Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician School near Scottsboro Alabama

Choosing the right phlebotomist school near Scottsboro AL is an important first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a superior education. In reality, most potential students start their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online classes.

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Phlebotomist Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the point 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 tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Scottsboro AL phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are tested correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and varied, including Scottsboro AL hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Scottsboro AL, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and provides a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the primary certifying organizations 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Classes

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 program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Scottsboro AL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical alternative for some students. As an added benefit, some online programs are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Alabama college is important as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. Each of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the Scottsboro AL programs you are reviewing before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Alabama? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Alabama or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Scottsboro AL. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to several Scottsboro AL area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Alabama school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, contact the Alabama regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Scottsboro AL phlebotomy 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 less than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the Alabama programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with regional healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Scottsboro AL medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Scottsboro AL healthcare community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to confirm that the ultimate college you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Scottsboro AL, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's important to consider questions you might be asked. One of the questions that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and skills you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of ideas about how you want to address them. Since there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this primary question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the strengths you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but jot down several concepts and talking points that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomy School near Scottsboro AL

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of educational institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings can vary slightly across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each program prior to making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the best school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Scottsboro AL.

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