Picking a Phlebotomist Course near Thousand Oaks California

Selecting the ideal phlebotomy technician training near Thousand Oaks CA is an essential initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare all of the school options that are accessible to you. However it’s vital that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, many students begin the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are location and cost. Another factor you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We’ll review more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process also. 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 ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. While that is their main responsibility, there is actually so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to confirm that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample has to be properly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork must be correctly filled out in order to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many Thousand Oaks CA phlebotomists in fact work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are tested properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The simplest answer is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and diverse, including Thousand Oaks CA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Licensing and Certification

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Thousand Oaks CA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and furnishes a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they usually require 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in most states, a number of employers require certification before employing technicians. A few 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 some states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Classes

To start with, let’s resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can’t get all of your phlebotomist training online. A good portion of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Thousand Oaks CA 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. However since the non-clinical component of the training may be accessed online, it could be a more convenient alternative for some students. As an added benefit, many online schools are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already chosen 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 California college is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist program. All of these decisions are a critical component of the procedure for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are some questions that you need to ask about each of the Thousand Oaks CA colleges you are looking at prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to California? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for California or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency, such as 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 superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in Thousand Oaks CA. Last, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of all schools you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references 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 organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to several Thousand Oaks CA local clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the California school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? To begin with, contact the California regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Thousand Oaks CA phlebotomy program that you are looking at should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask the California colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on clinical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students establish relationships within the local Thousand Oaks CA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are looking at offer 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 an excellent reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Thousand Oaks CA medical community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to confirm that the final program you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your busy lifestyle. This is especially true if you decide to still work while going to school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Thousand Oaks CA, make sure they are available at those times. Also, 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 certain 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 because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech job, it's helpful to review questions you could be asked. Among the questions that recruiters often ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What drove you to select Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the private reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and skills you have that make you exceptional at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of standard interview questions, so you should organize several ideas about how you would like to answer them. Given that there are so many variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomy Tech and the best choice for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but take down some concepts and topics that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to prepare your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Choose the Best Phlebotomy School near Thousand Oaks CA

Making certain that you choose the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a wide range of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program offerings can differ slightly across the country as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to diligently screen and compare each program before making your final selection. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the right school for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Thousand Oaks CA.

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