How to Choose the Best Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Gwynedd Valley Pennsylvania

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Gwynedd Valley PA is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a quality education. In fact, most prospective students start their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process as well. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

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Should You Choose a Career as a Phlebotomy Technician?

First of all, few people are likely to know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The short answer 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 OK around blood and needles. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other Gwynedd Valley PA medical environments, well this job may not be the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomists often work around nervous people who hate needles or having their blood taken. And because many medical facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be required to work weekends, nights and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the needles and blood, and if you enjoy helping people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the perfect job for you.

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Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many phlebotomists in fact work in Gwynedd Valley PA laboratories and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they can be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, such as Gwynedd Valley PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, most Gwynedd Valley PA employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the main 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 call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a quality education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more practical option for some Gwynedd Valley PA students. As an added benefit, a number of online programs are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a premium education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the school is relevant if you will be commuting from Gwynedd Valley PA in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online school. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and preps you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick 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 many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the Gwynedd Valley PA job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to a few Gwynedd Valley PA hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, check with the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area health care facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Gwynedd Valley PA health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Gwynedd Valley PA health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the final college you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while attending college. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Gwynedd Valley PA, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Low Cost Phlebotomy Training Gwynedd Valley PA

Phlebotomy Accredited Schools Gwynedd Valley Pennsylvania

Making certain that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a wide range of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each school prior to making your ultimate selection. You originally came to this website due to an interest in Phlebotomy Accredited Schools and to get more information regarding How To Become A Certified Phlebotomist.  However, by addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune 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 Gwynedd Valley PA.

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