How to Choose the Best Phlebotomy Technician Training Course near Fairview Village Pennsylvania

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy school near Fairview Village PA is an essential first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to analyze and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In reality, most students start their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

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Should You Become a Plebotomist?

First of all, not many people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic definition is a medical professional whose job is to draw blood. We will provide more details later. So naturally anyone who chooses this profession must be able to handle needles and blood. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Fairview Village PA medical environments, well this job may not be the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomy Techs tend to work around anxious people who hate needles or having their blood taken. And because many medical facilities are open around the clock, you may be required to work weekends, evenings and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the needles and blood, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are patient and compassionate, this may be the perfect job for you.

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Phlebotomist Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main function, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists actually work in Fairview Village PA laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The quickest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, including Fairview Village PA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in the majority of states, a number of Fairview Village PA employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some 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 several states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical part of the training may be attended online, it could be a more practical option for some Fairview Village PA students. As an added benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the best choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Fairview Village PA in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you need to ask about each of the colleges you are looking at prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Fairview Village PA job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even check with a few Fairview Village PA hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? First, contact 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 provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Fairview Village PA medical community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Fairview Village PA health care community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you opt to still work while attending college. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Fairview Village PA, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Phlebotomy Career Training Fairview Village PA

Training In Phlebotomy Fairview Village Pennsylvania

Making certain that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomy training programs can be offered in a variety of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course options may vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each program before making your final selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Training In Phlebotomy and to get more information regarding Phlebotomy Education Program.  However, by addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the best phlebotomy program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Fairview Village PA.

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