Medical assistants and phlebotomy technicians are two types of medical professionals with specific duties. In certain states like California, healthcare workers are required to have a phlebotomy certificate to draw blood from patients.
This means medical assistants in California need to earn their phlebotomy certificate to be able to draw blood. There are some advantages for medical assistants who choose to pursue this certification. Before diving into those benefits, lets review what the typical responsibilities are for phlebotomy technicians and medical assistants.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants play a vital role in medical offices and healthcare facilities, performing a wide range of clinical and administrative tasks. They must work under the supervision of a physician, and their primary role is to provide support for the physician. They often take vital signs, prepare examination rooms, update patient records, set patient appointments, and assist the physician with specific clinical tasks. They often work in medical offices, hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, and ambulatory services.
What Does a Phlebotomist Do?
Phlebotomists are medical professionals who draw blood and collect samples for diagnostic tests, blood donations, transfusions, or medical research. This is usually done through a venipuncture, though in certain less common cases, this may be an arterial draw. Venipunctures can be done in California with a Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) certification. Arterial punctures can only be done with a CPT II certification, though these are less commonly needed.
Benefits for Medical Assistants Earning Phlebotomy Certification
There are tangible benefits for medical assistants who want to earn their CPT I certification.
1. Higher Potential Salary
Some employers may pay more to medical assistants who are qualified to draw blood for samples or diagnostic testing. As of May 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported medical assistants nationwide earn a mean annual salary of $42,000 per year and a mean average wage of $20.19 per hour.
Phlebotomy certification is specialized training that requires a specific amount of training hours from an approved program.
2. Increased Job Opportunities
Medical assistants with a phlebotomy certification may be qualified for more positions than their colleagues without CPT I certification. Most medical assistants work in physician’s offices (56%) while phlebotomists work in hospitals (35%), medical and diagnostic laboratories (31%), ambulatory healthcare services (17%), doctor’s offices (8%), and blood donor centers. [Statistics as of May 2023, Bureau of Labor Statistics].
Having a phlebotomy certification along with medical assistant certification can potentially qualify you for more healthcare jobs.
3. More Diverse Skillset
Having a broader skillset allows medical assistants to be used in a wider range of assigned responsibilities. Phlebotomy certification allows MA’s in states like California to draw blood from patients. In states where certification is not required, it allows them to perform blood draws with increased precision and confidence. Certification in both medical assisting and phlebotomy creates a well-rounded medical professional who can handle more clinical tasks.
4. Relatively Easy for Medical Assistants to Become Phlebotomist Certified
Some medical vocational colleges, like Campus Sacramento, formerly known as MTI College, offer a Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy program. For medical assistants who have already completed their certification training, they can also take a standalone Phlebotomy training program, like the one at Campus Sacramento, which is 16 weeks in length.
5. Makes You Potentially Better at Patient Care
Many patients don’t like needles, and it requires a bit of empathy and interpersonal skills to draw blood sometimes. Phlebotomy certification in California requires an externship, where you work with real patients. Completing this hands on externship can help you become better at other aspects of your patient relations and be a more well rounded medical professional.
Get Certified as a Medical Assistant with Your Phlebotomy Certification
If you’re in the Sacramento area, and you want to become a medical assistant, Campus Sacramento has a Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy certification program designed to help you start your career. In about 48 weeks, you will learn the skills you need to get started in your medical assisting career. You’ll also earn your CPT I certification, so you do venipunctures and draw blood, which many employers are looking for.
To get more information on our program, including curriculum and financial aid, contact our Admissions department or call 888-675-2460