Selecting a Phlebotomist Training Program near Colchester Illinois

Picking the right phlebotomist school near Colchester IL is a critical initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to assess and compare all of the training options that are accessible to you. However it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In reality, most students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss a bit 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 finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing procedure. 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. A number of Colchester IL phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are tested properly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The easiest answer is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, including Colchester IL hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Colchester IL, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest 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 provide training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program offer a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in most states, most employers look for certification before hiring technicians. Some of the main certifying agencies 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 important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a premium education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Schools

To start with, let’s resolve one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Colchester IL 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 component of the training may be accessed online, it can be a more practical option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the best choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, 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 previously mentioned, the location of the Illinois campus is significant as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist college. All of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about all of the Colchester IL schools you are looking at before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a recognized 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 an assurance of a premium education. First, 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. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in Colchester IL. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even check with several Colchester IL area clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Illinois school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, contact the Illinois regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Colchester IL phlebotomist program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Illinois schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Colchester IL medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Colchester IL health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s critical to make sure that the final school you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while attending college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Colchester IL, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's helpful to review questions you could be asked. Among the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not only the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and abilities you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of routine interview questions, so you must organize a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Given that there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down a few ideas and topics that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Choose the Ideal Phlebotomist School near Colchester IL

Making sure that you choose the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be available in a number of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings may vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must carefully research and compare each college before making your ultimate choice. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Colchester IL.

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