Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Lady Lake Florida

Picking the right phlebotomy training near Lady Lake FL is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In fact, many potential students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomist Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their primary function, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork must be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Lady Lake FL phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested properly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they can be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are numerous and varied, such as Lady Lake FL medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or young children to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a specific kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Lady Lake FL, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education along 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 phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in most states, many employers require certification before hiring technicians. A few of the primary certifying organizations 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 few other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Certificates and Degrees

To start with, let’s dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Lady Lake FL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical portion of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical alternative for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist program you select is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the best option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already chosen the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Florida college is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the Lady Lake FL schools you are looking at prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Florida or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in Lady Lake FL. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’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 investigate the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to some Lady Lake FL area clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Florida 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 Florida regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Lady Lake FL phlebotomist program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 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 expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the Florida colleges you are reviewing 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 provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Lady Lake FL medical community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Lady Lake FL health care community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? Finally, it’s crucial to make sure that the final college you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is particularly true if you decide to continue working while attending college. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Lady Lake FL, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's advantageous to review questions you might be asked. Among the things that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What compelled you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and skills you possess that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of routine interview questions, so you must ready a number of approaches about how you would like to address them. Given that there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you in addition to the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot down a few concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to wow the interviewer.

Find the Ideal Phlebotomist College near Lady Lake FL

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are available in a wide range of academic institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program options may differ a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must thoroughly evaluate and compare each program prior to making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Lady Lake FL.

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