Selecting a Phlebotomist School near Newberry South Carolina

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Newberry SC is an important first step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare all of the training options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most potential students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process too. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to 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 resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must confirm that the tools being employed are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork needs to be accurately completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing 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 infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Newberry SC phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Newberry SC medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. 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 different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Newberry SC, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and offers a basic 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 to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a four year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not required in most states, most employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the principal 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Newberry SC healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. 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 added benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already picked the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the South Carolina college is important as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about each of the Newberry SC colleges you are considering before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for South Carolina or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Newberry SC. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact a few Newberry SC area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the South Carolina school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, check with the South Carolina regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Newberry SC phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the South Carolina schools you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional medical facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Newberry SC medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Newberry SC healthcare community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate school you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Newberry SC, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical 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 as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's important to consider questions you could be asked. One of the things that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomist candidates is "What compelled you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not only the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what attributes and skills you have that make you good at what you do. You will probably be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you must organize a number of approaches about how you want to respond to them. Since there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the ideal choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down some concepts and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reading through sample answers can help you to prepare your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Right Phlebotomy Program near Newberry SC

Making sure that you choose the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a wide range of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program options may differ a bit from state to state as every state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each college before making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the best school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Newberry SC.

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