Imagine if you will that you are at a doctor’s office for routine bloodwork. You’re a bit nervous around needles and blood draws, but you think you’ll manage. In walks an energetic young woman in scrubs. “I’m your phlebotomist,” she says. “I’ll get your blood drawn quickly and painlessly.”
Suddenly, terror seizes you. Your eyes widen in horror. “I won’t let you take my blood unless you graduated from an accredited high school!” you shriek in terror.
This may seem far-fetched, but the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently revoked the phlebotomy licenses of not one, but two graduates, simply because they were homeschooled. The CDPH’s claimed only graduates of accredited high schools can be licensed as phlebotomists.
Fortunately for these two talented young homeschool graduates, HSLDA was able to intervene. And we are thrilled to announce that both had their licenses swiftly reinstated.
Outdated Policy
The background is that California law is regressive when it comes to homeschooling, especially compared to the majority of other states. For example, California law requires that “peace officers” (anyone in law enforcement), must have graduated from an accredited high school. As a result, if a homeschool graduate wants to “protect and serve,” he or she must take the California Proficiency Test (formerly Hi-SET), the GED, or have some college under his or her belt.
Homeschool graduates have similarly had difficulty over the years in being licensed by CDPH as phlebotomists. Although the law does not require that a candidate for phlebotomy licensure must graduate from an accredited high school, the CDPH has routinely denied phlebotomy licenses to homeschool graduates, arguing that an accredited high school diploma is a prerequisite.
HSLDA has had some success over the years in pushing back on this. But we have never had a homeschool graduate who received a license suddenly have his or her license revoked over this issue. Until this year.
License Restored
As HSLDA senior counsel and a California-licensed attorney (as well as a homeschool graduate), I represented both homeschool graduates. After we made contact with attorneys representing the CDPH on behalf of these two homeschooled grads, and explained the law, as well as the potential legal liability CDPH could face by issuing a license and then revoking it, CDPH quickly reissued their phlebotomy licenses.
HSLDA is proud to stand with these two homeschool graduates, and we are excited to see the results of their hard work to become CDPH-licensed phlebotomists.
If you are considering a career in phlebotomy, or if you are having trouble getting into a phlebotomy training program or in being licensed by the CDPH, please contact HSLDA so we can assist you. The law is clear: you do not need an “accredited” high school diploma. Home education is legal in California. And homeschoolers make great phlebotomists!