Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Granby Connecticut

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Granby CT is a critical initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting task to evaluate and compare all of the school options that are available to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to make certain that you get a superior education. In reality, most potential students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you choose the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary function, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample needs to be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab screening procedure. 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. A number of Granby CT phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are accountable for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough responsibilities, they can be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, including Granby CT hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Granby CT, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means 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 phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in most states, a number of employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the principal certifying agencies 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Colleges

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Granby CT 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. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be attended online, it could be a more practical alternative for some 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 lowered as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Now that you have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, 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 degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Connecticut school is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the Granby CT schools you are looking at before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Connecticut? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Connecticut or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a recognized 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 school in addition to an assurance of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Granby CT. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. 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 place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to several Granby CT local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Connecticut school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? To begin with, check with the Connecticut 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 Granby CT phlebotomist program that you are looking at 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 furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Connecticut programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Granby CT medical community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs 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 jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Granby CT healthcare community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s critical to confirm that the ultimate school you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is especially important if you choose to still work while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Granby CT, make sure they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. 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 ask what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Decide to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's advantageous to review questions you could be asked. One of the questions that interviewers often ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not only the private reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but additionally what attributes and talents you have that make you outstanding at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of typical interview questions, so you need to prepare several approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Because there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to develop your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Select the Best Phlebotomy School near Granby CT

Making certain that you pick the right phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomy training programs can be found in a variety of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can vary slightly from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each college before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best college for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Granby CT.

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