Choosing a Phlebotomy Technician School near Macungie Pennsylvania

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician school near Macungie PA is an essential first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a difficult undertaking to assess and compare each of the school options that are available to you. Nevertheless it’s necessary that you do your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a superior education. In fact, many potential students start the process by looking at two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are location and cost. Another option you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to an area campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What’s important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and should be part of your decision process also. To assist in that effort, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the right one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online classes.

Phlebotomy Tech Work Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their main responsibility, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Prior to drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify 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. Next, paperwork has to be correctly completed in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory screening process. The phlebotomist then delivers 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. Many Macungie PA phlebotomists actually work in laboratories and are responsible for making sure that samples are analyzed properly utilizing the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they can be required to train other phlebotomists in the collection, transport and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Practice?

The quickest response is wherever there are patients. Their workplaces are many and varied, such as Macungie PA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be charged to draw blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a specific kind of patient. For example, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would exclusively be drawing blood from older patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing blood from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from new patients each day.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically two types of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Macungie PA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to finish and offers a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method to becoming a phlebotomy tech. 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. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor’s Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. Although not required in most states, many employers look for certification before hiring 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 phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a superior education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomist Training

To start with, let’s resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A good part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Macungie 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 in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it may be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an added benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just confirm that the online phlebotomist program you select 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 premium education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then earning your certificate or degree online might be the best choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already selected the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Pennsylvania school is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Possibly you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy school. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the procedure for selecting a program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you should ask about all of the Macungie PA programs you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Pennsylvania? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states require certification, while some others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it’s very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that meets the state specific requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a superior education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in Macungie PA. Finally, earning a certificate or a degree from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it’s important to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even contact a few Macungie PA area clinics or hospitals that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can check with the Pennsylvania school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Included? To begin with, contact the Pennsylvania regulator or the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any Macungie PA phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Find out from the Pennsylvania schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with local health care facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on practical training typically not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Macungie PA health care community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Finding your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in positions, it’s an indication that the college has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Macungie PA health care community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s critical to verify that the final school you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your active lifestyle. This is particularly important if you opt to still work while attending college. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Macungie PA, 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 as well. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Want to Be a Phlebotomy Technician?

When prepping to interview for a Phlebotomy Tech position, it's important to review questions you could be asked. One of the things that recruiters often ask Phlebotomy Technician prospects is "What made you pick Phlebotomy as a profession?". What the interviewer is hoping to discover is not merely the personal reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomist, but additionally what attributes and skills you have that make you good at your profession. You will undoubtedly be asked questions relating specifically to Phlebotomy, in addition to a significant number of routine interview questions, so you need to organize a number of strategies about how you want to address them. Given that there are several variables that go into choosing a career, you can answer this primary question in a variety of ways. When formulating an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the abilities you possess that make you an exceptional Phlebotomist and the best candidate for the position. Don't attempt to memorize a response, but take down some ideas and talking points that relate to your personal strengths and experiences. Reviewing sample responses can help you to prepare your own concepts, and inspire ideas of what to include to enthuse the interviewer.

Enroll in the Right Phlebotomist School near Macungie PA

Making certain that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist training programs can be found in a variety of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options may vary a bit from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully evaluate and compare each college prior to making your final selection. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the ideal college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Macungie PA.

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