Phlebotomist Training Schools
How to Choose the Best One Near West Memphis Arkansas 

Enrolling in the right phlebotomy technician training near West Memphis AR is an important initial step toward a gratifying career as a phlebotomist. There are many training programs that are offered in your area and it may seem like an intimidating task to research and compare each one. Notwithstanding, to guarantee that you receive a top-notch education you must perform your due diligence before making your selection. Quite often the two qualifications that first are considered by student applicants are the location of the school and the cost of tuition. Yet another option you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to an area campus. Online courses will be covered in more detail a bit later. So when assessing phlebotomist training courses, cost and location shouldn’t be the only parameters you are looking at. Researching if the program is accredited or if the school has a job assistance program must also be part of your evaluation process. 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 ideal one for you. But before we do that, let's cover education options, licensing and certification, and online schools.

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Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically 2 types of programs that furnish phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and provides a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they normally take two years to finish. Bachelor's Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. Although not mandated in the majority of states, a number of West Memphis AR employers look for certification prior to employing technicians. A few of the primary 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 phlebotomy tech, like California and Nevada. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it's imperative that you pick a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a quality education, but also readies you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Certificates and Degrees

To begin with, let's resolve one possible misconception. You can't get all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant portion of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be conducted either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-practical component of the training can be attended online, it may be a more convenient alternative for many West Memphis AR students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist program you choose is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a quality education with this method of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it's time to start your due diligence process. You might have already chosen 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 West Memphis AR as well as the tuition expense. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the only concerns when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are considering prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may have to pass a State Board, licensing or certification examination. Therefore it's extremely important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Arkansas or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting agency, such as 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 quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are frequently not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to potential employers in the West Memphis AR job market.

What is the College's Ranking? In numerous states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it's important to investigate the reputations of all colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can research internet school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also contact some West Memphis AR clinics or hospitals that you might be interested in working for and see if they can offer any recommendations. As a final thought, you can contact the Arkansas school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Adequate Training Included? To begin with, contact the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional health care facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on clinical training typically not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local West Memphis AR medical community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it's an indication that the college has both a good reputation together with a large network of professional contacts within the West Memphis AR health care community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it's important to verify that the final program you choose provides classes at times that are compatible with your active lifestyle. This is particularly true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near West Memphis AR, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option as well. And 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 in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Find Out About Becoming a Phlebotomist in West Memphis

Enroll in the Right West Memphis Phlebotomist Training Program

Making certain that you pick the most suitable phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are a number of factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist training programs can be found in a variety of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of programs in medical care and health sciences. Program options may differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own criteria when it pertains to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to diligently evaluate and compare each program prior to making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the best phlebotomy program for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in West Memphis Arkansas.

 

West Memphis Phlebotomy Programs Near Me | West Memphis Phlebotomy Schools Near Me