Selecting a Phlebotomy Technician School near Issaquah Washington

Choosing the ideal phlebotomy technician school near Issaquah WA is a critical first step toward a rewarding profession as a phlebotomist. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to assess and compare each of the school alternatives that are available to you. However it’s vital that you do your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. In fact, many potential students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another option you may consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We’ll discuss more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including accreditation and reputation are also important considerations and must be part of your decision 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 evaluating to help you select the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let’s address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

Phlebotomy Technician Job Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their principal task, there is actually so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to check that the tools being employed are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient’s information. Next, paperwork must be accurately filled out in order to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab testing procedure. 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 infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. A number of Issaquah WA phlebotomists actually work in labs and are in charge of making certain that samples are tested correctly under the strictest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren’t sufficient duties, they may be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The most basic answer is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are numerous and diverse, such as Issaquah WA hospitals, medical clinics, long-term care facilities, or blood banks. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from babies or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, based on their training and their practice, specialize in collecting samples from a particular type of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would exclusively be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomy technicians practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide variety of patients and would collect samples from different patients each day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomy training in Issaquah WA, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it’s not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require 2 years to finish. Bachelor’s Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not mandated in most states, most employers require certification prior to employing technicians. Some 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 some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it’s important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a premium education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Online Phlebotomy Schools

To begin with, let’s resolve one possible misconception. You can’t obtain all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial component of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved Issaquah WA healthcare facility or an on-campus lab|an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility}. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical component of the training can be attended online, it may be a more convenient alternative for many students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a basic understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it’s time to start your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the Washington college is significant in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an online phlebotomy program. Each of these decisions are a critical part of the process for picking a school or program. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided a few questions that you need to ask about all of the Issaquah WA schools you are looking at before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states require certification, while a few others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it’s extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Washington or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to sit for a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in getting loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools in Issaquah WA. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more attractive to future employers in the job market.

What is the School’s Reputation? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it’s imperative to check the reputations of all schools you are looking at. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even talk to a few Issaquah WA local hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Washington school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, contact the Washington regulator or the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any Issaquah WA phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the Washington colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with local healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Issaquah WA medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are considering offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in jobs, it’s an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Issaquah WA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important to confirm that the final college you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially true if you decide to still work while going to school. If you need to go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Issaquah WA, make certain they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you have to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Why Did You Desire to Be a Phlebotomy Tech?

When getting ready to interview for a Phlebotomy Technician job, it's helpful to reflect on questions you could be asked. Among the questions that hiring managers typically ask Phlebotomy Tech applicants is "What made you decide on Phlebotomy as a career?". What the interviewer is hoping to learn is not merely the private reasons you might have for becoming Phlebotomy Tech, but also what attributes and abilities you have that make you outstanding at your profession. You will probably be asked questions relating exclusively to Phlebotomy, along with a significant number of standard interview questions, so you should ready several strategies about how you want to address them. Because there are so many variables that go into choosing a career, you can address this fundamental question in a variety of ways. When readying an answer, try to include the reasons the work appeals to you as well as the talents you possess that make you an outstanding Phlebotomy Technician and the ideal choice for the job. Don't attempt to memorize an answer, but take down some concepts and talking points that pertain to your personal strengths and experiences. Going over sample answers can help you to formulate your own thoughts, and give you ideas of what to discuss to impress the interviewer.

Choose the Best Phlebotomy College near Issaquah WA

Making sure that you select the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a wide range of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Course options can differ somewhat from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you must diligently research and compare each program prior to making your ultimate decision. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal school for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Issaquah WA.

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