Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Canaan Maine

Choosing the right phlebotomy school near Canaan ME is an essential initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to investigate and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk a bit 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 locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports 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. Some Canaan ME phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed correctly using the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The simplest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as Canaan ME medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain kind 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 exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Canaan ME, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and provides a general education along with 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 specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing 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 several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

To start with, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Canaan ME 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 in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical portion of the training can be attended online, it could be a more practical alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you 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 selected the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Maine school is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. Each of these decisions are an important component of the procedure 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 all of the Canaan ME schools you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Maine? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Maine or the state where you will be working and preps you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several 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 be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in Canaan ME. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even check with some Canaan ME local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Maine school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? First, contact the Maine 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. At a minimum, any Canaan ME phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Maine programs you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Canaan ME healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Canaan ME health care community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to make sure that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to still work while attending college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Canaan ME, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, 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 certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's important to consider questions you might be asked. Among the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not just the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and skills you possess that make you outstanding at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of standard interview questions, so you need to organize a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Because there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the talents you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the best candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but jot down some ideas and topics that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can help you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomy School near Canaan ME

Making sure that you choose the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are available in a wide range of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may vary slightly from state to state as every state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each school prior to making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the best program for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Canaan ME.

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