Warren County High grad drawn to career drawing blood

Ready to embark on a new career, Warren County High School graduate Keith Davis turned to Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions to get fast-track career training.

 
He enrolled in the Phlebotomy Technician Fast Track Career Training Program. Graduates of the certification program are qualified to draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations or research.
 
Now living in Winchester, Davis started working as a phlebotomist for the American Red Cross Winchester Donor Center about a month ago. He’s already been back on the Laurel Ridge Middletown Campus for a blood drive, but this time as a new job holder.
 
Prior to deciding to make a career change, Davis spent seven years working in animal medicine.
 
“I was attracted to phlebotomy because it was similar to what I had been doing, but rather than working with dogs and cats, I now work with humans,” he says. “I was looking for a fast-track into a new career, and phlebotomy seemed like a great fit.”
 
The program was a great experience.
 
“It was pretty short, and I learned everything I needed in order to begin a new occupation,” Davis says.  “I really enjoyed having Brandi Harrison as an instructor. She made learning the subject easy and fun. I’m now considering continuing my education in the medical field.”
 
Not only was Davis’s training enjoyable and paid off with a new job, it didn’t cost him anything besides the cost of taking the phlebotomy technician certification exam. That’s because he qualified for funding from the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
 
In this region, the average annual wage for phlebotomists in 2016 was $33,800, with experienced phlebotomists earning $37,900 on average.
 
Davis encourages others to fast-track their career change, just like he did.
 
“Don’t wait to start training for your next career,” he says. “Just do it. It’s easier than you think.”
 
There are many funding options available for Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions students.