Phlebotomist Schools
How to Enroll in the Best One Near Blytheville Arkansas 

Perhaps the most important decision you must make to enter the fulfilling healthcare profession of phlebotomy is to select the best phlebotomy school near Blytheville AR. There are many training programs that are offered in your area and it can seem like a daunting task to research and compare each one. Notwithstanding, to ensure that you receive a first-rate education you must perform your due diligence before making your decision. More often than not the two qualifications that initially come to mind for student applicants are where the school is located and how much the tuition is. Whether you will commute to classes or participate online is another consideration as well. We'll discuss a bit more about online classes later in this article. So when comparing phlebotomist training courses, cost and location must not be the sole criteria you are looking at. Researching if the program is accredited or if the school has a job assistance program should also be part of your evaluation process. 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 right one for you. But before we do that, let's cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Phlebotomy Career Below!

Phlebotomist Work Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary task, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist needs to verify that the tools being used are sterile and single use only. Following the collection, the sample must be correctly labeled with the patient's data. Next, paperwork must be properly filled out to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the lab screening process. 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. Some phlebotomists in fact work in Blytheville AR labs and are in charge of ensuring that samples are analyzed properly using the highest quality control procedures. And if those weren't enough responsibilities, they can be called upon to train other phlebotomists in the collection, delivery and follow-up process.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two types of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it's not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take 2 years to complete. Bachelor's Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not mandated in most states, most Blytheville AR employers require certification prior to 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, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it's imperative that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

To start with, let's dispel one potential misconception. You can't receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial portion of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be conducted either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical portion of the training may be attended online, it may be a more practical alternative for some Blytheville AR students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist college you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this method of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Since you now have a general idea about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it's time to start your due diligence process. You might have already picked the kind of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Blytheville AR as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist school. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for picking a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are looking at before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Arkansas? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it's very important to select a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Arkansas or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited school in addition to a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Blytheville AR job market.

What is the College's Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it's imperative to check the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even talk to a few Blytheville AR hospitals or clinics that you might be interested in working for and see if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Arkansas school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomy 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 less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Included? Find out from the programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on clinical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Blytheville AR healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in jobs, it's an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Blytheville AR health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it's crucial to confirm that the ultimate school you pick provides classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to continue working while going to school. If you can only go to classes at night or on weekends near Blytheville AR, make certain they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm 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 fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up protocol is should you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Learn More About Becoming a Phlebotomist in Blytheville

Choose the Best Blytheville Phlebotomist Training Program

Making certain that you enroll in 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 go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be available in a number of educational institutions, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a comprehensive array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may differ slightly across the country as each state has its own requirements when it comes to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most critical point is that you need to diligently research and compare each college prior to making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can pick the right phlebotomy college for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Blytheville Arkansas.

 

Blytheville Phlebotomy Schools Near Me | Blytheville Phlebotomy Training Near Me