Selecting a Phlebotomist Training Program near West Chester Pennsylvania

Choosing the right phlebotomy technician school near West Chester PA is an important initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to assess and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In reality, most students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomist Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary duty, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be correctly completed to be able 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 can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some West Chester PA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including West Chester PA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a specific 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 working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training in West Chester PA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and furnishes a general 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, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of employers look for certification before employing 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s essential that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

To begin with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved West Chester PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical portion of the training may be accessed online, it could be a more practical alternative for many students. As an added benefit, some online classes are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a quality education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Pennsylvania college is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for picking a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the West Chester PA colleges you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

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

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a quality 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 previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges in West Chester PA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is little 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 all schools you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even talk to some West Chester PA area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out 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 colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? 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 clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any West Chester 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 less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the Pennsylvania colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local West Chester PA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the West Chester PA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the ultimate program you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while attending school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near West Chester PA, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option as well. 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 find out what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's a good idea to consider questions you may be asked. Among the things that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you select Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and talents you possess that make you good at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should prepare several ideas about how you want to address them. Considering there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but jot down some ideas and talking points that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample responses can help you to develop your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Choose the Right Phlebotomist Program near West Chester PA

Making certain that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomist training programs are found in a wide range of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may vary somewhat across the country as every state has its own requirements when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each school before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the right school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in West Chester PA.

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