Phlebotomist Schools
How to Choose the Best One Near Fort Hood Texas 

Picking the right phlebotomy school near Fort Hood TX is an important first step toward a gratifying profession as a phlebotomist. There are numerous training programs that are offered in your area and it might seem like a daunting undertaking to research and analyze each one. However, to guarantee that you receive a quality education you must perform your due diligence before making your selection. Quite often the two requirements that first come to mind for prospective students are where the school is located and how much the tuition is. And if you will drive to classes or attend them online is another consideration as well. Online schools will be covered in more detail a bit later. What's important to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Finding out if the program is accredited or if the school has a job placement program must also be included in 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 assessing to help you select the right one for you. But before we do that, let's cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

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Phlebotomy Tech Career Description

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy technician, draws blood from patients. Although that is their primary responsibility, there is in fact so much more to their job description. Before collecting a blood sample, a phlebotomist must check that the instruments being used are sterile and single use only. After collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient's information. Afterward, paperwork needs to be properly completed to be able to track the sample from the point of collection through the laboratory testing process. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it may be screened for such things as pregnancy, infectious diseases or blood type. A number of phlebotomists actually work in Fort Hood TX laboratories and are accountable for making sure that samples are tested properly utilizing the strictest quality control procedures. And if those weren't sufficient duties, they might be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, transport and follow-up process.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to finish and offers a general education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomy tech. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it's not exclusively a phlebotomist degree, will include training on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they normally require two years to complete. 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. While not mandated in the majority of states, many Fort Hood TX employers require certification before employing technicians. Some of the main 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 phlebotomist, including California and Nevada. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it's imperative that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

First, let's dispel one potential misconception. You can't get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant component of the course of study will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical component of the training can be attended online, it might be a more convenient alternative for some Fort Hood TX students. As an added benefit, many online schools are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, including those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered as well. Just verify that the online phlebotomist program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national 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 disciplined enough to learn at home, then earning your degree or certificate online might be the best option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it's time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the campus is significant if you will be commuting from Fort Hood TX in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist program. Each of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about each of the schools you are looking at prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. Consequently, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it's very important to select a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Texas or the state where you will be working and readies you for all examinations you may be required to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a recognized national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Finally, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the Fort Hood TX job market.

What is the College's Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it's imperative to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can even talk to several Fort Hood TX clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can provide any recommendations. As a closing thought, you can contact the Texas school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? To begin with, check with the state regulator where you will be working to learn if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both clinical and classroom. At 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 practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Find out from the programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the ideal way to receive hands-on practical training often not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Fort Hood TX medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it's an indication that the college has both an excellent reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Fort Hood TX health care community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it's critical to confirm that the final program you choose offers classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you decide to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Fort Hood TX, check that they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, make sure it is an option also. And 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 procedure is in case you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

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Choose the Right Fort Hood Phlebotomist Training Program

Making sure that you pick the most suitable phlebotomist training is an important first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a premium program. Phlebotomist training programs can be found in a wide range of educational institutions, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings can differ slightly from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must thoroughly evaluate and compare each program prior to making your ultimate selection. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the right phlebotomist college for you. And with the proper education, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Fort Hood Texas.

 

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