If you are pursuing a career in phlebotomy, the practice of drawing blood for testing or blood transfusion, you'll need to know the regulations on plebotomy training in your area. Labs in most states will hire phlebotomists who possess a high school diploma or GED and train them on the job. So far, only three states have adopted regulations for minimum phlebotomy training and certification: Nevada, Louisiana and California. Regardless of minimum requirements, however, labs do prefer to hire phlebotomists who have completed some level of training or certification.

Nevada Phlebotomy Regulations

The Nevada State Health Division recognizes phlebotomists as office assistants or office lab assistants. Lab assistants are defined as phlebotomists who work in a licensed lab rather than a doctor's office. Since phlebotomists are considered lab assistants, they are required to complete lab certification training.

Office lab assistants are phlebotomists and medical assistants who work in a doctor's office. Office lab assistants must also possess certification training. Office lab assistant certification is considered the minimum requirement to work in a licensed laboratory.

Louisiana Phlebotomy Regulations

Louisiana requires all persons who are not doctors, nurses or clinical lab scientists to be licensed in order to draw blood. There are two categories of licensed phlebotomists. Limited phlebotomy technicians are only authorized to perform skin punctures. Fully certified phlebotomists are authorized to perform venipuncture and arterial puncture as well.

California Phlebotomy Regulations

The state of California has the most stringent regulations for phlebotomists. New phlebotomists who do not have prior training or experience are required to complete 40 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of practical hands-on training. On completion of this training they must successfully perform 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures to obtain certification as a phlebotomist.