Picking a Phlebotomy Course near Palm Bay Florida

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Palm Bay FL is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may 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 make sure that you receive a quality education. In fact, most potential students begin their search by looking at two of the qualifiers that first 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 a bit more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main task, there is actually much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork needs to be correctly completed to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Palm Bay FL phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they can be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and varied, including Palm Bay FL medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a certain kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Palm Bay FL, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. Although not mandated in most states, many employers require certification before hiring technicians. A few of the main 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

First, let’s dispel one possible misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Palm Bay FL healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical component of the training may be attended online, it may be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an added benefit, a number of online programs are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be reduced also. Just make sure 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 obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the best option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already selected 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 school is important as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about all of the Palm Bay FL schools you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Florida? As previously mentioned, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Florida or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited programs in Palm Bay 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 College’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all schools you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even check with several Palm Bay FL area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and see if they can provide any recommendations. As a final 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 Sufficient Training Provided? First, check with the Florida regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Palm Bay FL phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the Florida colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with regional medical facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Palm Bay FL health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation together with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Palm Bay FL health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s crucial to verify that the final program you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is especially important if you decide to continue working while going to school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Palm Bay FL, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist job, it's helpful to review questions you might be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to uncover is not just the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and skills you possess that make you good at your profession. You will likely be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of routine interview questions, so you need to ready some ideas about how you want to answer them. Considering there are numerous variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Technician and the best choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but write down several concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can assist you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Select the Best Phlebotomy College near Palm Bay FL

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a variety of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of courses in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings can vary slightly across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must carefully screen and compare each college prior to making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can pick the ideal program for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Palm Bay FL.

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