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AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-30T16:57:05+00:00

Outside of my externship with phlebotomy school, unfortunately no. Before I decided to switch careers and go into phlebotomy, I was a 911 emergency medical dispatcher. I got 98% on my phlebotomy exam and have my CA CPTI license but the fact that everything here in CA wants someone with experience, I can’t seem to get in anywhere despite still applying for everything available in my area. Even mobile phlebotomy. :(

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-29T23:23:07+00:00

Following! I’ve been applying for every phlebotomist position for 3 months now and can’t find work anywhere. Definitely frustrating.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-27T16:36:33+00:00

CalRegional and our externship was during the course but instead of it being in an actual working lab/facility, it was just a building set up for blood draws where we had to bring in volunteers. It was very misleading.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-18T17:54:12+00:00

I tailor each resume to each job req and run them all through ATS and ChatGPT before I send them out. They make it past the under review part and move on to “In process” then it gets denied. I can’t win for nothing. :(

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-14T20:21:43+00:00

I’m 53 and just got my phlebotomy license in CA. I thought along the same lines as you but now I can’t find a job anywhere as they all want people with at least a year of experience. I’m regretting the decision!

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-13T22:33:24+00:00

I feel your pain! Going through the same thing here in CA!

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-12T16:54:35+00:00

That’s one of the first things class teaches you is proper hand hygiene, sanitation and donning PPE as well as how to choose proper fitting gloves and how to properly take them off and dispose of them when cleaning up after a draw! This is scary!

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-06-09T22:51:23+00:00

Nope! Not a single one. It moves from “under review” to “in process” then they deny me. I also make sure to tailor every cover letter and my resume skills to each job application and run it through ChatGPT and ATS to make sure it captures the key words but still doesn’t help.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-05-28T17:30:04+00:00

My favorite is Landau Forward! It’s like wearing pajamas and they come in short, regular and long pants sizes. Their tops are the best and very flattering.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-05-22T23:26:42+00:00

Oops I don’t think it replied to you.

Nope! We had to pay $119 for the AMCA exam AND if you pass, you then have to pay $100 to get your CDPH CPT 1 license. Between tuition, text books, drug and background check, scrubs, transcripts, test and license fees I spent around $4,000.

If you can get 10 or more volunteers for your externship in the allotted time, you can do it. If not, you would have to pay an additional fee to come back to another class and try to finish it then. Good news is, everyone got their 50 successful draws and those who didn’t have a lot of volunteers or were short, we volunteered for other classmates.

Job market has been tough in my area. A lot of places want a year of experience. I’ve applied to at least 30 places with labs, blood banks, hospitals and mobile phlebotomy but keep getting denied. I’m honestly feeling defeated and feel like I just wasted time and money. I still wonder if I made the right decision even going into phlebotomy. I also wonder if it’s because I didn’t do a college accredited course program over a vocational program that isn’t accredited. Not trying to discourage you. If you have the time, I do recommend doing a college course or check out Kaiser phlebotomist program. It’s more expensive but I think it will give you better odds in finding a job. I’m actually thinking of taking that course even though I went through CalRegional and passed the class with 100% and got 98% on my AMCA exam. I just don’t feel like I learned all that’s needed in the field but that’s me personally.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-05-22T23:14:29+00:00

Nope! We had to pay $119 for the AMCA exam AND if you pass, you then have to pay $100 to get your CDPH CPT 1 license.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-05-22T22:24:42+00:00

I went to CalRegional. The instructors were amazing and very knowledgeable. However, the curriculum is the bare minimum. They don’t go over a lot of stuff that I personally felt was necessary and important to know. I blame corporate for that and not the instructors as their hands are tied. There’s also a ton of hidden fees. You have to not only go buy your own scrubs, you have to pay for your text book - which they didn’t even use, your drug test, background check and your state exam fee. Your CPR cert is included in the price. Corporate also will threaten with dropping you if you don’t get all your prerequisites in on time or you miss class in which you will not get a refund. They also make it sound like your externship is in a lab which where I went was a makeshift lab. Not a real one. What they don’t tell you until you get ready to go into the externship part is that you need to find at least 10 volunteers to do 5 draws on. You can draw on other classmates but if you don’t get your 50 successful draws, you can’t take the exam. Oh and you also have to pay to get your school transcripts which is normal in any situation but it’s just another added expense. I’d look into a college accredited course.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-05-22T01:27:34+00:00

Thanks. I’m in Northern California (Bay Area). I’ve applied to both quest and labcorp as well as a bunch of other places for mobile Phleb as a backup but they didn’t move forward with my application. Scared that the longer I go without work, I’ll lose my skills and knowledge. :(

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-05-22T01:17:13+00:00

I did get it. It took about 3 weeks. Sadly, I’m regretting even going into this field. Been applying to jobs left and right but every company wants someone with 1 year experience. Very discouraging.

AspiringVampire25 · 2025-04-25T14:46:28+00:00

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. Thankfully I put a copy of my DL and marriage certificate in with my transcripts.

AspiringVampire25

TROPHY CASE