How to Pick the Best Phlebotomy Training Program near Chester Pennsylvania

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Chester PA is an essential initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are available to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a superior education. In reality, a large number of potential students begin their search by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online training.

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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 short answer is a medical professional whose job is to draw blood. We will go into more depth later. So naturally anyone who selects this profession must be able to handle blood and needles. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other Chester PA medical facilities, well this profession may not be right for you. And now let’s talk about the patients. Phlebotomy Technicians tend to work with nervous people who don’t like needles or having a blood sample drawn. And because many medical facilities are open 24 hours, you may be required to work weekends, nights and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the blood and needles, and if you enjoy helping people and are compassionate and very patient, this may be the right profession for you.

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Phlebotomist Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some phlebotomists actually work in Chester PA labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they can be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, including Chester PA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a specific type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as 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, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program provide a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, many Chester PA employers require certification before employing technicians. A few of the key certifying organizations include:

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

There are some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

To start with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical alternative for many Chester PA students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive 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 earning your certificate or degree online might be the best option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the school is important if you will be commuting from Chester PA in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online college. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about each of the programs you are looking at before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to potential employers in the Chester PA job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all colleges you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact some Chester PA hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, check with the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on practical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Chester PA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Chester PA healthcare community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to confirm that the final school you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is particularly important if you opt to continue working while attending college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Chester PA, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

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Phlebotomy Education Chester Pennsylvania

Making certain that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy training programs can be available in a wide range of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each school prior to making your final selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Phlebotomy Education and to get more information regarding Classes For Phlebotomist.  However, by addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the right phlebotomist program for you. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Chester PA.

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