Selecting a Phlebotomist Course near Willow Grove Pennsylvania

Picking the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Willow Grove PA is a critical first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s important that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In reality, many potential students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Yet another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools 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 finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary duty, there is in fact far more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some Willow Grove PA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are tested correctly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and varied, such as Willow Grove PA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two types of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Willow Grove PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available 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 expansive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of 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 some states that do require certification in order to practice 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 phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a premium education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Colleges

To begin with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Willow Grove PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical part of the training may be attended online, it might be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start 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 mentioned earlier, the location of the Pennsylvania campus is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about each of the Willow Grove PA programs you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Pennsylvania? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, such as 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 superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Willow Grove PA. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can begin 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 organizations for their reviews as well. You can also check with a few Willow Grove PA area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? 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 Willow Grove PA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Ask the Pennsylvania schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the ideal means to receive hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Willow Grove PA health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Willow Grove PA health care community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final program you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly true if you choose to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Willow Grove PA, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify 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 find out what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's important to consider questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters often ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not just the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and abilities you have that make you exceptional at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of general interview questions, so you must organize several strategies about how you want to respond to them. Since there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the talents you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down several concepts and topics that relate to your own strengths and experiences. Going over sample responses can help you to develop your own thoughts, and inspire ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Find the Right Phlebotomist Program near Willow Grove PA

Making certain that you choose the right phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be offered in a variety of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program options can vary slightly from state to state as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each program before making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Willow Grove PA.

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