Selecting a Phlebotomy School near Tennille Georgia

Selecting the right phlebotomy school near Tennille GA is a critical initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a challenging task to analyze and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, many prospective students start their search by considering two 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 a local campus. We’ll review a bit more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomist Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their principal duty, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be accurately completed 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 pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Tennille GA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The easiest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are many and varied, including Tennille GA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a specific type of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians working in a general hospital setting would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Tennille GA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and provides a basic education as well as 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, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in most states, many employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the key certifying organizations 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. 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 furnishes a quality education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To start with, let’s resolve one likely misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Tennille GA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical portion of the training may be attended online, it could be a more practical option for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some expenses, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy college you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then obtaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Georgia campus is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online program. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for choosing a program or school. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about each of the Tennille GA programs you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Georgia or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited school aside from an assurance of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited programs in Tennille GA. 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 College’s Reputation? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even check with some Tennille GA local hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Georgia school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, check with 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 classroom and practical. At a minimum, any Tennille GA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the Georgia programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional health care facilities. They are the ideal means to get hands-on clinical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Tennille GA healthcare community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Tennille GA medical community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it’s important to verify that the ultimate college you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is especially true if you decide to continue working while attending school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Tennille GA, check that 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 study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's advantageous to reflect on questions you might be asked. One of the things that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What compelled you to pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to uncover is not only the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and talents you possess that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a certain number of general interview questions, so you need to prepare several ideas 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 variety of ways. When preparing an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the talents you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomist and the ideal choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down a few concepts and topics that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can help you to develop your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Choose the Best Phlebotomist Program near Tennille GA

Making sure that you pick the right phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a wide range of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program options can vary a bit from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each college before making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Tennille GA.

Learn About Tennille Georgia

 

 

More Interesting Georgia Cities

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Lilburn GA 30047

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Watkinsville GA 30677

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Demorest GA 30535

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Bainbridge GA 31717

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Hazlehurst GA 31539

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Richmond Hill GA 31324

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Austell GA 30106

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Vienna GA 31092

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Douglas GA 31533

Phlebotomy Training Schools near Fitzgerald GA 31750