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No state license requiredArkansas phlebotomy certification.
Arkansas has no state-issued phlebotomy license requirement. Hiring runs on national certification (ASCP PBT, NHA CPT, or AMT RPT) by employer practice.
Arkansas hiring landscape
Baptist Health and UAMS Little Rock prefer national certification.
Major metros
Little Rock, Fayetteville
Accepted certifications
ASCP PBT, NHA CPT, and AMT RPT are all accepted nationwide. Hospital labs in Arkansas consistently prefer ASCP PBT for hiring.
Average wage
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics put the national phlebotomist median wage at $43,660 (May 2024). Certified phlebotomists earn 5 to 15 percent more than uncertified peers per ASCP and independent surveys.
Why ASCP PBT specifically
Even though Arkansas does not legally require certification, hospital and acute-care employers consistently prefer ASCP PBT. The credentialing body describes itself as the gold standard for laboratory professionals worldwide, and ASCP-conducted studies put the certified-vs-uncertified pay premium at roughly 15 percent.
PBT is also the entry to ASCPs MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician) and MLS (Medical Laboratory Scientist) pathway.