Phlebotomist Training Schools
How to Pick the Best One Near Montgomery Alabama 

Perhaps the most important decision you must make to enter the fulfilling medical profession of phlebotomy is to select the right phlebotomy school near Montgomery AL. There are numerous training programs that are offered in your area and it may seem like an intimidating undertaking to investigate and compare each one. Nevertheless it's vital that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you obtain a quality education. In fact, most potential students begin their search by looking at 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Whether you will commute to classes or attend them online is another consideration as well. We'll discuss more about online schools later in this article. So when assessing phlebotomist training programs, location and cost shouldn’t be the only criteria you are looking at. Other factors including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and need to be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let's address education options, licensing and certification, and online classes.

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Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to finish and provides a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it's not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor's Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, most Montgomery AL employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the main certifying organizations 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 few additional states even require licensing. So it's essential that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only supplies a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomist Online Classes

To start with, let's dispel one possible misconception. You can't receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A good component of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical component of the training may be attended online, it may be a more practical option for some Montgomery AL students. As an additional benefit, some online classes are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist school you choose 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 quality education with this approach to learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online may be the best choice for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomist Training Programs

Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it's time to begin your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Montgomery AL as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomy school. Each of these decisions are an important component of the process for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the schools you are looking at prior to making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it's extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Alabama or the state where you will be working and prepares you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you choose should be accredited by a reputable national or regional accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Montgomery AL job market.

What is the College's Ranking? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it's essential to check the reputations of all colleges you are considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can also check with several Montgomery AL clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Alabama school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both classroom and practical. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are looking at 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 expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Find out from the programs you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to obtain hands-on clinical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students develop contacts within the local Montgomery AL medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Offered? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it's an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Montgomery AL healthcare community.

Are Class Times Offered to Fit Your Schedule? Finally, it's important to confirm that the final school you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Montgomery AL, check that 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 clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Get More Info on Becoming a Phlebotomist in Montgomery

Pick the Best Montgomery Phlebotomist Training

Making certain that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomist training programs are offered in a number of academic institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings may differ slightly across the country as each state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each school prior to making your final decision. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the right phlebotomy college for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Montgomery Alabama.

 

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