Picking a Phlebotomist Training Program near Westville Illinois

Selecting the right phlebotomy training near Westville IL is an important initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you get a superior education. In fact, most prospective students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk 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 reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their main responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be accurately filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab 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. Many Westville IL phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are tested properly using the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, such as Westville IL hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a particular kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Westville IL, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. 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. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not mandated in most states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. Some 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Schools

To begin with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Westville IL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical part of the training can be attended online, it can be a more practical option for many students. As an added benefit, many online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Illinois school is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about each of the Westville IL schools you are looking at before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools in Westville IL. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can start 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 reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also contact a few Westville IL local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Illinois school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, contact the Illinois 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 Westville IL phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Illinois schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Westville IL healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Westville IL medical community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to confirm that the final college you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to still work while going to college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Westville IL, make certain 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 practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you might be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomy Tech prospects is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not just the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what qualities and skills you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of standard interview questions, so you must organize several approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the talents you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the best choice for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but take down several ideas and topics that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Select the Right Phlebotomy College near Westville IL

Making sure that you choose the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a wide range of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options can differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each program before making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Westville IL.

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