Picking a Phlebotomist Course near Boalsburg Pennsylvania

Picking the right phlebotomy school near Boalsburg PA is a critical first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to assess and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you do your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In reality, a large number of students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. An additional factor you may 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 a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process too. Toward that end, we will provide 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 before we do that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online schools.

Phlebotomist Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is actually far more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the tools being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample must be accurately labeled with the patient’s data. Next, paperwork has to be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the lab testing procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Boalsburg PA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they might be asked to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, such as Boalsburg PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be assigned to draw blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a specific type of patient. For example, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomy training in Boalsburg PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not required in most states, a number of employers require certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the principal certifying organizations 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you choose a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

First, let’s dispel one likely misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial part of the course of study will be practical training and it will be performed either in an approved Boalsburg PA 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 portion of the training can be accessed online, it could be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already selected 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 Pennsylvania school is relevant as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you should ask about all of the Boalsburg PA programs you are reviewing before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that complies with the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a superior education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered 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 Boalsburg PA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of any schools you are looking at. 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 research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even check with some Boalsburg PA local clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, contact the Pennsylvania regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Boalsburg PA phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the Pennsylvania colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on practical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Boalsburg PA healthcare community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Offered? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation together with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Boalsburg PA medical community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to make sure that the final school you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while going to college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Boalsburg PA, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomy Technician?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's helpful to consider questions you might be asked. One of the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Technician candidates is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is attempting to learn is not merely the personal reasons you might have for being Phlebotomist, but additionally what attributes and talents you have that make you good at your profession. You will probably be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of typical interview questions, so you must ready a number of ideas about how you would like to address them. Given that there are several factors that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you along with the abilities you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the leading choice for the job. Don't try to memorize a response, but jot down a few ideas and talking points that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Going over sample answers can help you to develop your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to impress the interviewer.

Select the Best Phlebotomy College near Boalsburg PA

Making sure that you pick the ideal phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own mandates when it comes to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each college prior to making your ultimate choice. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the right school for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Boalsburg PA.

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