Picking a Phlebotomist Course near Thomasville Georgia

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy training near Thomasville GA is an important first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s important that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In fact, a large number of potential students start the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another factor you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our conversation about online training.

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 collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Thomasville GA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The simplest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as Thomasville GA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a specific type of patient. For instance, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Thomasville GA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in most states, most employers require certification before employing technicians. Some of the primary 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

To begin with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Thomasville GA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be attended online, it may be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, some online programs are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Georgia school is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. Each of these decisions are an important component of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the Thomasville GA colleges you are looking at prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may 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 Georgia or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, 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 obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Thomasville GA. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. 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 research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even check with some Thomasville GA area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Georgia school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, check with the Georgia regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Thomasville GA 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 sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Georgia schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Thomasville GA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Thomasville GA medical community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Thomasville GA, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. Even 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 procedure is in case you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not merely the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what qualities and abilities you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you in addition to the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but jot down several ideas and topics that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can help you to develop your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Select the Best Phlebotomy College near Thomasville GA

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding health care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are offered in a variety of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings may differ somewhat across the country as every state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each program prior to making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the right college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Thomasville GA.

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