How to Find the Right Phlebotomist Training Classes near Farmington Connecticut

Choosing the right phlebotomy technician school near Farmington CT is an essential first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare each of the training alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In reality, a large number of potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

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Should You Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

First of all, few people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic answer is a health care professional who draws blood from patients. We will provide more details later. So naturally anyone who decides to enter this profession must be able to handle needles and blood. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other Farmington CT medical facilities, well this profession probably is not the best choice for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomists often work with nervous people who don’t like needles or having their blood drawn. And because most health care facilities are open 24 hours, you may be expected to work weekends, evenings and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you can handle the hours and the blood and needles, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the perfect profession for you.

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Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some phlebotomists actually work in Farmington CT labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, such as Farmington CT medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in most states, a number of Farmington CT employers require certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the main certifying agencies include:

• National Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

There are a few states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

First, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A good part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be attended online, it could be a more convenient option for some Farmington CT students. As an added benefit, a number of online programs are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the school is significant if you will be commuting from Farmington CT as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online college. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Connecticut or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Farmington CT job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to a few Farmington CT clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Connecticut school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? To begin with, check with the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Ask the colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Farmington CT health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Farmington CT healthcare community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to make sure that the final school you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while attending college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Farmington CT, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Accredited Phlebotomy Schools Near Me Farmington CT

Blood Drawing Course Farmington Connecticut

Making sure that you pick the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are found in a variety of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can differ a bit from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently research and compare each program before making your final choice. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Blood Drawing Course and to get more information regarding Phlebotomy Technician School.  However, by asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the right phlebotomist college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Farmington CT.

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