Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near Savage Maryland

Picking the right phlebotomy technician training near Savage MD is an important initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to analyze and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In reality, most students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much 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 should be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you pick the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal duty, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Savage MD phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are tested correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The easiest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are many and diverse, such as Savage MD hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Savage MD, which are certificate and degree 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 quickest means 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 typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program furnish a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, many employers look for 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

First, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Savage MD healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical part of the training can be attended online, it might be a more convenient option for many students. As an additional benefit, many online colleges are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college 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 quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a basic understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin 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 Maryland college is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the Savage MD colleges you are looking at before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Maryland? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you pick should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, 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. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges in Savage MD. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also contact some Savage MD local clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Maryland school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, check with the Maryland regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Savage MD phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the Maryland colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional 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 establish contacts within the local Savage MD health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Savage MD healthcare community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final program you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you choose to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Savage MD, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's a good idea to consider questions you could be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What compelled you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not only the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of standard interview questions, so you should ready several ideas about how you would like to respond to them. Considering there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the best choice for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but write down several concepts and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to develop your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Find the Best Phlebotomy Course near Savage MD

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are found in a number of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings can vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own requirements when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each college prior to making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the best school for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Savage MD.

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