The Pros – Phlebotomy Certification Benefits

• Better job prospects: Getting certification is not mandatory by law for  phlebotomy anywhere in the US except in California and Louisiana.  Nevertheless, you’ll find that very few employers are willing to hire phlebotomists who are not certified.  So rather than just getting trained at an accredited school, you should take the certification exam to improve your employment prospects in the job market.
• Higher salary: Certified phlebotomists are invariably offered higher salaries.  Your certificate is all it takes to prove to your employer that you have the requisite knowledge and skills.  It will also be a valuable tool for negotiating a higher salary or even a raise.
• Opportunity to acquire higher qualifications: Phlebotomy certification opens the door to higher qualifications for you.  Those who don’t have certification are not eligible for many of the additional courses available to phlebotomists.

The Cons – Is Phlebotomy Certification really necessary?

• Certification Takes Time: After spending a few months for attending classes at a training school, you will have to give additional time for preparing for the certification examination.
• Certification Costs Money: Enrolling for a formal training course and then appearing for the certification exam costs money.  If you have been lucky to get a job without being trained you might not be too inclined to give up this job and go in for classroom training and subsequently taking the phlebotomy certification exam.  However some employers do offer to reimburse you for training expenses at an authorized institution.
• Duties involved put you off: What if the very sight of blood or working in a hospital environment where you’re constantly surrounded by sick people nauseates you?  Or maybe you’re not comfortable working irregular hours like doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are often required to.

The Final Decision

Phlebotomy is an excellent choice for the right people, not for everyone though.  Experienced professionals therefore advise newbies to first make sure they have an aptitude for working as a phlebotomist.  If you have even the slightest doubt, it would be better to find this out before you undertake the bother of acquiring certification.  In that case, try and get a job with or without training.  Work for a few months and then decide about getting certification.