Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Huntingdon Valley Pennsylvania

Choosing the right phlebotomy school near Huntingdon Valley PA is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, most potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you might consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary task, there is actually far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Huntingdon Valley PA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The quickest response is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as Huntingdon Valley PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Huntingdon Valley PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and furnishes a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of employers require 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 some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a premium education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Classes

First, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Huntingdon Valley PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical part of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium 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 ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Pennsylvania campus is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about each of the Huntingdon Valley PA programs you are looking at prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program 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 several advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Huntingdon Valley PA. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even check with a few Huntingdon Valley PA area clinics or hospitals 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 Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, contact the Pennsylvania regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Huntingdon Valley PA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Pennsylvania programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local medical facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training often not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Huntingdon Valley PA health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Finding your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Huntingdon Valley PA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s important to confirm that the final school you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Huntingdon Valley PA, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's advantageous to consider questions you might be asked. Among the things that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not just the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what qualities and talents you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to organize some ideas about how you would like to answer them. Because there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can answer this primary question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you along with the talents you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the leading choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but jot down several ideas and topics that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to wow the recruiter.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomy Program near Huntingdon Valley PA

Making certain that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a number of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings may differ somewhat from state to state as every state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each college prior to making your ultimate decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the proper training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Huntingdon Valley PA.

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