once you pass, you’ll need to renew your license every two years and complete a certain amount of continuing education hours within each renewal period.
Continuing education aims to keep your skills fresh and update you on the latest developments in the field. Many organizations that provide the tests also provide continuing education units (CEUs). There are a variety of ways to obtain your CEUs. You may attend live workshops or complete your education in the comfort of your own home through online phlebotomy classes.
Where can I work as a phlebotomist in Hawaii?
With your certification as a level 1 technician, you can work anywhere phlebotomy technicians are needed. Hawaii does not require certification to work as a phlebotomist, but it’s a good idea to become certified. It demonstrates your proficiency in phlebotomy to potential places of employment.
You may work in inpatient settings or outpatient settings if you’re in the healthcare industry. And these types of settings will be working with patients and other medical professionals. If you work in a laboratory, you’ll be working with research scientists and lab technicians.
Phlebotomy jobs in Hawaii
Most of the job opportunities are in healthcare. There are also plenty of options in science research. Job duties vary based on the setting. Below or some of the most common places where you’ll find phlebotomists working:
- Hospitals
- Onsite laboratories
- Offsite laboratories
- Ambulatory Care centers
- Physician’s offices
This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are so many places to work and so many different specialties to explore.
| Where Phlebotomists Work | % of Jobs |
| Hospitals | 36% |
| Laboratories | 35% |
| Other ambulatory healthcare services | 14% |
| Physician offices | 8% |
| Outpatient care centers | 1% |
Phlebotomist career path
You may already have a career path in mind or perhaps you aren’t sure yet. There are so many avenues available within the healthcare industry. There are also other industries that you can transition into. Below are some areas of Phlebotomy that you can start out in:
- Research phlebotomist
- Quality control specialist
- Histotechnician
- Medical technologist
- Clinical library specialist
- Point of care coordinator
- Forensic phlebotomist
- Veterinary phlebotomist
- Pediatric phlebotomist
- Traveling phlebotomist
After you’ve chosen a specialty, you may want to move up in the industry. There are tons of opportunities for career advancement, and natural progressions may include transitions into research science, medical sales, teaching, practicing nurses or physicians, and many other areas.
How much does a phlebotomist get paid in Hawaii?
Phlebotomists in Hawaii make an average of $45,550 per year according to the BLS. The average hourly wage comes out to $21.90. Your salary will depend on where you work and your experience.
Honolulu is the largest area of employment in Hawaii for phlebotomists.
| Metro Area | Phlebotomists Employed | Avg. Hourly Wage | Avg. Annual Wage |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 360 | $ 21.97 | $ 45,690 |
Useful links
Learn more about exciting career options in phlebotomy.
● Phlebotomist jobs in Hawaii on Indeed
● NPA national phlebotomy license verification
● National Phlebotomy Association (NPA)
● National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
● American Certification for Healthcare (ACA)
● American Allied Health National Certification (CPT)
● American Medical Techniques (AMT)
● American Society for Clinical Lab Science (ASCLS)
● American Society for Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC)
● National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
● National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
● American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians (ASPT)