Are you interested in learning about becoming a certified phlebotomy technician? If you are, this page will give you all the advice you need to get started. You can learn essential information about enrolling in a training program, what you’ll be doing on the job, and career path options. Be sure to browse our big list of schools to compare phlebotomy programs in Wisconsin.
Phlebotomists collect blood samples and prepare them for diagnostics. The main duty of a phlebotomist is to draw blood by making an incision from either the vein or the skin and preparing the specimen for lab testing.
The blood drawing procedures are venipuncture (from a vein) and dermal puncture (from the skin). Another role they have is to remove blood from donors for blood transfusions. Another practice is removing blood to decrease the thickness of the blood for people with an overproduction of red blood cells.
Aside from collecting blood, phlebotomists are also responsible for labeling and packaging non-blood specimens such as urine or other body fluids. They also take vital signs and handle patient correspondence. Successful phlebotomists are dependable, sympathetic, good under pressure, and have good people skills.
Browse the classes below to discover what the programs have to offer. You can contact the schools for more specific information to answers you cannot find from looking at their websites.
Phlebotomy certificate programs are entry-level. All you need to do is meet a few basic requirements. They are as follows:
Have a high school diploma or equivalent
A current state identification card or driver’s license
Be 18 years of age
Have all your current immunization shots
You may be surprised at how many shots you’ll need before you get started. It goes without saying that you’ll need to be vaccinated against COVID. But there are many other vaccines you need for diseases like influenza, chicken pox, hepatitis A and b, tetanus, whooping cough, and other diseases.
Schools are approved to provide training for certification from organizations like the national phlebotomy association NPA or the American Medical Technologists AMT. These organizations and others provide tests and continuing education units CEUs.
What to expect from phlebotomy classes
Students must demonstrate proficient technical and communication skills to complete their training. Phlebotomy is highly technical, but it is not necessarily difficult to become a phlebotomist as long as you practice and do the classroom work. The curriculum involves:
Anatomy
Hematology
Chemistry
Blood drawing procedure
Handling and transporting specimens
Ethical and legal issues
Professional issues
The history of Phlebotomy
Microbiology
In most cases, you can expect to be in school for around 4 to 6 months. Training is a mix of hands-on experience in a clinical setting in classroom training, either online or in person. Since the pandemic, many programs have offered classwork entirely online, and others have in-class meetings to accommodate different learning styles.
After 20 hours of study and 20 hours of practice in a live setting, you’ll be able to perform blood draws unsupervised. This is where your clinical training comes into play, and you’ll develop skills in dealing with patients one-on-one.
Where can I work as a phlebotomist in Wisconsin?
You can work anywhere in the state of Wisconsin after you become a CPT. The most common settings are inpatient Care centers and outpatient Care centers. Inpatient care centers are walk-ins where people come and go, and inpatient care centers are designed for extended stays. There are also many other settings. Whether it’s an inpatient center or an outpatient center, you’ll be in a specialized role such as geriatrics, pediatrics, etc.
You may also end up in a laboratory setting where you’ll have less contact with patients and more experience preparing and transporting specimens.
One thing to keep in mind is that although Wisconsin is not one of the four states in the US that require you to hold certification to practice as a phlebotomist, it is beneficial in more ways than one. You’ll be a more attractive prospect to hiring managers because certification demonstrates that you’ve undergone all the training necessary to handle every aspect of the job. This may hold more weight than someone with more experience but not a certification.
Phlebotomy jobs in Wisconsin
Most phlebotomists in Wisconsin and throughout the US work in hospitals or laboratories. There are dozens of other settings that you may work in. Here are a few places to consider:
General hospitals
Research laboratories
Physician’s offices
Ambulances and ambulatory centers
Rehabilitation centers
Geriatric care centers
Children’s hospitals
Veterinarian’s offices
Where Phlebotomists Work
% of Jobs
Hospitals
36%
Laboratories
35%
Other ambulatory healthcare services
14%
Physician offices
8%
Outpatient care centers
1%
Phlebotomist career path
As we mentioned, there are dozens of different places to work. You may specialize in a role as a:
Forensic phlebotomist
Point of care coordinator
Quality control specialist
Research phlebotomist
Clinical laboratory technician
Mobile phlebotomist
Veterinary phlebotomist
These are all great entry points if you’re interested in a career in related fields. There are plenty of opportunities for growth in various industries. Many phlebotomists transition into different healthcare or science research careers. They’re also opportunities to work in education as a trainer or start your own business. Many become sales executives for medical device companies.
How much does a phlebotomist get paid in Wisconsin?
The average hourly mean wage for a phlebotomist in Wisconsin is $19.27, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The annual mean wage is $40,090.
Wisconsin’s top metro areas have varying pay ranges for phlebotomists.
Metro Area
Phlebotomists Employed
Avg. Hourly Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Appleton, WI
130
$ 18.78
$ 39,060
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
3,600
$ 20.51
$ 42,650
Duluth, MN-WI
100
$ 18.19
$ 37,840
Eau Claire, WI
150
$ 19.32
$ 40,180
Green Bay, WI
270
$ 18.70
$ 38,890
Janesville-Beloit, WI
90
$ 18.16
$ 37,760
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
110
$ 18.75
$ 39,010
Madison, WI
720
$ 19.91
$ 41,420
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI
870
$ 19.65
$ 40,870
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
700
$ 20.17
$ 41,950
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI
180
$ 18.76
$ 39,020
Racine, WI
110
$ 19.27
$ 40,070
Sheboygan, WI
50
$ 18.80
$ 39,110
Wausau, WI
90
$ 18.51
$ 38,510
Cities in Wisconsin
Looking for more localized information? Check out the following cities.
