Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Course near South Lake Tahoe California

Choosing the right phlebotomy technician school near South Lake Tahoe CA is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, most students start their search by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their main function, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork needs to be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some South Lake Tahoe CA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested correctly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest response is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, including South Lake Tahoe CA hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in South Lake Tahoe CA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, most employers require certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the key certifying agencies include:

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

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

Phlebotomy Online Classes

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved South Lake Tahoe CA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be attended online, it may be a more practical option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the California school is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the South Lake Tahoe CA colleges you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for California or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools in South Lake Tahoe CA. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even check with a few South Lake Tahoe CA local clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the California school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? First, contact the California regulator or 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 South Lake Tahoe CA phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish at least 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 expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the California schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with regional healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on clinical training often not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local South Lake Tahoe CA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the South Lake Tahoe CA healthcare community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near South Lake Tahoe CA, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, 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 policy is should you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's advantageous to consider questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What made you choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not only the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what characteristics and skills you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should ready a number of strategies about how you want to respond to them. Considering there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down several concepts and anecdotes that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Enroll in the Ideal Phlebotomy College near South Lake Tahoe CA

Making certain that you select the right phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be offered in a number of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options may vary somewhat from state to state as every state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each school before making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in South Lake Tahoe CA.

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