Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Derwood Maryland

Selecting the right phlebotomist training near Derwood MD is an important initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s important that you perform your due diligence to make certain that you receive a quality education. In reality, most students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, 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 continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Derwood MD phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The easiest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are many and diverse, including Derwood MD hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Derwood MD, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. 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 take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. Although not required in the majority of states, most employers require certification before employing technicians. Some of the principal 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

First, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Derwood 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 prior to graduation. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical alternative for some students. As an added benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

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 may have already selected the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Maryland college is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are an important component of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the Derwood MD schools you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount 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 extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be working and preps you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a respected 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 exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges in Derwood MD. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin 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 also. You can also check with some Derwood MD area 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 check with the Maryland school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? To begin with, check with the Maryland 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 Derwood MD phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Maryland schools you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on clinical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Derwood MD health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most 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 Derwood MD healthcare community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to verify that the ultimate school you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is especially important if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Derwood MD, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. 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 find out what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's advantageous to review questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not just the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what attributes and talents you have that make you exceptional at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of routine interview questions, so you should prepare a number of ideas about how you want to address them. Since there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down a few concepts and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can help you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomy Course near Derwood MD

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a number of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program options can differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each college prior to making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the right program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Derwood MD.

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