Phlebotomists in Illinois have many job opportunities, and the occupation is actually really easy to get into.
Read the article below to find out what the requirements are and other aspects related to this job.
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Phlebotomist Employment and Job Duties in Illinois
What many don’t know is that the majority of phlebotomists don’t spend a lot of time on this position.
They usually move on to other medical areas.
Phlebotomists can work in a variety of settings:
- Hospital and clinics
- Blood banks
- Labs
- Nursing homes
- Community Health Centers
- Doctor’s Offices
The responsibilities and duties of this professional while on the job are similar among those facilities.
They are not limited to collecting blood.
The duties extend to:
- Choosing the correct vials
- Correctly labeling samples
- Organizing and sending off samples to the lab for testing
- Communicating with patients
- Following strict procedures
Depending on the medical setting in which you work, your shifts might include night hours as well.
Requirements to Become a Phlebotomist in Illinois
In Illinois, phlebotomists are overseen by the Department of Illinois Veterans Affairs.
According to the state’s laws, there’s no need for a person to become certified before getting hired as a phlebotomist.
The Department, however, demands national certification from these professionals.
It will also be had to find an employer willing to hire anyone without proper training.
These are some of the other requirements you must meet to get hired as a phlebotomist:
- Having a high school diploma or GED
- Having specialized training
- Being detail-oriented
- Having strong communication skills
- Having good listening skills
Most of these attributes are needed to ensure the safety of the patients during procedures, as well as the accuracy of the tests performed.
Phlebotomist Training in Illinois
Phlebotomy candidates can choose to obtain the national certification or even a degree.
Regardless of your choice, the program needs to be accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory.
The training programs for this occupation can last anywhere from a few days or weeks and up to a year or two.
You’ll attend both:
- Theory classes
- Practice classes
Classes will cover these topics, and not only:
- Medical terms
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Safety procedures
- The 40 most common lab tests
The table below has all the schools in Illinois offering a program in phlebotomy.
29 Phlebotomy Schools in Illinois
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Black Hawk College | 6600 34th Ave. Moline, IL 61265 |
| City Colleges of Chicago-Malcolm X College | 1900 W. Van Buren St. Chicago, IL 60612 |
| College of DuPage | 425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 |
| College of Lake County | 19351 West Washington Street Grayslake, IL 60030-1198 |
| Elgin Community College | 1700 Spartan Drive Elgin, Illinois 60123-7193 |
| EnVaNa Healthcare Training Center | 500 E. Ogden Ave. Suite 208 Naperville, IL 60563 |
| Harper College | 1200 W. Algonquin Road Palatine, IL 60067 |
| Illinois Central College | One College Drive East Peoria, Illinois 61635-0001 |
| Illinois Central College | 115 SW Adams St. Peoria, IL 61635-0001 |
| Illinois Central College | 5407 N University St. Peoria, IL 61635-0001 |
| Illinois Valley Community College | 815 N Orlando, Smith Ave Oglesby, Illinois 61348-9692 |
| Joliet Junior College | 1215 Houbolt Road Joliet, IL 60431-8938 |
| Lincoln Land Community College | 5250 Shepherd Road Springfield, IL 62794-9256 |
| Moraine Valley Community College | 9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills IL 60465-2478 |
| Oakton Community College | 1600 East Golf Road Des Plaines, IL 60016 |
| Oakton Community College | 7701 North Lincoln Avenue Skokie, IL 60077 |
| Olney Central College | 305 North West Street Olney, IL 62450-1099 |
| Olney Central College | 2 Frontier Drive Fairfield, IL 62837-2601 |
| Rend Lake College | 468 N. Ken Gray Parkway, Ina, IL 62846 |
| Richland Community College | One College Park Decatur, IL 62521 |
| South Suburban College | 15800 South State Street South Holland, IL 60473-1200 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | 2500 Carlyle Ave. Belleville, IL 62221 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | 500 W. South Fourth St. Red Bud, IL 62278 |
| Southwestern Illinois College | 4950 Maryville Road Granite City, IL 62040 |
| Stars Academy School of Phlebotomy | 8077 W. 95th Street Hickory Hills, IL 60457 |
| Waubonsee Community College | 18 S. River Street Aurora, IL 60506-4134 |
| Waubonsee Community College | 2060 Ogden Avenue Aurora, IL 60504-7222 |
| Waubonsee Community College | 100 Waubonsee Drive Plano, IL 60545 |
| Waubonsee Community College | 4S783 IL-47, Sugar Grove, IL 60554 |
As you can expect, there are different admission requirements for each school.
Passing a drug screening test and having a clean criminal record are generally common requirements for all schools.
Having up-to-date vaccines can also be required.
The tuition will also vary as it can cover different aspects of the student’s life.
In some cases, the tuition will even cover the following:
- Exam fees
- Uniform for the graduation
Most of these schools will require students to be successful with at least 100 and oftentimes, 120 collections of blood samples.
Most of the schools are willing to help their graduates find an internship or a job.
Phlebotomist Certification in Illinois
As already mentioned, it’s best to get nationally certified as a phlebotomist.
With this credential, your chances of landing a position with a desired facility will be maximum.
You can obtain the national certification from the following institutions:
- American Medical Technologists
- American Society for Clinical Pathology
- American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians
- National Phlebotomy Association
Once you complete the course, you must pass an exam.
The test for the national phlebotomist certificate has a written or oral past as well as a practice part.
The national certificate has to be renewed.
Each institution has its own rules when it comes to this process, so make sure to be well informed on this aspect.
Phlebotomist Salary Information in Illinois
In Illinois, a phlebotomist earns on average, $36,246 per year.
Those who just start will earn a bit less but the more experience they accumulate, the more their salary will increase.
Your workplace as well as the city you are employed in will also affect your paycheck.
Below you can see the median salaries for this profession, in the state’s largest cities.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Phlebotomists in Illinois
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Chicago | $37,442 |
| Aurora | $37,129 |
| Joliet | $36,513 |
| Rockford | $34,756 |
| Naperville | $36,768 |
| Springfield | $32,575 |
| Peoria | $34,089 |
| Elgin | $36,806 |
| Waukegan | $35,333 |
| Champaign | $33,154 |
Regional Salary
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 40 | $37,530 | $18.04 | $44,430 | $31,160 |
| Carbondale-Marion, IL | 50 | $36,160 | $17.38 | $45,860 | $31,060 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 130 | $38,050 | $18.3 | $45,830 | $31,890 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | 3,600 | $42,650 | $20.51 | $52,490 | $34,850 |
| Peoria, IL | 160 | $36,500 | $17.55 | $43,630 | $32,140 |
| Rockford, IL | 140 | $37,500 | $18.03 | $45,170 | $31,510 |
| Springfield, IL | 230 | $38,400 | $18.46 | $44,900 | $30,910 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Phlebotomists in Illinois
Other medical personnel can get trained in drawing blood.
Most often, nurses are the ones who get such training.
This way, they expand their duties and responsibilities and they have the chance of a better income.
Phlebotomy Schools by City
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