We understand that the thought of taking an exam strikes fear in a lot of people, but fortunately the phlebotomy certification exam is not something you need to be overly concerned about. Chances are, you already know what a phlebotomist is, but we wanted to give you a quick overview before we get started. So, generally speaking, a phlebotomist specializes in drawing blood, but they also provide a variety of other laboratory procedures. For a full explanation of what phlebotomy is and what a phlebotomist does, please see  our article titled What is Phlebotomy.

These days most employers, especially hospitals and large retail pharmacies, require their phlebotomists to have an ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) phlebotomy certification. In order to get your certification you will need to successfully complete a phlebotomy certification exam.

Preparing Yourself for the Phlebotomy Certification Exam

Preparing for the phlebotomy certification exam isn’t much different than preparing for any other exam. In fact, you will find that much of the tips and preparation will work just as well for any other exam that you may be taking. Studying is the key to your success. Below we have given you some study and preparation tips that will help you get ready for your big exam:

• Tip #1: Spend several days before your exam studying. Go over all of your phlebotomy training course material and take a few short online practice exams to get a feel for the questions that will be asked.
• Tip #2: Get plenty of sleep the night before the exam. While a lot of people feel the need to stay up late and cram for the exam, you brain needs to sleep to function properly. Getting a good night’s sleep will help clear your mind and leave you feeling refreshed for the big day.
• Tip #3: Drink a cup of coffee or something with caffeine on your way to the testing center. Caffeine is known to stimulate the brain and can help you stay focused and alert while taking the phlebotomy certification exam.

We highly recommend that you take full advantage of a phlebotomy practice test. These are available online at a few different website, you might also consider purchasing a set of phlebotomy flash cards.

You need to understand that this is a standardized test and some of you may have problems passing it on the first attempt. Although if you have taken a course or have worked in the phlebotomy industry, or any other laboratory related field, you should have no problems passing the certification exam.

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