Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Forest Hill Maryland

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Forest Hill MD is an important first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you get a superior education. In fact, a large number of potential students begin their search by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you may look into is whether to attend classes online 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 much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal function, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Forest Hill MD phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including Forest Hill MD medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those practicing 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 solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Forest Hill MD, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and provides a general education together with 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 exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program offer a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, most employers look for certification before hiring technicians. Some of the primary 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 require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Classes

To start with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Forest Hill MD 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 in order to graduate. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be attended online, it might be a more practical option for some students. As an added benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Maryland campus is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. 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 need to ask about all of the Forest Hill MD colleges you are reviewing prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges in Forest Hill MD. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check 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 research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even check with several Forest Hill MD area clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Maryland school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? First, contact the Maryland regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Forest Hill 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 clinical training. Anything below these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Maryland schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Forest Hill MD healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Forest Hill MD medical community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is especially true if you decide to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Forest Hill MD, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify it is an option also. 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 policy is should you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the things that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not merely the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what characteristics and talents you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to ready a number of approaches about how you want to address them. Since there are numerous variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the talents you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but take down some concepts and topics that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Find the Best Phlebotomist School near Forest Hill MD

Making certain that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomy training programs can be offered in a number of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive assortment of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings may vary somewhat across the country as every state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully research and compare each program prior to making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Forest Hill MD.

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