Picking a Phlebotomy School near Custer City Pennsylvania

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Custer City PA is an essential initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to assess and compare each of the training alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In fact, a large number of students begin their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be properly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Custer City PA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The easiest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as Custer City PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two types of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Custer City PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to finish and offers a general education as well as 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, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, many employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. Some of the main certifying organizations 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

To start with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Custer City PA 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. But since the non-clinical portion of the training may be attended online, it could be a more convenient option for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Now that you have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Pennsylvania school is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the Custer City PA colleges you are considering prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Pennsylvania? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements 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 performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you choose 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 program aside from an assurance of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited programs in Custer City PA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are considering. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also contact some Custer City PA local clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? First, check with the Pennsylvania 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. At a minimum, any Custer City PA phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Pennsylvania schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with regional health care facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on clinical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Custer City PA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Custer City PA health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to verify that the ultimate school you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while attending college. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Custer City PA, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's a good idea to consider questions you could be asked. One of the things that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to discover is not only the private reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of general interview questions, so you should ready some strategies about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and topics that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to wow the interviewer.

Choose the Right Phlebotomy Program near Custer City PA

Making certain that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a number of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive range of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options may vary somewhat from state to state as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently screen and compare each college prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the ideal program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Custer City PA.

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