Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician School near Levittown New York

Selecting the right phlebotomist school near Levittown NY is an essential first step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to analyze and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you receive a superior education. In reality, many students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech 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 drawing 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 correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab 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 Levittown NY phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed properly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they may be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The easiest response is wherever patients are treated. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, including Levittown NY hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Levittown NY, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method 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 phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they normally require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification before employing technicians. A few of the key certifying organizations 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, like 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 provides a superior education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Schools

First, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant part of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Levittown NY 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. But since the non-practical portion of the training may be attended online, it might be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some costs, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general 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 want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the New York school is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. Each of these decisions are an important component of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you need to ask about all of the Levittown NY colleges you are considering prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for New York 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 program and school you pick should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs in Levittown NY. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some 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 begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also check with a few Levittown NY local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the New York school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, contact the New York regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Levittown NY phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the New York colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Levittown NY health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Levittown NY healthcare community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to confirm that the final college you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Levittown NY, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure 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 completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's important to reflect on questions you could be asked. One of the questions that recruiters often ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What compelled you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and skills you possess that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare several strategies about how you want to answer them. Since there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but jot down several concepts and topics that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Choose the Best Phlebotomist College near Levittown NY

Making certain that you pick the right phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a number of educational institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can differ somewhat from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to diligently screen and compare each program before making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Levittown NY.

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