How to Become IV Certified: A Complete Guide to Starting Your Career in IV Therapy

Were you inspired by the workings of MICC injection or the efficiency of saline infusions? Ever Googled questions like “How to become IV certified?” and “How long does it take to become IV certified?” 

This article will guide you through the essentials of IV certification, discussing the required steps, top courses in the USA, the significance of hands-on training, exam expectations, and how this certification can elevate your career in healthcare.

Why IV Certification is Essential for Healthcare Professionals

Knowing how to start an IV career involves more than just learning to use an IV kit; it’s about mastering a skill that ensures patient safety and enhances healthcare services. Obtaining IV certification is crucial for several reasons:

• Legal compliance: It fulfills state and federal legal requirements ensuring that only qualified professionals perform IV therapy.
• Patient safety: Proper training minimizes risks and complications associated with IV procedures.
• Enhanced service quality: Certified professionals are more proficient, offering better and more reliable patient care.

Simply put, understanding how to start an IV career with the right certification can set you and the clinic on the path to success.

What is the Process of Becoming IV Certified?

Generally, medical professionals like registered nurses, licensed doctors, and other healthcare providers can administer IV therapy, requiring no additional certification specific to the field. 

However, some states permit unlicensed personnel to practice IV insertion under the supervision of an independent practitioner, such as a dentist, medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, upon completion of an IV therapy education course [1]. 

These medical assistants work under the practitioner’s license, meaning any errors made are the responsibility of the supervising medical doctor. 

This ensures that even unlicensed personnel are adequately trained and supervised, maintaining high safety standards in IV procedures and patient care.

How Long Does it Take To Become IV Certified?

If you’re in a state where medical assistants cannot practice IV insertion, consider the timelines that doctors and registered nurses follow. 

The certification process can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the program and state requirements. In some states, medical assistants can start IVs without specific restrictions, while others require special training or certification. 

States allowing unrestricted IV starts by medical assistants are Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming [2].

Meanwhile, states requiring special training are Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington.

The following states prohibit medical assistants from facilitating IV treatments:

• Alaska
• California
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• New York
• Texas

Meanwhile, if you’re a nurse or a physician interested in starting a career path in IV therapy, you may join the Infusion Nurses Society (INS), a leading organization in infusion therapy [3]. It offers resources and education for healthcare professionals, including conferences, online courses, and publications.

IV Therapy Certification: Requirements, Costs, and Opportunities

It’s hard to determine how to become IV certified without knowing the specific requirements, costs, and opportunities for different healthcare roles. Below is a breakdown for medical doctors, registered nurses, and medical assistants:

Medical Doctors

• Requirements: Completion of an accredited IV therapy course, or one must complete a 4-year undergraduate degree, a 4-year medical school program, and 3-7 years of residency.
• Costs: Course fees range from $200,000 to $300,000, depending on the school and location.
• Opportunities: Ability to administer and assess advanced treatments, including IV supplements.

Registered Nurses

• Requirements: State-approved training program and passing the certification exam.
• Costs: Approximately $250 to $1,000 for courses and exam fees.
• Opportunities: Enhanced career prospects in hospitals and clinics, and with private-label supplement manufacturers.

Medical Assistants

• Requirements: Practical experience and completion of a state-approved IV therapy education course.
• Costs: Typically $100 to $500 for training programs.
• Opportunities: Roles in various healthcare settings, including those requiring regular interaction with companies that provide IV therapy supplies.

Understanding these essential factors can help you navigate the path to IV certification more effectively.

Top Programs and Courses to Get IV Certified in the USA

Think IV insertion tips are all you need? Think again. It’s all about choosing the right certification program to truly excel in this field. Here are some top courses and programs available online:

• Infusion Nurses Society (INS): Offers comprehensive online courses for healthcare professionals
• National IV Association: Provides certification courses specifically for IV therapy
• Elite Learning IV Therapy Certification: Offers flexible online courses tailored for various healthcare professionals
• Pedagogy Infusion Therapy Certification: Focuses on both fundamental and advanced IV therapy skills
• HealthCare Training Service (HCTS): Provides IV certification for various medical staff, including nurses and medical assistants

Choosing the right program will equip you with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to excel in IV therapy.

Remember, while most states lack explicit regulations regarding IV facilitated by medical assistants or other unlicensed personnel, the majority of healthcare facilities still mandate certified training before staff can handle IV catheters.

The Importance of Hands-On Training in IV Certification

Hands-on training is crucial when pursuing IV certification, offering several key benefits:

• Developing proficiency: By practicing real-life scenarios, healthcare professionals can master the nuances of IV insertion, enhancing their skill set.
• Boosting confidence: Gaining practical experience helps build the confidence needed to perform IV procedures effectively under various conditions.
• Error reduction: Direct training enables practitioners to identify and correct common mistakes, reducing the likelihood of complications.
• Patient interaction: It provides an opportunity to improve patient communication skills, ensuring a more comforting experience for patients.
• Immediate feedback: Trainees receive instant guidance from experienced instructors, allowing for prompt correction and improvement.
• Enhanced judgment: Real-time practice improves decision-making abilities, helping professionals choose the best approach for each situation.

Additionally, hands-on training ensures that you are not only improving your skills but also adhering to the regulations of your state and the standards set by IV clinics, thereby meeting professional and legal requirements.

What to Expect from IV Certification Exams and Courses

IV certification exams and courses can vary greatly depending on the institution and your state’s regulations. 

Generally, you will encounter both written and practical application exams designed to test your theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills. Theoretical assessments often involve multiple-choice questions covering the basics of IV therapy, anatomy, and procedural protocols. 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as the structure and content can vary widely, but here are some helpful tips for your preparation:

• Review course outlines and objectives beforehand to understand what topics will be covered.
• Pay attention to both theoretical and practical components.
• Practice as much as possible to gain confidence and proficiency.
• Use study aids and resources offered by the certification program.
• Participate in study groups or discuss topics with peers for better understanding.
• Stay organized and manage your time effectively to cover all study material.
• Seek help from instructors when concepts are unclear.

How IV Certification Boosts Your Career in Nursing and Healthcare?

For nurses, IV certification demonstrates advanced competencies, making them a more desirable candidate for specialized roles and higher responsibilities. For doctors, it enhances proficiency in performing critical procedures, broadens the scope of practice, and increases patient trust in IV treatments. 

Both professions benefit from this certification through improved job security, potential salary increases, and greater respect within the healthcare community, all of which contribute to career advancement and professional growth.

Key Differences Between IV Certification and Other Medical Certifications

IV certification focuses specifically on intravenous therapy, a skill crucial for nurses, doctors, and other healthcare providers. Unlike general nursing or medical certifications, which cover many medical competencies, IV certification focuses on the expertise required for safely and effectively administering IV treatments.

Below is a brief description of what these professionals do and how IV certification enhances their careers: 

• General nurses: Their training includes various procedures, whereas IV certification for medical assistants relies solely on IV therapy.
• General doctors: Broad medical licensure covers multiple areas, but IV certification adds specialized proficiency.
• Medical technologists: Typically trained in lab procedures and sample collection, IV certification expands their role in direct patient care.
• Respiratory therapists: Primarily focus on pulmonary care; IV certification diversifies their skill set.

How to Renew Your IV Certification and Maintain Your License?

Renewing your IV certification depends on where you obtained it. For example, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) has specific requirements. To recertify the CRNI® credential, you need an active, unrestricted RN license and at least 1,000 hours of infusion therapy experience in the past three years, which can include nursing education, administration, research, or clinical practice.

Certification periods begin in either April or October after passing the respective exam and expire three years later. For those certified before 2018, expiration is every three years on January 1. The INCC offers a three-year Recertification Plan to simplify the process [4].

Have more questions other than how to become IV certified? Or interested in IV treatments? Reach out to us at Legere Pharmaceuticals. Our experts are here to guide you.