Picking a Phlebotomy Course near Perkins Georgia

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Perkins GA is an essential first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you get a quality education. In fact, many prospective students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process also. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal function, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Perkins GA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The most basic answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, such as Perkins GA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Perkins GA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and offers a general 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 specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they normally take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. Some 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 several states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Perkins GA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be attended online, it could be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Georgia campus is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about all of the Perkins GA colleges you are looking at prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Georgia? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Georgia or the state where you will be working and preps you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose 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 advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools in Perkins GA. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact several Perkins GA local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Georgia school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? First, contact the Georgia regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Perkins GA phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the Georgia programs you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training frequently not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Perkins GA health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges 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 school has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Perkins GA medical community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final college you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while going to college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Perkins GA, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's helpful to reflect on questions you could be asked. One of the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and abilities you have that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to ready some strategies about how you want to address them. Since there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the strengths you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down a few ideas and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample responses can help you to formulate your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Find the Right Phlebotomy College near Perkins GA

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a variety of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options can vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each school prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right program for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Perkins GA.

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