Phlebotomist Programs
How to Choose the Best One Near Berkeley California 

An important first step you must take to enter the gratifying healthcare vocation of phlebotomy is to choose the right phlebotomy school near Berkeley CA. There are a number of training programs available to you and it may seem like an intimidating undertaking to research and analyze each one. Notwithstanding, to guarantee that you receive a top-notch education you must perform a detailed audit prior to making your selection. More often than not the two qualifications that first come to mind for prospective students are where the school is located and how much the tuition is. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend online classes or commute to a local campus. Online courses will be covered in more detail a bit later. So when assessing phlebotomy training courses, cost and location must not be the sole parameters you are looking at. Finding out 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 supply a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you pick the best one for you. But before we do that, let's address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online classes.

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Where are Phlebotomy Techs Employed?

The most basic response is wherever patients are treated. Their work environments are numerous and diverse, including Berkeley CA medical clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or blood banks. They can be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or young children to senior citizens. Some phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a certain kind of patient. For instance, those working in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from elderly patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from newborns and mothers exclusively. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be drawing samples from a wide range of patients and would work with new patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest route to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not exclusively a phlebotomy degree, will include training to become a phlebotomy tech. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take two years to complete. Bachelor's Degrees are not as available and as a 4 year program furnish a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, many Berkeley CA employers require certification before hiring technicians. A few of the primary 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it's important that you choose a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Classes

First, let's resolve one possible mistaken belief. You can't get all of your phlebotomy training online. A good component of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Many courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-clinical component of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more practical alternative for many Berkeley CA students. As an additional benefit, a number of online classes are more affordable than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, for instance those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the best option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it's time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected the type of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we previously mentioned, the location of the school is important if you will be commuting from Berkeley CA as well as the cost of tuition. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online college. All 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 several questions that you should ask about each of the colleges you are looking at before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As previously mentioned, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might have to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it's very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for California or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you choose should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting organization, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a superior 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 financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited schools. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Berkeley CA job market.

What is the Program's Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it's imperative to check out the reputations of all colleges you are considering. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can even contact several Berkeley CA hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the California school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Ample Training Provided? First, check with the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the amount of training, both clinical and classroom. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional healthcare facilities. They are the ideal way to get hands-on practical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local Berkeley CA health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Landing your first phlebotomy position will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Inquire 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 most of their students in positions, it's an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Berkeley CA healthcare community.

Are Class Times Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it's important to make sure that the ultimate program you choose offers classes at times that will accommodate your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly important if you decide to still work while attending college. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Berkeley CA, check that they are offered 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 sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is should you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Learn More About How to Become a Phlebotomist in Berkeley

Pick the Right Berkeley Phlebotomy Training

Making sure that you select the ideal phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care field. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs can be offered in a variety of educational institutions, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide assortment of programs in medical care and health sciences. Training program options can differ a bit across the country as each state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully research and compare each program prior to making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the right phlebotomy college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Berkeley California.

 

Berkeley Phlebotomy Programs Near Me | Berkeley Phlebotomy Schools Near Me