Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Orland Park IL is an important first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you get a superior education. In fact, most potential students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you pick the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Orland Park IL phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed correctly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, including Orland Park IL hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a specific type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Orland Park IL, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in most states, most employers require certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the primary certifying organizations 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, including Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Orland Park 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. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Illinois campus is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about each of the Orland Park IL programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Illinois? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be working and preps you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited programs in Orland Park IL. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also check with some Orland Park IL area hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Illinois school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Included? To begin with, check with the Illinois regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Orland Park IL phlebotomy program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Illinois programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Orland Park IL health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Orland Park IL health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s crucial to make sure that the final school you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Orland Park IL, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend 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 should you have to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

Select the Right Phlebotomy Course near Orland Park IL

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomist training programs can be available in a wide range of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must diligently research and compare each college prior to making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Orland Park IL.

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