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

Perhaps the most important decision you must make to enter the gratifying medical profession of phlebotomy is to choose the best phlebotomy school near Jacksonville AR. It may seem like a daunting undertaking to evaluate and compare each of the training options that are available to you. However it's vital that you do your due diligence to make certain that you get a superior education. More often than not the two requirements that initially come to mind for prospective students are the location of the school and the cost of tuition. And if you will commute to classes or attend them online is an option you need to consider as well. Online schools will be covered in greater detail a bit later. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also important considerations and must 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 choose the right one for you. But before we do that, let's cover education options, licensing and certification, and online classes.

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Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually takes under a year to finish and furnishes a basic education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they normally require 2 years to finish. Bachelor's Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not required in the majority of states, a number of Jacksonville AR employers require certification prior to hiring technicians. A few 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 several states that do call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it's imperative that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also prepares you for any licensing or certification examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Schools

To begin with, let's dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can't receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A good portion of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical part of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more convenient alternative for many Jacksonville AR students. As an additional benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomy program you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can receive a superior 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 right option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it's time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the college is important if you will be commuting from Jacksonville AR in addition to the cost of tuition. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online college. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Following are a few questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are reviewing prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Arkansas? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it's extremely important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Arkansas or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for any exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you pick should be accredited by a reputable regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Jacksonville AR 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 essential to check out the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job assistance program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even check with some Jacksonville AR hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Arkansas school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? First, contact 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 phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may indicate that the program is not expansive enough to provide sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in partnership with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Jacksonville AR medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Provided? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Inquire if the programs you are reviewing offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it's an indication that the school has both a good reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the Jacksonville AR medical community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it's important to make sure that the ultimate school you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your active schedule. This is especially important if you opt to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Jacksonville AR, 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 study online, with the clinical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And find out what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Learn More About How to Become a Phlebotomist in Jacksonville

Pick the Best Jacksonville Phlebotomy Training

Making certain that you select the right phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomist training programs can be available in a number of educational institutes, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may differ somewhat across the country as every state has its own requirements when it pertains to phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each program before making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can select the best phlebotomist program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Jacksonville Arkansas.

 

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