Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Clear Lake Wisconsin

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomist school near Clear Lake WI is an important initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult undertaking to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s important that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you receive a quality education. In fact, many prospective students start their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process too. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the point 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 may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Clear Lake WI phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for making certain that samples are tested correctly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they might be required to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The most basic answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are many and diverse, including Clear Lake WI hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Clear Lake WI, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and furnishes a general education as well as 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, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they normally take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, a number of employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. Some 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 a few states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Clear Lake WI 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 portion of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy program you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (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 dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Wisconsin campus is significant as well as the tuition expense. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about each of the Clear Lake WI colleges you are reviewing prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Wisconsin? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements 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 clinical training performed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working and preps you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you choose should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Clear Lake WI. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of all colleges you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also contact a few Clear Lake WI area clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? First, check with the Wisconsin regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Clear Lake WI phlebotomist program that you are reviewing 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 may signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the Wisconsin programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Clear Lake WI medical community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Clear Lake WI medical community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to make sure that the ultimate college you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Clear Lake WI, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's a good idea to review questions you may be asked. Among the things that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and talents you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of routine interview questions, so you should ready a number of ideas about how you would like to answer them. Since there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you in addition to the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the perfiect choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize an answer, but take down several ideas and topics that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Choose the Ideal Phlebotomist School near Clear Lake WI

Making certain that you select the right phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy training programs can be available in a wide range of academic institutions, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may differ a bit across the country as every state has its own requirements when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each college prior to making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down 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 phlebotomist in Clear Lake WI.

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