Phlebotomy Training Schools near Mahaffey PA 15757 - Find Phlebotomist Schools Near You

Picking a Phlebotomist School near Mahaffey Pennsylvania

Mahaffey PA phlebotomist taking blood sample Picking the ideal phlebotomy school near Mahaffey PA is an important initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In fact, most potential students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors including accreditation and reputation 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 choose the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

Mahaffey PA phlebotomist testing blood sample A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal function, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be properly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Mahaffey PA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The simplest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are many and varied, such as Mahaffey PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants 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 an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from elderly 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 samples from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Training, Licensing and Certification

Mahaffey PA phlebotomist holding blood sample There are primarily two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Mahaffey PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to finish and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive foundation 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 require certification prior to employing 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 some states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

attending phlebotomy training online in Mahaffey PA First, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Mahaffey PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already decided on 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 school is relevant in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online college. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about each of the Mahaffey PA colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and preps you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you select should be accredited by a recognized 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 premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges in Mahaffey PA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to some Mahaffey PA local hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, contact the Pennsylvania 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 Mahaffey 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 expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Pennsylvania schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional medical facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training frequently not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Mahaffey PA healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate 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 Mahaffey PA medical community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the final program you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Mahaffey PA, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not only the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and abilities you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of typical interview questions, so you should organize some ideas about how you want to respond to them. Because there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the profession interests you along with the strengths you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down a few concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Enroll in the Ideal Phlebotomy College near Mahaffey PA

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings can vary a bit across the country as every state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each college before making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the right college for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Mahaffey PA.