Phlebotomy is a valuable specialty that is needed all over the country. Once you become a certified phlebotomy technician CPT you will have plenty of options for career paths and employment. This guy is focused on helping you enroll accredited phlebotomy technician classes. You’ll find a big list of classes in Texas and information on what you can expect during training, as well as information on employment.
Phlebotomists are technicians trained to draw blood and prepare samples for analysis. The primary role for a phlebotomist technician is to collect blood samples either by venipuncture (from a vein) or dermal puncture (from skin). Aside from being trained in routine blood collection you may be performing point-of-care testing and quality control with portable instruments. Phlebotomist need to prepare the sample site and make sure patients are safe and comfortable.
If you work in a laboratory setting you may have less contact with patient. Instead, you may take on a more technical role where you are preparing and organizing blood samples.
We’ve got even more classes for you to take a look at. Feel free to browse the websites and explore what the programs have to offer and how they’re structured. If you have questions that aren’t answered on the sites, please contact the school.
The good thing about phlebotomy programs for level 1 certification is that you can complete classes in as little as 4 weeks. The entry level barrier is low for technical skills in the healthcare industry.
18 years of age or older
Transcripts of your high school diploma or equivalent
Immunization records for blood-borne pathogens
Certification organizations are the agencies that oversee testing. They provide tests and Grant schools accreditation. We have a list of links to various certification bodies in the links section below.
Certification organizations also oversee continuing education. Continuing education unit CEUs are the system that oversees license renewals. You must renew your license every 2 years and complete a certain number of hours. Most agencies have specific guidelines by how much education you’ll need.
What to expect from phlebotomy classes
Phlebotomists need to demonstrate a professional attitude and good communication skills. If you work in a healthcare setting much of your day will revolve around patient correspondence and working with coworkers. Below are some of the subjects you can expect to study if you enroll in a training program:
Human anatomy
Bloodborne disease
Basic phlebotomy
Chemistry
Histology
Immunology
Ethics and professional issues
HIPAA and OSHA regulations
Your main training in a clinical setting will be to properly collect, label, handle, and transport blood samples. You will also learn point of care testing in quality control. Training is split up into two parts, Hands-On experience in a clinic and book studies. You can expect to have around 40 hours total. 20 hours of practice and 20 hours of classroom work.
Once you finish your training you will be eligible to sit for the exam. For level 1 certification you’ll be tested on your ability to perform venipunctures and dermal punctures. You also have to demonstrate your medical knowledge and the ability to safely handle specimens.
Where can I work as a phlebotomist in Texas?
CPT is working various settings, mainly outpatient centers or inpatient centers. Inpatient centers involve long-term care while outpatient centers are short-term. You can find full-time work as a phlebotomy technician in the settings.
You may work during the week or nights and weekends. Some phlebotomists are on call. Others are traveling phlebotomist that may need to travel to collect samples and transport them to the lab.
Phlebotomists work in rural communities across Texas as well as some of its largest cities including:
In May the bureau of Labor Statistics estimate to that there were 3,050 phlebotomist in Texas in 2021. Most of them were employed in hospitals and laboratories. Some of the most common places of employment are:
Hospitals
Labs
Physician’s offices
Ambulatory Care centers
Reference laboratories
Home Care maintenance (HMOs)
Outpatient Care centers like rehabilitation facilities
There are many other special settings you can work at and there are plenty of jobs in Texas. While you are not required to hold a certification to work in the state it’s beneficial in a few ways. First it will help your job prospects and second it shows proof that you have the ability to perform the duties of a phlebotomist. Second, if you do not have experience already, it will be tough to get an entry level job. Lastly, accredited schools provide the best education possible which will prepare you for everything that you’ll encounter on the job.
Where Phlebotomists Work
% of Jobs
Hospitals
36%
Laboratories
35%
Other ambulatory healthcare services
14%
Physician offices
8%
Outpatient care centers
1%
Phlebotomist career path
There are many different career paths to take once you gain some experience in training. Many phlebotomists advance in the healthcare industry but there are other industries that you can transition to as well. Below are some possible positions you can settle into:
License practical nurse
Physician’s assistant
Paramedic
Histotechnologist
EKG technician
Clinical laboratory scientist
Research scientist
Professor or teacher
If you have a passion for teaching there are many opportunities as well. You could start your own phlebotomy school and get accredited by one of the organizations listed in the links section.
How much does a phlebotomist get paid in Texas?
Phlebotomists in Texas make an average of $17.81 per hour according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The average annual wage for technicians in the state is $37,040.
The average phlebotomist’s salary in Texas also depends a bit on where they’re located within the state.
Metro Area
Phlebotomists Employed
Avg. Hourly Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Abilene, TX
80
$ 15.05
$ 31,310
Amarillo, TX
100
$ 16.46
$ 34,230
Austin-Round Rock, TX
880
$ 19.39
$ 40,330
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX
150
$ 17.02
$ 35,400
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
230
$ 14.52
$ 30,210
College Station-Bryan, TX
140
$ 16.11
$ 33,510
Corpus Christi, TX
250
$ 16.76
$ 34,860
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
3,550
$ 19.20
$ 39,940
El Paso, TX
430
$ 15.08
$ 31,370
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
3,120
$ 18.53
$ 38,530
Killeen-Temple, TX
160
$ 16.62
$ 34,560
Laredo, TX
100
$ 14.45
$ 30,060
Longview, TX
120
$ 15.09
$ 31,390
Lubbock, TX
240
$ 15.76
$ 32,780
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
450
$ 14.76
$ 30,690
Odessa, TX
100
$ 17.25
$ 35,870
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
1,270
$ 17.61
$ 36,620
Sherman-Denison, TX
50
$ 15.97
$ 33,210
Texarkana, TX-AR
90
$ 14.78
$ 30,740
Tyler, TX
270
$ 16.21
$ 33,710
Waco, TX
110
$ 16.52
$ 34,350
Wichita Falls, TX
80
$ 16.59
$ 34,510
Useful links
Check out the links below to explore your career possibilities.
