Choosing a Phlebotomist Training Program near Marine City Michigan

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy school near Marine City MI is a critical initial step toward a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a challenging task to evaluate and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to make sure that you get a superior education. In reality, many prospective students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you might consider 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 a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process as well. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the best one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being employed are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be properly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Marine City MI phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed correctly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they may be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The easiest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Marine City MI medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively 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, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Marine City MI, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not required in most states, most employers look for certification before employing technicians. A few 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 some states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a premium education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Colleges

To start with, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Marine City MI healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it may be a more practical alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some expenditures, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Michigan campus is important as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for selecting a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the Marine City MI colleges you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Michigan? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Michigan or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges in Marine City MI. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s essential to check the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to a few Marine City MI area hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Michigan school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, contact the Michigan 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. As a minimum, any Marine City MI phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority 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? Ask the Michigan schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with regional health care facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on clinical training frequently not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Marine City MI health care community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Marine City MI healthcare community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the ultimate college you choose provides classes at times that will accommodate your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Marine City MI, check that they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's important to consider questions you could be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and talents you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will likely be asked questions pertaining exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of standard interview questions, so you need to organize several strategies about how you want to address them. Because there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this primary question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the profession interests you as well as the talents you have that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the leading candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down a few ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Enroll in the Best Phlebotomist College near Marine City MI

Making sure that you choose the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options can differ slightly across the country as every state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each school before making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the ideal program for you. And with the proper education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Marine City MI.

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