Picking a Phlebotomy Training Program near Gaithersburg Maryland

Picking the right phlebotomist training near Gaithersburg MD is an important first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to assess and compare each of the training options 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 reality, many potential students begin the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you select the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main task, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being utilized are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Gaithersburg MD phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The simplest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are many and diverse, including Gaithersburg MD hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a specific kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from elderly 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 collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Gaithersburg MD, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically 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. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not required in most states, many employers look for certification before hiring technicians. A few 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 some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Classes

To begin with, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Gaithersburg MD healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical part of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more convenient option for many students. As an added benefit, some online colleges are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on 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 Maryland school is significant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for picking a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about all of the Gaithersburg MD programs you are considering before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Maryland? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Gaithersburg MD. 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 School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of all colleges you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to a few Gaithersburg MD area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Maryland school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? First, check with the Maryland 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. As a minimum, any Gaithersburg MD phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Maryland schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Gaithersburg MD healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering provide 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 college has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Gaithersburg MD healthcare community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to make sure that the final college you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially true if you decide to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Gaithersburg MD, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's important to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the questions that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not merely the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and skills you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of general interview questions, so you must ready a number of ideas about how you want to respond to them. Considering there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the perfiect candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down some ideas and anecdotes that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Select the Right Phlebotomy College near Gaithersburg MD

Making sure that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist training programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Training program options can vary slightly across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each program before making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right program for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Gaithersburg MD.

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