Choosing a Phlebotomy School near Lock Haven Pennsylvania

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Lock Haven PA is an important initial step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult task to investigate and compare each of the training alternatives that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. In reality, many potential students start their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Another option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. We’ll talk more about online schools later in this article. What’s important to remember is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables such as reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and should be part of your selection process also. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you choose the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online schools.

Phlebotomist Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main duty, there is in fact much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist has to check that the instruments being utilized are single use only and sterile. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Afterward, paperwork has to be properly completed to be able 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 tested for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. Many Lock Haven PA phlebotomists in fact work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are tested properly under the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient responsibilities, they can be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their work environments are many and varied, including Lock Haven PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood centers. They can be tasked to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or young children to senior citizens. A number of phlebotomy techs, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting blood from a certain type of patient. For instance, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only 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, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomist training in Lock Haven PA, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically require two years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are not as available and as a four year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, most employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the principal certifying agencies 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 phlebotomist, like California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a superior education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Certificates and Degrees

First, let’s dispel one potential misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial part of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved Lock Haven 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 in order to graduate. But since the non-practical component of the training may be attended online, it may be a more practical alternative for some students. As an additional benefit, a number of online colleges are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Schools

Since you now have a basic idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it’s time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Pennsylvania college is significant in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the Lock Haven PA schools you are looking at before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to choose a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited schools in Lock Haven PA. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it’s important to check the reputations of any 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 placement program. You can research internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even contact some Lock Haven PA local clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Sufficient 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 clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Lock Haven PA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the Pennsylvania schools you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Lock Haven PA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both a good reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Lock Haven PA healthcare community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it’s crucial to make sure that the ultimate program you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially important if you choose to still work while going to college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Lock Haven PA, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option as well. And if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Decide to Become a Phlebotomist?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomist position, it's helpful to review questions you may be asked. Among the things that recruiters frequently ask Phlebotomist prospects is "What drove you to choose Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is trying to uncover is not just the personal reasons you may have for becoming Phlebotomist, but also what attributes and talents you possess that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions pertaining specifically to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of general interview questions, so you need to prepare some approaches about how you would like to respond to them. Considering there are several factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a multitude of ways. When preparing an answer, attempt to include the reasons the work interests you along with the strengths you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomist and the leading candidate for the job. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but jot down some concepts and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample responses can assist you to formulate your own concepts, and give you ideas of what to include to wow the recruiter.

Enroll in the Best Phlebotomy Course near Lock Haven PA

Making certain that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be found in a variety of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ slightly across the country as each state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to diligently screen and compare each college prior to making your ultimate choice. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the right college for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Lock Haven PA.

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