Phlebotomist Schools
How to Pick the Best One Near Round Rock Texas 

Perhaps the most serious decision you must make to enter the fulfilling healthcare vocation of phlebotomy is to select the right phlebotomy school near Round Rock TX. There are a number of training options that are offered in your area and it can seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare each one. Nevertheless it's important that you do your due diligence to make sure that you receive a superior education. Quite often the two requirements that first are considered by student applicants are where the school is located and how much the tuition is. And if you will commute to classes or participate online is an option you need to consider as well. We'll review more about online schools later in this article. So when evaluating phlebotomy training courses, location and cost shouldn’t be the sole criteria you are looking at. 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 supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are evaluating to help you select the best one for you. But before we do that, let's address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our discussion about online training.

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Where are Phlebotomists Employed?

The quickest response is wherever they treat patients. Their work places are many and varied, including Round Rock TX hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of all ages, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, depending on their practice and their training, specialize in collecting samples from a certain type of patient. For instance, those working in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are working in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from newborns and mothers solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists practicing in a general hospital setting would be collecting samples from a wide range of patients and would work with different patients every day.

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are essentially two types of programs that offer phlebotomist training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and offers a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest method to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to finish. Bachelor's Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. Once you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to become certified. While not required in the majority of states, many Round Rock TX employers require certification prior to employing 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 require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, including Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it's essential that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only provides a superior education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Training

To start with, let's dispel one potential mistaken belief. You can't get all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial part of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Numerous courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it can be a more practical option for some Round Rock TX students. As an added benefit, many online colleges are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some expenditures, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be lowered also. Just verify that the online phlebotomy school you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a quality education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online may be the right choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Certificate or Degree Programs

Now that you have a basic idea about what it takes to become a phlebotomy tech, it's time to initiate your due diligence process. You might have already selected the kind of program you intend 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 Round Rock TX as well as the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online program. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for choosing a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about each of the programs you are reviewing before making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training performed prior to practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it's extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Texas or the state where you will be practicing and prepares you for all exams you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you select should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, for example the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are several advantages to graduating from an accredited program in addition to a guarantee of a quality education. First, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification examination administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are frequently unavailable for non-accredited colleges. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the Round Rock TX job market.

What is the School's Reputation? In many states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it's important to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can start by asking the schools for references 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 agencies for their reviews as well. You can also talk to a few Round Rock TX hospitals or clinics that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Texas school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? First, contact the state regulator where you will be practicing 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 looking at should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums might indicate that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Sponsored? Ask the colleges you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with regional medical facilities. They are the optimal means to obtain hands-on practical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Round Rock TX healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomy position 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 percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it's an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the Round Rock TX medical community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? Finally, it's critical to confirm that the final program you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you decide to still work while going to college. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Round Rock TX, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, verify 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 completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up protocol is in case you have to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Find Out About How to Become a Phlebotomist in Round Rock

Enroll in the Right Round Rock Phlebotomy Training

Making sure that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that go into the selection of a superior program. Phlebotomy training programs are available in a wide range of academic institutions, such as community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may vary somewhat from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it pertains to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must diligently screen and compare each program before making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best phlebotomy school for you. And with the proper education, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Round Rock Texas.

 

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