If you’re interested in a career that’s both exciting and lucrative, becoming a phlebotomy technician may be a perfect choice. Phlebotomy technicians are responsible for drawing blood from patients for diagnostic testing or transfusions. They play a vital role in the healthcare industry, and their skills are in high demand. So if you’re ready to start your career as a phlebotomist, check out the class list below!
What do phlebotomists do?
Phlebotomists are responsible for blood collection and handling samples. They’re trying to draw blood and have a variety of skills. To be successful in the field, you must have strong communication skills, and I for detail, compassion, and acknowledgment of legal issues, as well as possess technical skills.
The phlebotomist’s primary purpose is to draw blood. If you can handle stress, have integrity, be professional, and enjoy working with people—you will likely be successful after you learn technical procedures related to drawing blood. Some good helpful character traits to have are integrity, compassion, and the ability to be calm under stress.
Florida has many schools that offer high-quality training. You should investigate tuition costs and program details to find one that’s right for you. If you’d like to know more about a training program, feel free to visit its website or contact the school for more detailed information.
Florida phlebotomy program requirements
The requirements for enrollment are virtually the same in every state. Before you can attend classes in Florida, you must meet the following criteria.
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a Florida state ID
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Have vaccine shots (flu, hepatitis b, chicken pox, etc)
- Pass a background check
What to expect from phlebotomy classes
Phlebotomy training programs across this country have high standards. To become a certified phlebotomy technician (CPT), you’ll undergo rigorous training and learn a variety of soft skills and technical skills. You can expect to learn the following:
- Specimen collection
- History of phlebotomy
- Professional issues
- Human Anatomy
- HIPPA laws
- Quality control
After you complete 20 hours of classroom study in 20 hours of training under supervision, you’ll be ready to perform blood draws on your own. When you finish training, you can register for a certification exam. The exam is administered by an accredited school like the ones listed in the last section.
Various organizations provide tests, including American Allied Health National Certification (CPT), The National Center for Competency Testing (NCT), and American Medical Techniques (AMT).
Where can I work as a phlebotomist in Florida?
You have a lot of options when it comes to the settings that you’d like to work in. Healthcare and healthcare research are the most prominent industries you will be working in but there are many other fields to explore.
You may be working in a physician’s office or a laboratory. Or you could be working in a private residence, traveling as a mobile phlebotomist, or working in a hospital. Before you decide on a school, you should find out if they offer internships in places like hospitals or laboratories.
Top Florida Cities For Finding Phlebotomy Programs:
Phlebotomy jobs in Florida
36% of phlebotomists in the US work in hospitals and 35% work in laboratories. After you are certified, you can work most anywhere. Although certification is not required in the state of Florida, it will certainly help you stand out and demonstrate that you have the skills to handle all the job requirements. Below is a list of places where phlebotomist work.
- Hospitals
- Scientific research laboratories
- Ambulances and emergency rooms
- Private residences
- Outpatient Care centers
- Traveling phlebotomists
To keep your certification active, you will need to renew it every two years. In those two years, you will be required to complete continuing education units (CEUs ) to keep up to date with the latest developments in the industry and practice skills that you don’t use that often.
A few of the organizations that provide CEUs are American Medical Technologies (AMT), the American Society for Clinical Lab Science (ASCLS), and the National Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (ASPT).
| 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’ll have a bright future ahead if you want to advance in the medical career or even sales. There are many doctors, nurses, and scientists that started with phlebotomy to get a solid foundation in their respective fields. Below are a few of the job possibilities available to CPTs.
- Registered Nurse
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Medical Assistant
- Research Scientist
- Supervisor in healthcare
- Trainer and teacher
- Product Specialist
How much does a phlebotomist get paid in Florida?
You will be well compensated for your skills as a phlebotomist. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that phlebotomists in Florida make an annual mean wage of $37,580. The mean hourly wage is listed at $18.07.
Phlebotomists are in demand in the state. As of May 2021, there were over 7,800 phlebotomists in Florida (not including self-employed technicians). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that there will be 10% job growth from 2020 to 2030.
Phlebotomist pay in Florida varies from region to region, in some cases, pretty drastically.
| Metro Area | Phlebotomists Employed | Avg. Hourly Wage | Avg. Annual Wage |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 150 | $ 18.37 | $ 38,210 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 100 | $ 18.07 | $ 37,590 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 280 | $ 16.86 | $ 35,060 |
| Gainesville, FL | 190 | $ 17.45 | $ 36,300 |
| Homosassa Springs, FL | 70 | $ 16.83 | $ 35,010 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 700 | $ 17.81 | $ 37,050 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 250 | $ 18.26 | $ 37,980 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 2,230 | $ 18.48 | $ 38,440 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | 70 | $ 18.55 | $ 38,580 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 360 | $ 19.11 | $ 39,750 |
| Ocala, FL | 130 | $ 16.70 | $ 34,730 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 1,230 | $ 17.82 | $ 37,060 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 250 | $ 17.52 | $ 36,440 |
| Panama City, FL | 100 | $ 17.39 | $ 36,180 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 280 | $ 18.34 | $ 38,150 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 160 | $ 18.01 | $ 37,470 |
| Punta Gorda, FL | 80 | $ 17.43 | $ 36,250 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL | 60 | $ 18.08 | $ 37,600 |
| Tallahassee, FL | 140 | $ 16.27 | $ 33,840 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,190 | $ 18.26 | $ 37,980 |
| The Villages, FL | 80 | $ 16.87 | $ 35,090 |
Useful links
- Phlebotomist jobs in Florida on Indeed
- NPA national phlebotomy license verification
- National Phlebotomy Association
- American Allied Health National Certification (CPT)
- American Certification for Healthcare (ACA)
- American Medical Techniques (AMT)
- American Society for Clinical Lab Science (ASCLS)
- American Society for Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC)
- National Accreditation Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
- National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
- National Healthcare Association (NHA)