Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician School near Richwood Ohio

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Richwood OH is a critical initial step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the school options that are available to you. However it’s important that you do your due diligence to make sure that you receive a quality education. In fact, most prospective students begin the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional option you may consider 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 keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your selection process also. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomist Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main task, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the instruments being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork needs to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Some Richwood OH phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are tested properly using the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they can be asked to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The simplest answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, such as Richwood OH hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would solely be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training in Richwood OH, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes under a year to complete and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not mandated in most states, a number of employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let’s resolve one likely mistaken belief. You can’t receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Richwood OH 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 portion of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more practical alternative for many students. As an added benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the best choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Now that you have a general idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already picked the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the Ohio school is important as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an online phlebotomy college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about each of the Richwood OH programs you are reviewing before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Ohio? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of practical training performed before working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Ohio or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting organization, such as 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. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are often not available for non-accredited colleges in Richwood OH. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s essential to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can begin 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 agencies for their reviews as well. You can even contact some Richwood OH area clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Ohio school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? To begin with, check with the Ohio regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Richwood OH phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Ohio schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with area medical facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on practical training often not obtainable on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Richwood OH medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the Richwood OH medical community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to confirm that the final college you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Richwood OH, make sure they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's a good idea to reflect on questions you may be asked. One of the questions that interviewers typically ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is trying to learn is not merely the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to ready a number of ideas about how you want to answer them. Because there are numerous factors that go into selecting a career, you can respond to this fundamental question in a multitude of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the profession appeals to you as well as the abilities you possess that make you an excellent Phlebotomy Tech and the best choice for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but write down some ideas and anecdotes that pertain to your personal experiences and strengths. Reading through sample answers can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Choose the Best Phlebotomist School near Richwood OH

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium school. Phlebotomist training programs are available in a variety of academic institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings may vary somewhat across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to carefully research and compare each program before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Richwood OH.

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