Once you’ve got a felony on your record, finding rewarding work becomes a lot more challenging, especially if you want to work in the medical field. But some medical careers are easier to enter than others. In this guide, we’re going to look at phlebotomy.
Can a felon be a phlebotomist? What kind of education and training does a phlebotomist need? Does a phlebotomist need a professional license? And will employers in the medical field hire you with a felony on your record?
Can A Felon Be A Phlebotomist?
There aren’t any laws that bar felons from training to become a phlebotomist, so you’ll be able to take a phlebotomy course and sit for your certification exam.
Once you’re qualified, your felony may make it more difficult to pass employment background checks, though.
Some employers may reject you outright because of your felony, while others will assess you based on the type of offense, how much time has passed, and your record since your felony conviction.
Can you be a phlebotomist with a felony? Yes, phlebotomy is a medical career that’s open to former felons.
What Does A Phlebotomist Do?
A phlebotomist is a medical technician trained to draw blood samples from patients for laboratory testing. Phlebotomists also collect blood from blood donors and carry out blood transfusions.
Once you’ve completed your phlebotomy training and passed your exams, you’ll be able to work in hospitals, laboratories, blood donation centers, doctors’ offices, medical clinics, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes.
Some phlebotomists do mobile work, visiting people in their homes to draw blood for life insurance companies.
The clinical side of a phlebotomist’s work involves drawing blood in a sterile and efficient manner and making the patient or donor as comfortable as possible during the procedure.
You’ll also be responsible for administration tasks like correctly labeling blood samples and updating patient records.
Phlebotomist Main Duties
- Collecting blood samples from patients
- Verifying patient identity
- Explaining the procedure
- Reassuring patients
- Labeling blood samples
- Updating patient records on a computer
- Maintaining medical instruments
- Verifying refrigerator temperatures
- Delivering blood samples to the lab
What Education And Training Does A Phlebotomist Need?
You’ll need to complete a phlebotomy training program, which includes classroom-based tuition and clinical training. Taking an associate degree course in medical laboratory technology is another option where phlebotomy training is part of a much wider education.
- Intensive phlebotomy training programs at vocational schools can take as little as 8 weeks to complete.
- Some accredited online phlebotomy courses offer an even faster 4-week program.
- Standard phlebotomy courses at community colleges usually last for one year (in many states, community college courses are free).
- Associate degree programs typically take 2 years to complete.
Courses also vary in length depending on the level of phlebotomy training provided.
While taking a phlebotomy course online or at a vocational school is the fastest way to qualify, accelerated programs aren’t suitable for everyone. You may be more comfortable learning at a more relaxed pace in a community college course.
Associate degrees in medical laboratory technology, which include phlebotomy training, also cover other disciplines, including blood banking, hematology, immunology, microbiology, and bodily fluids. With an associate’s degree, you’ll be qualified to draw blood as a phlebotomist and to analyze blood samples as a medical laboratory technician.
To be eligible to enroll in a phlebotomy program, you’ll need to have a High School Diploma or GED. If you don’t already have your diploma, you can study for and take the GED exam in around 3 months. A re-entry organization can help you obtain a GED.
You’ll also need some additional skills to be a phlebotomist.
- Be able to communicate effectively
- Know how to calm anxious patients
- Be able to work under pressure
- Have good attention to detail
- Have excellent hand-eye coordination
- Be physically fit and able to stand for long periods
Can Felons Take Phlebotomy Classes?
To enroll in a vocational school, online phlebotomy program, or college degree course, you may need to pass a background check, and your felony could make that difficult, depending on the school’s acceptance criteria.
Many schools don’t require a background check, though, so investigate your local options. Schools in Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin require students to pass a background check.
Even when a school or online course requires a background check, don’t assume you’ll be automatically rejected because you have a felony in your past.
The school or course provider will make an individual assessment, looking at the type of felony on your record and how long ago it took place.
Do Phlebotomists Need A Professional License?
For some medical careers, practitioners must hold state-issued licenses, but you won’t need a professional license to work as a phlebotomist.
This means you don’t have to apply to a licensing board and go through the rigorous background checking process that doctors and registered nurses have to submit to.
By completing your phlebotomist training course and obtaining your qualification certificate, you’ll be eligible to work as a phlebotomist in most states.
Four states – California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington – require phlebotomists to obtain a certification, but certification is not the same as medical licensing.
In other states, certification is not a legal requirement, but since many employers prefer to hire certified phlebotomists, you’ll have more employment opportunities if you pursue a certification.
Certification is an extra process you go through after you’ve finished your education and training. You’ll pay a fee, take an exam, and submit proof of your education and clinical experience. Having a felony shouldn’t be an issue when you apply for certification.
National Certification Organizations
Certified phlebotomists have more job opportunities and earn higher salaries.
The phlebotomist training you enroll in may already include a certification process as part of the course. You can apply for certification with any of the following organizations.
- The American Certification Agency (ACA)
- American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
- National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) – must report your felony when you apply, and may be required to pass a background check.
- National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA)
- National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Unless you apply for certification with the NCCT, you won’t need to pass a background check.
Phlebotomist Certification In California
California certifies three levels of phlebotomist.
Limited Phlebotomy Technician – authorized to carry out skin puncture blood collection.
- Complete 20 hours of classroom training in a program approved by the California Department of Public Health. Provide the certificate of completion for the program.
- Perform 25 successful skin punctures under supervision and supply a California Statement of Phlebotomy Practical Training signed by your qualified supervisor.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician 1 (CPT1) – authorized to carry out skin puncture blood collection and to draw blood from veins (venipuncture).
- Complete 20 hours of basic classroom training and 20 hours of advanced classroom training in a program approved by the California Department of Public Health. Provide the certificate of completion for the program.
- Complete 40 hours of phlebotomy clinical practise, which includes a minimum of 50 venipunctures, 10 skin punctures, and observation of arterial blood draws. Supply a California Statement of Phlebotomy Practical Training signed by your qualified supervisor.
- Pass a state exam.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician 2 (CPT2) – authorized to carry out skin puncture blood collection, venipuncture, and arterial blood punctures.
- Hold a CPT 1 certification and complete an additional 20 hours of advanced training.
- Pass a national certification exam from an approved certifying body.
- Supply a California Statement of Phlebotomy Practical Training documenting 50 venipunctures, 10 skin punctures, and 20 arterial punctures.
Can a convicted felon be a phlebotomist in California? A background check isn’t part of the certification process in California.
Phlebotomist Certification In Louisiana
- Complete an accredited phlebotomist training program with 40 hours of classroom training.
- Complete 100 hours of practical training, 100 venipunctures, and 25 skin punctures.
- Pass a national exam.
- Pass a background check.
Can a convicted felon be a phlebotomist in Louisiana? Background checks for certification are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Phlebotomist Certification In Nevada
In Nevada, to obtain state certification, phlebotomists need to submit a nationally recognized certification from one of the organizations listed above.
Phlebotomist Certification In Washington State
- Complete an accredited phlebotomist program
- Complete a minimum of 7 hours of AIDS training
- Pass a background check
Can a convicted felon be a phlebotomist in Washington state? You should find out if you can pass the certification background check before you enroll in a training program.
Some felony offenses will lead to automatic rejection, while others may be approved once a minimum period has passed.
You can find more detailed information on the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services website at https://doh.wa.gov/.
How Much Does A Phlebotomist Earn?
Phlebotomists are always in demand, and that demand is projected to increase by 10% over the next ten years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are over 21,000 job openings for phlebotomists each year.
The average salary for a phlebotomist is in the region of $37,000, although starting salaries for newly qualified phlebotomists may be lower.
Finding Work As A Phlebotomist With A Felony
Once you’ve finished your training, you’ll be ready to look for a job. Some phlebotomy programs help students find work once they graduate.
As a former felon, having that kind of support could be extremely valuable to you, and it’s something you should keep in mind when you’re choosing a program.
Given the high demand for certified phlebotomists, you’ll have a wide range of jobs you can apply for. Each employer will have their own background check policies, but plenty of former felons have been able to pursue careers in the medical field, so don’t be discouraged.
To improve your employment prospects, it’s worth finding out if you’re eligible for a Certificate of Rehabilitation in your state.
A Certificate of Rehabilitation is issued by the court and serves as proof that the court is satisfied you don’t pose a risk of reoffending. A local attorney or re-entry organization will be able to give you more information.
Can You Be A Phlebotomist With A Felony? Final Thoughts
There aren’t any laws that prevent felons training as and working as phlebotomists. This medical career doesn’t require a professional license, so barriers to entry are much lower.
To become a phlebotomist, you’ll need to complete a training program via an accredited online course or through a vocational school or community college.
Some schools will run a background check during enrollment, but having a felony isn’t an automatic disqualification. Plenty of schools will accept a convicted felon into their phlebotomy program.
Once you’re qualified, you’ll have more employment opportunities if you become a certified phlebotomist by taking an exam.
Most certification organizations don’t require a background check as part of the approval process, so your felony won’t stand in the way of certification.
Most employers will, however, run a background check on you, but that doesn’t always mean you’ll be rejected.