Choosing a Phlebotomist School near Belmar New Jersey

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Belmar NJ is an essential first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In fact, many prospective students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Belmar NJ 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 enough duties, they can be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as Belmar NJ medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Belmar NJ, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. While not required in most states, many employers require certification before hiring technicians. Some of the main certifying agencies include:

• National Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

There are several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you choose 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.

Online Phlebotomy Schools

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Belmar NJ healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical component of the training may be attended online, it might be a more convenient option for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you select 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 superior education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already selected 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 New Jersey campus is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about each of the Belmar NJ colleges you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have 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 New Jersey or the state where you will be working and preps you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Belmar NJ. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In a number of 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 essential to check out the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even check with some Belmar NJ local clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the New Jersey school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? To begin with, contact the New Jersey 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. As a minimum, any Belmar NJ 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 less than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the New Jersey programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training frequently not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Belmar NJ health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Belmar NJ health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s critical to verify that the ultimate school you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you choose to continue working while attending college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Belmar NJ, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's a good idea to review questions you might be asked. Among the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not merely the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what attributes and talents you have that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should ready several approaches about how you want to answer them. Considering there are numerous factors that go into choosing a career, you can address this primary question in a number of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the best choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down several ideas and anecdotes that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Choose the Ideal Phlebotomist College near Belmar NJ

Making sure that you choose the right phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy training programs are offered in a variety of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program options can differ somewhat from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each school before making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best program for you. And with the proper education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Belmar NJ.

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