Choosing a Phlebotomist School near Kelso Washington

Selecting the right phlebotomy school near Kelso WA is an important first step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to evaluate and compare all of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s necessary that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, many potential students begin the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main function, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then delivers 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 Kelso WA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested correctly under the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The simplest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are many and varied, such as Kelso WA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a certain type of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. In contrast, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Kelso WA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and provides a general education together 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, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not required in most states, many employers look for certification before hiring technicians. A few of the key certifying agencies include:

• National Phlebotomy Association
• National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
• American Medical Technologists (AMT)

There are several states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Schools

To start with, let’s resolve one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Kelso WA 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-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Washington college is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. All of these decisions are an important 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 need to ask about all of the Kelso WA colleges you are looking at before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Washington or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you choose should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited schools in Kelso WA. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also check with several Kelso WA area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Washington school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Provided? To begin with, contact the Washington regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Kelso WA phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums might signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Washington colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Kelso WA healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Kelso WA health care community.

Are Classes Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the final school you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you decide to still work while attending school. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Kelso WA, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's important to review questions you could be asked. Among the things that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What drove you to pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not just the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and skills you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare a number of approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Given that there are several variables that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the strengths you have that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize an answer, but write down several concepts and topics that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist College near Kelso WA

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare field. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a number of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options can differ a bit across the country as each state has its own mandates when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each program prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Kelso WA.

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