Top 11 Blood Bank Technologist Certifications

Certifications are important for a blood bank technologist in the job market because they demonstrate to employers that the technologist has met the necessary professional standards and is qualified to perform the essential tasks of their role. Employers want to make sure that those they hire have the knowledge and skills required to work safely and efficiently in their facility. Certifications provide evidence that a technologist meets these requirements, making them more attractive to potential employers. Additionally, certifications may be necessary for certain positions or roles, so having them can increase an individual’s chances of obtaining employment.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Blood Bank Technologists and explains how they can contribute to a blood bank technologist's career.

What are Blood Bank Technologist Certifications?

Blood Bank Technologist Certification is a certification program designed to give qualified individuals the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful Blood Bank Technologist. This certification provides comprehensive training in the fundamentals of blood banking, including the collection, processing, storage, and distribution of blood and its components. The certification also covers the detection and identification of blood-borne pathogens, transfusion reactions, quality assurance, regulatory compliance and other essential topics related to blood banking services.

The certification can help individuals gain employment as Blood Bank Technologists in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, research laboratories and government agencies. Having this certification demonstrates that an individual has undergone extensive training in the field of blood banking and has acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully perform his or her job duties. It can also be used to apply for promotions or higher positions within an organization or institution. Additionally, having this type of certification may increase an individual’s earning potential since employers may view certified technologists as more qualified than those without this credential. Finally, having this credential can open up opportunities for advancement into other areas such as healthcare management or consulting roles.

Pro Tip: If you are considering becoming a blood bank technologist, make sure to research the certification requirements of your state or region. Certification may involve passing an exam and completing a certain number of hours of supervised clinical training. Additionally, some states may require additional training and education beyond what is offered in the certification process.

Related: What does a Blood Bank Technologist do?

Top 11 Blood Bank Technologist Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Blood Bank Technologists today.

1. American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Blood Bank Technologist Certification

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Blood Bank Technologist Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and expertise in the field of blood banking. This certification is designed to recognize qualified individuals who have achieved a high level of proficiency in the field.

To become certified, one must first complete an accredited program in blood banking technology or medical laboratory science. After completing the educational requirements, applicants must then pass a comprehensive exam administered by ASCP. The exam covers topics such as transfusion medicine, immunohematology, and quality assurance.

The certification process typically takes between 6 months to 1 year to complete. The cost of the exam varies depending on the applicant's location and whether they are a member of ASCP or not. Generally, it costs around $300-$400 for members and $500-$600 for non-members.

Once certified, individuals must maintain their credential by completing continuing education courses every three years in order to remain active. This helps ensure that certified professionals stay up-to-date with current standards and practices in the field of blood banking.

2. American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) Blood Bank Technologist Certification

The American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) Blood Bank Technologist Certification is a voluntary certification program for medical laboratory professionals who specialize in the field of blood banking. This certification demonstrates that an individual has achieved a level of proficiency in the field and has met the requirements set forth by the AAB.

To be eligible for this certification, applicants must have at least two years of experience as a blood bank technologist and must have completed at least 40 hours of continuing education in the field within the past five years. Additionally, applicants must pass a written exam that covers topics such as immunohematology, transfusion medicine, and laboratory management.

The process to obtain this certification typically takes about three months from start to finish. To get started, applicants should visit the AAB website and complete an application form along with payment of fees ($325 for members/$400 for non-members). Once approved, applicants will receive their exam date and instructions on how to prepare for it. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their certificate from AAB verifying their certification status.

Overall, obtaining the AAB Blood Bank Technologist Certification requires dedication and commitment to the field but can be very rewarding in terms of career advancement opportunities.

3. National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) Blood Bank Technologist Certification

The National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) Blood Bank Technologist Certification is a voluntary certification that recognizes the professional qualifications of individuals who have achieved a high level of expertise in the field of blood banking. The certification is designed to demonstrate a commitment to excellence and professionalism.

To obtain the NCA Blood Bank Technologist Certification, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass an examination administered by the NCA. Eligibility requirements include having a minimum of two years of experience working in a clinical laboratory setting and completing at least 12 semester hours or 18 quarter hours of college-level coursework in medical laboratory technology, hematology, immunology, transfusion medicine, or related sciences.

The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions that cover topics such as anatomy and physiology; blood components; blood collection and processing; compatibility testing; infectious disease testing; quality assurance; safety practices; and technical procedures. The exam takes approximately four hours to complete.

The cost for taking the NCA Blood Bank Technologist Certification exam is $350 USD. After passing the exam, there is an additional fee for obtaining the certificate which is currently $100 USD.

Once certified, individuals must maintain their certification by completing continuing education activities every three years.

4. American Medical Technologists (AMT) Blood Bank Technologist Certification

American Medical Technologists (AMT) Blood Bank Technologist Certification is a certification program designed to recognize the knowledge and skills of medical technologists who specialize in the field of blood banking. This certification is offered by AMT, a non-profit organization that provides certifications for allied health professionals.

To be eligible for the AMT Blood Bank Technologist Certification, applicants must have at least two years of full-time experience in the field, or equivalent part-time experience. The applicant must also have completed an approved course in blood banking technology from an accredited institution and must pass a written examination.

The process of obtaining the AMT Blood Bank Technologist Certification typically takes about six months to complete. Applicants must first submit their application form along with any required documents, such as proof of experience and education credentials. Once all requirements are met, applicants will be scheduled for a written exam which they must pass in order to receive their certification.

The cost of obtaining the AMT Blood Bank Technologist Certification varies depending on the type of application submitted and whether or not additional fees are required. Generally, the cost ranges from $150-$200 USD.

5. International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) Blood Bank Technician Certification

The International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) Blood Bank Technician Certification is a professional certification program designed to recognize the knowledge and skills of individuals who work in the field of blood banking. The certification is awarded to those who demonstrate an understanding of the principles, practices, and regulations related to the collection, processing, storage, distribution, and disposal of human blood products.

To obtain this certification, individuals must complete a two-day course that covers topics such as blood bank terminology; safety protocols; quality control procedures; laboratory techniques; regulatory compliance; and customer service. Upon successful completion of the course, participants are eligible to take an online exam administered by ISBER.

The cost of taking the ISBER Blood Bank Technician Certification course is $1,200 USD. The cost includes all materials needed for the course as well as access to online resources and practice exams. Once you have completed the course and passed the exam, you will receive your official ISBER Blood Bank Technician Certification.

In order to maintain your certification status with ISBER you must renew your certification every three years by completing continuing education courses or attending conferences or workshops related to blood banking.

6. American Red Cross Blood Bank Technician Certification

American Red Cross Blood Bank Technician Certification is a certification program that provides individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to become successful blood bank technicians. The certification is offered through the American Red Cross, which is an international humanitarian organization that helps people affected by disasters, emergencies, and other crises. The certification program consists of both classroom instruction and hands-on training in order to ensure that individuals are properly prepared to work as a blood bank technician.

The American Red Cross Blood Bank Technician Certification typically takes approximately three months to complete. During this time, students will learn about topics such as blood banking principles, laboratory safety procedures, quality assurance practices, specimen collection and processing techniques, and more. Upon successful completion of the program, students will receive their certification from the American Red Cross.

In order to get certified as an American Red Cross Blood Bank Technician, individuals must first complete an approved course of study. This may include courses at a local college or university or online courses provided by the American Red Cross itself. Once all required coursework has been completed, individuals must then take and pass the American Red Cross Blood Bank Technician Certification exam in order to receive their certification.

The cost of getting certified as an American Red Cross Blood Bank Technician varies depending on the type of course taken and any additional fees associated with taking the exam. Generally speaking, however, it can cost anywhere from $500-$1,000 for tuition alone for those who choose to take a college or university course in order to prepare for the exam. Additional fees may apply if you choose to take an online course or if you need to retake the exam multiple times before passing it.

7. National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) Blood Bank Technician Certification

The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) Blood Bank Technician Certification is a credential that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and proficiency in the field of blood banking. It is designed to give employers assurance that the person they hire has the necessary skills and qualifications to perform their job correctly.

To obtain this certification, individuals must first complete a formal training program in blood banking, which typically takes six months to two years depending on the program. After completing their training, applicants must pass a written exam administered by the NPA. The exam covers topics such as phlebotomy techniques, laboratory safety procedures, and blood bank regulations. Upon passing the exam, individuals will receive their certification from the NPA.

The cost of obtaining this certification varies depending on the program chosen and any additional fees associated with it. Generally speaking, however, applicants can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$1000 for their training program and around $200 for the NPA certification exam fee.

Overall, obtaining an NPA Blood Bank Technician Certification is a great way for individuals to demonstrate their knowledge and expertise in the field of blood banking. It provides employers with assurance that they are hiring qualified professionals who have been properly trained in this area of medicine.

8. American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Blood Bank Technician Certification

The American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Blood Bank Technician Certification is a professional certification for individuals who work in the field of blood banking. This certification is designed to demonstrate a technician’s knowledge and proficiency in the areas of blood banking, including collection, processing, and storage of blood products. The certification is valid for three years from the date it was earned and must be renewed every three years thereafter.

To become certified as an AACC Blood Bank Technician, applicants must first meet certain eligibility requirements. These include having at least one year of full-time experience working in a clinical laboratory setting within the past five years or completing an accredited training program in medical technology or clinical laboratory science. Applicants must also pass an exam administered by the AACC.

The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions covering topics such as donor selection, collection procedures, laboratory testing principles, transfusion therapy and immunohematology. It takes approximately four hours to complete the exam and results are available immediately upon completion. The cost to take the exam is $300 USD.

Once certified, technicians will receive a certificate indicating their successful completion of the AACC Blood Bank Technician Certification Program along with a wallet card that can be used to prove their credentials when applying for jobs or other opportunities related to blood banking.

9. International Society for Clinical Laboratory Technology (ISCLT) Blood Bank Technician Certification

The International Society for Clinical Laboratory Technology (ISCLT) Blood Bank Technician Certification is a voluntary certification program designed to recognize the professional knowledge and skills of those who work in the field of blood banking. The certification is awarded to individuals who demonstrate competence in the areas of blood banking, including donor selection and collection, laboratory processing, storage and distribution, quality assurance/control, and safety.

The certification process typically takes between four to six months to complete. To become certified, applicants must first meet the eligibility requirements which include having a minimum of three years of full-time experience in a blood bank setting within the last five years; completion of an approved training program; or successful completion of an approved college course or equivalent. Once these requirements are met, applicants must then pass a written examination administered by ISCLT.

The cost for taking the exam varies depending on whether you are an ISCLT member or non-member. For members, the fee is $200 while non-members pay $250. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with obtaining study materials and other resources needed for preparation.

Once you have passed the exam and been certified as a Blood Bank Technician by ISCLT, you will receive a certificate that acknowledges your achievement as well as continuing education credits that can be used towards maintaining your certification status.

10. National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) Blood Bank Technician Certification

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) Blood Bank Technician Certification is a voluntary certification program that recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of a Blood Bank Technician.

The certification program requires applicants to have an associate’s degree in medical laboratory technology or a related field, as well as at least one year of full-time experience working in a blood bank. Applicants must also pass an examination administered by NAACLS. The exam consists of questions related to blood banking principles and practices, including donor screening, collection, processing, storage, and distribution of blood products.

It typically takes about three months from the time of application submission to receive the results of the exam. Once applicants have passed the exam, they will be awarded their certification and can use it to demonstrate their expertise in the field.

The cost for taking the exam is $250 for members of NAACLS and $350 for non-members. Additionally, there may be additional fees associated with obtaining transcripts or other documentation required for application submission.

11. College of American Pathologists (CAP) Blood Bank Technician Certification

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) Blood Bank Technician Certification is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a blood bank technician. This certification is offered by the CAP, which is an international organization dedicated to advancing patient care through laboratory medicine.

To obtain the CAP Blood Bank Technician Certification, applicants must first complete an accredited educational program in laboratory science or medical technology. Once they have completed their education, applicants must then pass a comprehensive examination that covers topics such as blood banking principles and techniques, safety and quality assurance, donor selection and collection, specimen processing and testing, and transfusion medicine. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete.

Once candidates have successfully passed the exam, they will receive their CAP Blood Bank Technician Certification. This certification is valid for three years from the date of issuance. After three years, certified technicians must renew their certification by completing continuing education requirements or retaking the exam.

The cost of obtaining the CAP Blood Bank Technician Certification varies depending on whether you are a member of the CAP or not. For non-members, there is an initial fee of $350 for taking the exam plus additional fees for any continuing education courses taken during your three-year period of certification. For members of the CAP, there is no initial fee for taking the exam but there may be additional fees for any continuing education courses taken during your three-year period of certification.

Do You Really Need a Blood Bank Technologist Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on your goals and desired career path. If you are looking to work as a professional in the field of blood banking, then yes, you absolutely do need a Blood Bank Technologist Certificate. This is because the certificate demonstrates that you have the necessary knowledge and skills required to perform the job of a Blood Bank Technologist. It also indicates that you have taken the appropriate courses and passed the tests to demonstrate your proficiency in this area. Without it, employers may not be willing to hire you for such a position.

However, if you are looking for work in a related field or simply want to learn more about blood banking, then obtaining a Blood Bank Technologist Certificate may not be necessary. Although having such certification can certainly open doors for those with an interest in this area, there are other ways to gain knowledge and experience without having the official certificate. You could take classes at a local college or university, attend seminars or workshops related to blood banking, read books on the subject matter, or even volunteer at your local hospital or clinic performing basic tasks associated with blood banking.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a Blood Bank Technologist Certificate depends on what your particular goals and aspirations are when it comes to working in this field. If you want to pursue a career as a professional within the blood banking industry then yes, obtaining such certification will be essential but if you simply wish to learn more about this area of medicine then other options may be available that don’t require official certification.

Related: Blood Bank Technologist Resume Examples

FAQs About Blood Bank Technologist Certifications

1. What qualifications do I need to become a Blood Bank Technologist?

A: To become a Blood Bank Technologist, you must have an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science or related field, as well as certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

2. What is the difference between a Blood Bank Technician and a Blood Bank Technologist?

A: The main difference between a Blood Bank Technician and a Blood Bank Technologist is that Technologists are responsible for performing more complex laboratory tests, while Technicians perform basic testing and prepare specimens for analysis.

3. How long does it take to get certified as a Blood Bank Technologist?

A: The amount of time it takes to be certified depends on your level of experience and education; however, most applicants can expect to spend at least 6-12 months studying for certification exams.

4. How much do Blood Bank Technologists make?

A: According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for Blood Bank Technologists was $50,070 in 2019.

5. What are some common job duties of a Blood Bank Technologist?

A: Common job duties of a Blood Bank Technologist include collecting blood samples from donors, performing laboratory tests on donated blood products, preparing blood components for transfusion, monitoring quality control procedures in the lab and maintaining accurate records of all tests performed.