Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician Training Program near Exton Pennsylvania

Picking the right phlebotomy school near Exton PA is an important first step toward a fulfilling profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a difficult task to evaluate and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you perform your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a superior education. In fact, most potential students start their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. An additional option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What you need to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other factors such as reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your selection process also. To assist in that effort, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our conversation about online training.

Phlebotomy Tech Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is in fact much more to their job description. Prior to collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to verify that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s data. Afterward, paperwork must be accurately completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing procedure. The phlebotomist then delivers the blood to either an an outside lab facility or an in-house lab where it can be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of Exton PA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of making sure that samples are tested correctly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t enough duties, they may be asked to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomy Techs Work?

The quickest response is wherever patients are treated. Their work places are many and diverse, such as Exton PA medical clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing samples from a specific kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be collecting blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. In contrast, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital environment would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomist Training, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Exton PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education along 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 phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program offer a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, many employers require certification prior to 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 call for certification in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a quality education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Colleges

To start with, let’s dispel one possible misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Exton PA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more practical option for many students. As an added benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenses, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized also. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now 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 selected the type 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 college is important in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are some questions that you should ask about each of the Exton PA colleges you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s very important to select a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, 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 has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools in Exton PA. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Ranking? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s imperative to investigate the reputations of any schools you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even check with a few Exton PA local clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? To begin with, 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 Exton PA phlebotomy program that you are considering should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out from the Pennsylvania schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with regional healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Exton PA medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a high rate, signifying 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 Exton PA medical community.

Are Class Times Available as Needed? And last, it’s important to verify that the ultimate school you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially important if you choose to still work while going to school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Exton PA, make certain 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 practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Why Did You Want to Become a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician position, it's advantageous to review questions you may be asked. Among the questions that recruiters typically ask Phlebotomy Tech candidates is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what qualities and skills you possess that make you exceptional at what you do. You will probably be asked questions relating primarily to Phlebotomy, along with a certain number of typical interview questions, so you need to ready some strategies about how you want to answer them. Because there are several variables that go into selecting a career, you can answer this fundamental question in a number of ways. When readying an answer, aim to include the reasons the work appeals to you along with the talents you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the perfiect choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but jot down a few concepts and topics that relate to your own experiences and strengths. Reviewing sample answers can help you to prepare your own thoughts, and provide ideas of what to include to enthuse the recruiter.

Find the Right Phlebotomy Program near Exton PA

Making sure that you select the right phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying 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 can be available in a variety of academic institutions, such as community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of courses in medical care and health sciences. Program offerings can vary a bit across the country as every state has its own requirements when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly research and compare each college before making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Exton PA.

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