Picking a Phlebotomist School near El Cerrito California

Choosing the right phlebotomy training near El Cerrito CA is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare all of the training options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In fact, most students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main task, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening process. 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many El Cerrito CA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are tested properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, such as El Cerrito CA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a specific type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training in El Cerrito CA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not required in most states, most employers require certification prior to 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 a few states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved El Cerrito CA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical portion of the training can be attended online, it can be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, some online colleges are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. 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 extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the California school is relevant in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for picking a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about each of the El Cerrito CA colleges you are looking at prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for California or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools in El Cerrito CA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to check out the reputations of all schools you are considering. 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 online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also check with a few El Cerrito CA local hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the California school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Included? To begin with, check with the California regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any El Cerrito CA phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the California programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on practical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local El Cerrito CA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the El Cerrito CA health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s important to make sure that the final college you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you choose to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near El Cerrito CA, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm 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 completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomist?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's helpful to reflect on questions you could be asked. One of the questions that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and skills you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of standard interview questions, so you should ready several approaches about how you would like to address them. Given that there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you as well as the abilities you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the best choice for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Select the Right Phlebotomy School near El Cerrito CA

Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist training programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Program offerings may vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly evaluate and compare each college before making your ultimate choice. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in El Cerrito CA.

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