If you think you or anyone for that matter is being irrational for being scared of injections and any other types of needles in the medical field, you are wrong. In fact, there is a medical term for that. It’s trypanophobia. And it is quite common with about 10% of the human population suffering from this fear.
It is understandable to have fears as it is part of human nature. The problem arises when it affects our health. That being said, out of those who have fear of needles and injections, 20% refuse to seek medical services and treatments as a result. This is when it becomes a major problem.
This is where the phlebotomists come in. The duty of a phlebotomist, among other functions, is to ease the mind of the patient, especially those who are first-timers, and make the drawing of “first blood” as smooth and swift as possible so as not to prolong the agony of the patient.
For those who may not know what this tongue-twister of a word means, phlebotomy is the area of medicine that deals with the practice of drawing of blood from the veins of patients. So it may ease your mind quite a bit knowing that it is not just a trial and error procedure. It is an exact science. Phlebotomists know where your veins are located and you are not being a case study when they don’t get it right the first, second, third, or so times. There are just those whose veins are not prominent, hence the struggle.
And if you are not squeamish, you might want to consider becoming a phlebotomist yourself as this profession can be fulfilling as it can be rewarding at the same time. But the question is how much does phlebotomy training cost?
Average Cost of Phlebotomy Training
The phlebotomy certification cost can be around $600 to $3,000 or more depending on the kind of school, location, etc.
Some technical institutions and colleges incorporate phlebotomy training in some of their medical assistant programs or degrees. Some of these programs can be worth around $30,000 to less than $40,000 for the entire associate degree.
According to CareersWiki.com, the following are the price of phlebotomy course:
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At Contra Costa Medical Career College, the Phlebotomy Technician Training course costs $2,300.
A look at the cost at Technical Colleges reveals that the tuition fee is way lower than those offered at private colleges. The reported average training cost at these types of institutions range between $700 and $1,400. An example would be the tuition fee of phlebotomy course at Emily Griffith Technical College which is around $695 only.
Another option is through an online learning which typically costs around $300 to $700. This may be cheaper compared to ground schools but you still have to enroll in the practical or hands-on training after completing the online course.
What are Included
The Phlebotomy Technician Training course like the one being offered by the Contra Costa Medical Career College is a vocational course only which means that the type of degree being conferred is a certificate only and typically includes the following:
- Provides students with knowledge of theories and hands-on application required in order to become a full-fledged and certified phlebotomist.
- Provides 40 hours of classroom discussion and training
- Provides 40 hours of laboratory training
- Provides 40 hours of clinical practice
- Prepares the student for the State Certification Exam for the CPT-1 or the Certified Phlebotomy Technician.
- Provides 40-hour externship after completing the course
The CCMCC also assures that the course meets all the requirement of California Department of Health Services, Laboratory Field Services for Certified Phlebotomy Technician 1.
Additional Costs
Other fees you need to pay directly at school aside from the phlebotomy certification cost include the following:
- Registration Fee: $75.00
- Book: $60.00
Additional fees students need to spend on as part of your training and not paid directly at the Institution are the following:
- Uniforms: $30.00
- Background check and drug screen: $102.00
- BLS American Heart Association for Health Care Providers: $85.00
- Phlebotomy Certification NHA Certification Exam: $135.00 (This exam is required by the state of California)
- State application fee: $100.00
Shopping for Phlebotomy Training
You can find a lot of help online in finding a Phlebotomy school, be it ground school or virtual school. An example is the Ephlebotomist.com which offers a free locator of schools offering these courses and other medical-related courses.
There are also available free online phlebotomy courses and educational materials that are being offered by various schools around the country. To check whether there are available courses near your area, you may check out Study.com.
Factors Affecting Phlebotomy Training Costs
Getting the best education possible could be your passport to a lucrative career in any kind of field. But most often than not, due to financial constraints, you are torn between getting the quality education and enrolling at a school with the cheapest tuition fees.
Having said that, here are some of the factors that can affect the cost of the phlebotomy training:
School or institution – the choice of whether to attend a technical institute or a private school can hugely affect the price of phlebotomy course as the former charge significantly lower tuition fees compared to its counterpart. Regardless of your decision, just ensure the quality of education you would be getting as this is your ticket to a very rewarding career.
In-state or out-of-state – when choosing a school, it is often advantageous to enroll in an institution within the state where you reside as there are schools that give discounts to residents.
Location – in most cases, the state which is more progressive compared to others can have a more costly education. After all, schools are still a business that can be affected by a lot of factors, including the cost of doing business which can be quite expensive in cities.
Ground school or online – tuition fees in online schools tend to be lower than ground schools because of the absence of some costs that are typical in running a school such as facilities rental, electricity among others.
Certification or Associate – as mentioned, there are medical associate degrees that include phlebotomy training in the curriculum. These can be more expensive at first glance but if you look into the cost associated with the phlebotomy training alone, it could be so much cheaper.
Paying capacity – if you cannot afford to go to school due to financial concerns, there are available free online courses being offered by various schools and institutions. You may also check out with your state’s social services for any available scholarships, sponsorships, and educational grants to deserving students based on various criteria.