Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Montgomery Village Maryland

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Montgomery Village MD is a critical initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare all of the training options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a superior education. In reality, most students begin their search by considering 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll review more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as accreditation and reputation are also significant considerations and should be part of your decision process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomist Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. While that is their primary task, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Some Montgomery Village MD phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for making certain that samples are tested properly utilizing the highest quality assurance 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 Practice?

The most basic response is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and varied, such as Montgomery Village MD hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be tasked to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a particular kind of patient. For example, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting 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 working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Montgomery Village MD, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and offers a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, a number of employers require certification before hiring technicians. A few of the key certifying agencies 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomist, like California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomy Training

First, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Montgomery Village MD healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist 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 premium education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Maryland college is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. All of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the Montgomery Village MD programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining loans or financial assistance, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Montgomery Village MD. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s important to check out the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students 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 also talk to several Montgomery Village MD local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Maryland school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, contact the Maryland regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Montgomery Village MD phlebotomist program that you are looking at should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the Maryland colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Montgomery Village MD medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Montgomery Village MD healthcare community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s crucial to confirm that the ultimate college you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is especially important if you decide to still work while going to college. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Montgomery Village MD, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend 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 should you have to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's helpful to reflect on questions you may be asked. One of the things that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what characteristics and skills you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of routine interview questions, so you should organize a number of approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession appeals to you in addition to the abilities you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down several concepts and talking points that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can assist you to prepare your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the recruiter.

Find the Best Phlebotomy Program near Montgomery Village MD

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs can be found in a variety of educational institutes, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each school prior to making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the proper education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Montgomery Village MD.

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