Selecting a Phlebotomy School near Owings Mills Maryland

Enrolling in the ideal phlebotomy school near Owings Mills MD is an important first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting task to assess and compare all of the training alternatives that are accessible to you. However it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In reality, most prospective students begin their search by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. We’ll talk a bit more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and should be part of your selection process as well. To assist in that effort, we will supply 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 afterwards resume our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomist Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is actually much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being used are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point 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 tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Owings Mills MD phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they might be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are numerous and diverse, including Owings Mills MD medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomists, based on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a particular type of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be collecting blood from older 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 practicing in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Owings Mills MD, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to finish and furnishes a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they usually take 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program offer a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, many employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. Some 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 a few states that do call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Colleges

First, let’s resolve one potential misconception. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant portion of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Owings Mills MD healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training can be attended online, it could be a more practical alternative for many students. As an added benefit, some online programs are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a premium education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Maryland college is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. Each of these decisions are an important component of the procedure for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about all of the Owings Mills MD programs you are looking at prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each 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 select a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Maryland or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded 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 a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited programs in Owings Mills MD. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to potential employers in the job market.

What is the College’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to several Owings Mills MD local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Maryland school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? To begin with, check with 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 Owings Mills MD phlebotomist program that you are considering should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Ask the Maryland schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training frequently not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Owings Mills MD health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the assistance 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, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the school has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Owings Mills MD medical community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to verify that the ultimate college you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Owings Mills MD, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. And if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Become a Phlebotomist?

When preparing to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's a good idea to review questions you may be asked. One of the things that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomy Technician applicants is "What compelled you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not only the personal reasons you may have for being Phlebotomy Tech, but also what qualities and talents you possess that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of general interview questions, so you should organize a number of strategies about how you would like to respond to them. Since there are so many factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the talents you have that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down several concepts and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Going over sample responses can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Choose the Best Phlebotomist College near Owings Mills MD

Making certain that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomist training programs are offered in a number of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can vary slightly across the country as each state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each school prior to making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the ideal college for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Owings Mills MD.

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