Phlebotomy Recertification in Hawaii

Hawaii does not require phlebotomists to hold a separate state-issued phlebotomy license. Hawaii does license certain categories of clinical laboratory personnel through the Department of Health, but phlebotomists are not listed among the professions requiring a state clinical laboratory personnel license.

Although state licensure is not required, formal phlebotomy training and national certification can be important for employment. Hawaii healthcare employers may establish their own education, experience, and certification requirements. For example, Kapiʻolani Community College's phlebotomy program prepares students for national ASCP certification and includes both classroom instruction and a 100-hour clinical internship.

This page walks through what it takes to become a certified phlebotomist in Hawaii, how to choose a training program and national certifying organization, and what you need to know about maintaining certification once you're working.

Do You Need a License to Be a Phlebotomist in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii does not require a separate state phlebotomy license. The Hawaii Department of Health licenses several categories of clinical laboratory personnel, including clinical laboratory directors, medical technologists, clinical laboratory specialists, cytotechnologists, and medical laboratory technicians. Phlebotomists are not included in the state's list of licensed clinical laboratory personnel. This means someone working strictly as a phlebotomist does not need to apply for a Hawaii clinical laboratory personnel license simply to perform blood collection.

However, "no state license required" does not mean "no training or certification needed." Employers can establish their own hiring requirements, and national certification may make a candidate more competitive. Hawaii training programs also demonstrate that formal education is an established pathway into the profession. Kapiʻolani Community College, for example, offers a phlebotomy program consisting of a 64-hour classroom course followed by a 100-hour clinical internship, with graduates eligible to sit for the ASCP national certification examination.

How to Become a Certified Phlebotomist in Hawaii

1. Earn a high school diploma or GED. Hawaii does not impose a universal state high school diploma or GED requirement specifically for phlebotomists. However, a high school diploma or equivalent is commonly required by training programs and national certification organizations. For example, NHA's Certified Phlebotomy Technician pathway requires a high school diploma or equivalent.

2. Complete a phlebotomy training program. Choose a formal phlebotomy program that covers anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, infection control, patient identification, venipuncture, capillary collection, specimen handling, safety, and other essential skills. Hawaii has established phlebotomy training programs through community colleges and other educational providers. Kapiʻolani Community College's program, for example, includes classroom instruction followed by a 100-hour clinical internship.

3. Complete supervised clinical training. Hands-on experience is an  important component of becoming a competent phlebotomist. The exact number of venipunctures and capillary collections depends on the training program and national certification organization you select. For example, NHA requires evidence of at least 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks for its CPT certification pathway.

4. Choose and pass a national certification examination. Hawaii does not administer a state phlebotomy licensing examination. If you want national certification, select a credential recognized by your intended employer. National organizations offering phlebotomy credentials include NHA, ASCP, AMT, and NCCT. Kapiʻolani Community College specifically prepares graduates to sit for the ASCP examination.

5. Meet employer-specific requirements. Individual employers may require national certification, formal training, previous experience, CPR/BLS certification, background screening, immunizations, or other qualifications. Always check the requirements of the employer or clinical site where you plan to work.

6. Apply for phlebotomy positions. After completing training and obtaining any certification required or preferred by your target employer, you can apply for positions in hospitals, physician offices, outpatient laboratories, diagnostic facilities, blood collection centers, and other healthcare settings.

7. Maintain your national certification. Hawaii does not have a state phlebotomy license to renew. If you hold national certification, however, you must follow the renewal cycle and continuing education requirements of the organization that issued your credential.

Phlebotomy Recertification in Hawaii

Hawaii does not have a separate state phlebotomy license or state phlebotomy recertification requirement. The Hawaii Department of Health's clinical laboratory personnel licensing system applies to specific laboratory professions, including medical laboratory technicians and medical technologists, but not phlebotomists.

Therefore, if you hold a national phlebotomy certification, your renewal obligations generally come from the organization that issued your credential, rather than from the Hawaii Department of Health. For example, an NHA-certified phlebotomist follows NHA's renewal requirements, while an ASCP-certified phlebotomist follows ASCP's requirements. Renewal cycles, CE requirements, fees, and reinstatement policies can differ.

To stay current, Hawaii phlebotomists should:

• Know which organization issued their certification and when it expires.

• Track the continuing education requirements for that organization.

• Complete required CE before the certification expires.

• Keep copies of CE certificates and renewal documentation.

• Confirm that outside CE courses are accepted before counting them toward certification renewal.

• Check employer requirements, because an employer may require active national certification even though Hawaii does not require state phlebotomy licensure.

• Follow the certifying organization's reinstatement requirements if the credential expires.

Visit our Certification Requirements page to find the specific recertification and renewal requirements for your certifying body.

Our Certificate of Completion

When you complete continuing education through PhlebCE, your certificate includes:

• Recipient name

• CE credit hours awarded

• Course title

• Completion date

• License provider information

• Program director signature

This documentation is designed to satisfy the renewal requirements of the major phlebotomy certifying bodies operating in Hawaii, so you can submit it directly as proof of continuing education.

[Recertify with PhlebCE ]

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to work as a phlebotomist in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii does not require a separate state-issued phlebotomy license. The Hawaii Department of Health licenses certain clinical laboratory professions, but phlebotomists are not included among the listed licensed clinical laboratory personnel. However, employers may establish their own requirements for education, experience, and national certification.

 

Is national certification required to work as a phlebotomist in Hawaii?

Not universally by Hawaii state law. Hawaii does not require every phlebotomist to hold a national certification. However, national certification may be required or preferred by individual employers. National certification can also demonstrate that you have met established education and competency standards. For example, NHA's CPT credential requires specific education or experience and evidence of successful blood collections.

 

How long does it take to become a certified phlebotomist in Hawaii?

There is no single state-mandated training length for every Hawaii phlebotomist. The timeline depends on the program and certification pathway you choose. For example, Kapiʻolani Community College's current program includes a 64-hour classroom course followed by a 100-hour clinical internship. Other programs may use different schedules and clinical requirements.

 

How much does phlebotomy certification cost in Hawaii?

There is no Hawaii state phlebotomy licensing fee, because Hawaii does not issue a separate state phlebotomy license. Your total cost will depend on the training program and national certification organization you choose. Expenses may include:

• Training tuition

• Books and supplies

• National certification examination fee

• CPR/BLS certification, if required

• Background screening

• Immunizations or health screening required for clinical placement

Because fees vary among programs and certification organizations, verify current prices before enrolling.

 

Do I need to renew my phlebotomy certification in Hawaii?

Hawaii does not have a state phlebotomy certification that requires renewal. If you hold a national certification, however, you must maintain that credential according to the requirements of the organization that issued it. For example, NHA requires its CPT credential to be renewed every two years and currently requires 10 continuing education credits during each renewal period.

 

Can I work as a phlebotomist in Hawaii without national certification?

Potentially, yes. Hawaii does not have a state law requiring every phlebotomist to hold national certification. However, employers can establish their own hiring requirements. National certification is therefore recommended if you want to maximize the number of positions for which you qualify.

 

Do I need to complete a phlebotomy training program in Hawaii?

Although Hawaii does not require a state phlebotomy license, formal training is strongly recommended and is the standard pathway for entering the profession. Hawaii has established phlebotomy programs through institutions such as Kapiʻolani Community College and Hawaii Community College. Kapiʻolani's program includes both classroom education and a 100-hour clinical internship.

 

Do I need a high school diploma or GED to become a phlebotomist in Hawaii?

Hawaii does not establish a universal state high school diploma or GED requirement specifically for phlebotomists. However, training programs and national certification organizations may require one. For example, NHA's CPT eligibility requirements include a high school diploma or GED/high school equivalency. Check the requirements of your selected program and certification organization before enrolling.

 

Do I need clinical experience to become a certified phlebotomist in Hawaii?

The answer depends on the national certification organization you choose. Clinical experience is an important component of phlebotomy training. For example, Kapiʻolani Community College's program includes a 100-hour clinical internship. NHA's CPT certification pathway requires evidence of 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live individuals.

 

Do I need CPR or BLS certification to work as a phlebotomist in Hawaii?

Hawaii does not impose a universal CPR or BLS requirement specifically for all phlebotomists. However, individual employers and training programs may require it. Hawaii Community College's current phlebotomy training program, for example, includes an opportunity to earn CPR certification through the American Red Cross. Check the requirements of your intended employer and clinical site.

 

What happens if my national phlebotomy certification expires?

Because Hawaii does not issue a state phlebotomy license, there is no Hawaii state reinstatement process for an expired national phlebotomy certification. Instead, you must follow the reinstatement or reactivation requirements of the organization that issued your credential. For example, NHA currently allows a one-year reinstatement period for an expired certification, subject to its requirements.

 

Can I use PhlebCE courses to renew my Hawaii phlebotomy certification?

Potentially, depending on your national certifying organization. Hawaii does not impose a state phlebotomy CE requirement. Therefore, the applicable CE requirement comes from the organization that issued your national certification. Before completing CE for renewal, verify that your certifying organization accepts the course toward its current requirements and retain your PhlebCE completion certificate as documentation.

 

Does Hawaii have a state phlebotomy renewal fee?

No separate Hawaii state phlebotomy renewal fee applies. Because Hawaii does not issue a state phlebotomy license, there is no state phlebotomy license to renew. Any renewal fee associated with maintaining a national phlebotomy certification would be paid to the national certifying organization, not the Hawaii Department of Health.

 

Does Hawaii regulate clinical laboratory personnel?

Yes. The Hawaii Department of Health regulates clinical laboratories and licenses certain categories of clinical laboratory personnel. The current Department of Health licensing page lists clinical laboratory directors, clinical laboratory specialists, cytotechnologists, medical technologists, and medical laboratory technicians. Phlebotomists are not listed as a separately licensed clinical laboratory personnel category.

 

Can a Hawaii phlebotomist perform laboratory testing?

A phlebotomist should not assume that being trained or certified in phlebotomy automatically authorizes them to perform all laboratory testing. Hawaii's clinical laboratory personnel licensing system distinguishes phlebotomy/specimen collection from licensed laboratory professions such as medical laboratory technicians and medical technologists. The specific duties a worker may perform can also depend on the employer, laboratory policies, the type of testing involved, and applicable federal CLIA requirements.

 

What is the most important thing to know about phlebotomy requirements in Hawaii?

Hawaii does not require a separate state-issued phlebotomy license, but formal training and national certification can be important for employment. Hawaii's Department of Health licenses certain clinical laboratory personnel, but phlebotomists are not among the professions listed for state clinical laboratory personnel licensure.

View Requirements