Selecting a Phlebotomy Training Program near Cedartown Georgia

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy school near Cedartown GA is an essential initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to assess and compare all of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. In reality, many potential students start the process by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to 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 reviewing to help you select the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the tools being utilized are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample needs to be accurately labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports 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 Cedartown GA phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are accountable for making certain that samples are tested correctly using the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The easiest response is wherever they treat patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, such as Cedartown GA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a certain kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training in Cedartown GA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program normally takes under a year to complete and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they usually take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program offer a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, many employers require certification prior to employing technicians. Some of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

To begin with, let’s dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Cedartown GA 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-practical portion of the training can be attended online, it might be a more convenient option for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomy program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomy Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on 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 Georgia college is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the Cedartown GA colleges you are looking at before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Georgia? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Georgia or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you pick should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited programs in Cedartown GA. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also check with some Cedartown GA area hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Georgia school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? First, contact the Georgia regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Cedartown GA phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Georgia schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with local medical facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Cedartown GA healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire if the colleges you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Cedartown GA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the ultimate college you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while going to college. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Cedartown GA, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's a good idea to review questions you could be asked. Among the questions that interviewers frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What compelled you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you have that make you exceptional at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of standard interview questions, so you must organize some strategies about how you want to answer them. Considering there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can respond to this primary question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you along with the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Tech and the perfiect candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but write down a few ideas and talking points that relate to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can assist you to develop your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to discuss to enthuse the interviewer.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomist Program near Cedartown GA

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a number of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program options can vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each school before making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best program for you. And with the proper training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Cedartown GA.

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