Picking a Phlebotomy Technician Course near Dillsburg Pennsylvania

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Dillsburg PA is a critical initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to assess and compare each of the school options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it’s important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a quality education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start their search 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 online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also significant 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 assessing to help you select the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online training.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is in fact far more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to confirm that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample needs to be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork has to be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it may be tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Dillsburg PA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they can be called upon to instruct other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are numerous and diverse, such as Dillsburg PA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would solely be drawing blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be drawing samples from a wide variety of patients and would work with new patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are primarily 2 types of programs that provide phlebotomist training in Dillsburg PA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest method 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 phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more comprehensive 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 look for certification prior to hiring technicians. Some 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 a few states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it’s imperative that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

To begin with, let’s dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant part of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved Dillsburg PA 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. However since the non-practical portion of the training can be attended online, it could be a more practical option for some students. As an additional benefit, many online schools are more affordable than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a quality education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the ideal option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on 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 Pennsylvania campus is relevant as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomy online program. Each of these decisions are a critical 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 a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Dillsburg PA schools you are looking at before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Pennsylvania? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and readies you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting agency, 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 be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs in Dillsburg PA. Last, 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 College’s Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check out the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also contact some Dillsburg PA area clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, contact the Pennsylvania 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 classroom and practical. As a minimum, any Dillsburg PA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Pennsylvania programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Dillsburg PA health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the school has both a good reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Dillsburg PA medical community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it’s important to verify that the final school you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially important if you opt to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Dillsburg PA, check that they are offered at those times. Additionally, 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 sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is should you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Choose to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's helpful to review questions you may be asked. One of the questions that hiring managers often ask Phlebotomist applicants is "What drove you to decide on Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is attempting to discover is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what characteristics and abilities you possess that make you outstanding at what you do. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining primarily to Phlebotomy, as well as a significant number of typical interview questions, so you should ready several strategies about how you want to address them. Because there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you as well as the strengths you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the ideal candidate for the position. Don't make an effort to memorize a response, but jot down several ideas and topics that pertain to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and provide ideas of what to include to impress the recruiter.

Find the Right Phlebotomist School near Dillsburg PA

Making sure that you choose the right phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this fulfilling healthcare field. As we have addressed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a superior school. Phlebotomist training programs can be found in a number of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course offerings can vary slightly from state to state as every state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must carefully evaluate and compare each college prior to making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Dillsburg PA.

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