Choosing a Phlebotomist Training Program near West Chicago Illinois

Picking the right phlebotomy training near West Chicago IL is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online schools.

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Phlebotomy Technician Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their principal function, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. 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 delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of West Chicago IL phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for making certain that samples are tested correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including West Chicago IL hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training in West Chicago IL, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and provides a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not required in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification before hiring 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Classes

To start with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved West Chicago 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-practical portion of the training may be attended online, it could be a more practical option for some students. As an added benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the best choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Illinois school is significant as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. Each of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about each of the West Chicago IL colleges you are reviewing before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Illinois? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from an assurance of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited schools in West Chicago IL. 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 colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any colleges 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 internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also check with some West Chicago IL area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. 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 full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? To begin with, check with the Illinois 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 classroom and practical. At a minimum, any West Chicago IL phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the Illinois programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area medical facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on clinical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local West Chicago IL health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Finding your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the West Chicago IL healthcare community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final program you pick offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially important if you opt to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near West Chicago IL, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option also. 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 need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's helpful to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the questions that interviewers often ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and skills you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to ready several strategies about how you want to answer them. Because there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the ideal choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down some ideas and talking points that pertain to your own strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample answers can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Select the Ideal Phlebotomist Course near West Chicago IL

Making certain that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of educational institutions, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings can vary slightly from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each school prior to making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the right college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in West Chicago IL.

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