Phlebotomy Schools in Oklahoma

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that 1,480 people worked as phlebotomists in Oklahoma in 2018. By 2028, the BLS anticipates that number will increase to 1,760 people for a 19 percent change. No hospital or medical clinic can afford to be without trained phlebotomists, especially as the population ages and require blood draws more often.

How Can I Find the Best Phlebotomy Program Near Me?

The BLS sponsors a website called Career One Stop that allows people to look for college certificate or degree programs for training purposes. Several dozen schools offer phlebotomy technician programs, most of which are community or technical colleges. Two examples of colleges offering phlebotomy training are Pontotoc Community Center and Redlands Community College. Students can complete many of the phlebotomy programs in Oklahoma in under one year.

Most employers require the phlebotomists they hire to have graduated from an accredited training program and to have covered certain topics while in school. Common courses completed during phlebotomy training include:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Infection control
• Laboratory best practices
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Preservation of blood and tissue samples
• Vein entry points

The program should also offer several hours of supervised practice of phlebotomy skills in an offsite location.

What Is the Phlebotomy Certification/Licensing Process in Oklahoma?

Only four states require phlebotomists to obtain certification, and Oklahoma is not one of them. Despite this, passing a certification exam is the best way for new graduates of phlebotomy programs to stand out from the competition. The National Healthcare Association (NHA) offers phlebotomy certification for students who pass the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam.

Some employers may not require post-secondary education for a phlebotomist position, but they are in the minority. Phlebotomists who have not completed a formal training program must have one year of work experience before they can take a certification exam.

Where Can I Find a Job as a Phlebotomist in Oklahoma?

As with most states, phlebotomists will find the greatest number of opportunities in Oklahoma's largest cities. These include:

• Oklahoma City
• Tulsa
• Norman
• Broken Arrow
• Lawton
• Edmond
• Moore
• Midwest City
• Enid
• Stillwater

Some of the largest employers in Oklahoma for phlebotomy jobs include Coordinated Health Care Solutions, Labcorp, OU Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, and the United States military. Several employers have expressed urgent hiring needs at this time.

What Is the Salary for a Phlebotomist in Oklahoma?

The median annual salary for a phlebotomist working in Oklahoma is $30,070 per year or $14.45 per hour. Approximately 50 percent of people earn more than this and 50 percent earn less. The BLS reports that experienced phlebotomists at the top 90th percentile of their pay grade earn approximately $40,850 per year in Oklahoma. Those at the lowest 10th percentile earn an annual salary of around $22,650.

Oklahoma pays phlebotomists an average of $6,000 less per year compared to the national average. However, anyone who would like to pursue this career should always consider the cost of living in the area where they would like to work. Most of the time, lower wages mean that the state has a lower cost of living.

Phlebotomy Schools By City