Phlebotomist Training Programs
How to Find the Best One Near West Odessa Texas 

Picking the ideal phlebotomist training near West Odessa TX is an essential initial step toward a rewarding career as a phlebotomist. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and compare each of the training options that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it's important that you complete your due diligence to ensure that you receive a superior education. More often than not the two requirements that initially come to mind for student applicants are where the school is located and how much the tuition is. Yet another option you might consider is whether to attend classes online or commute to a local campus. We'll discuss a bit more about online classes later in this article. So when assessing phlebotomist training courses, location and cost shouldn’t be the only parameters you are looking at. Finding out 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 provide a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are assessing to help you pick the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let's address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our discussion about online schools.

It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Phlebotomy Career Below!

Phlebotomist Career Summary

A phlebotomist, or phlebotomy tech, collects blood samples from patients. Although that is their principal duty, there is actually much more to their job description. Before drawing a blood sample, a phlebotomist must verify that the tools being utilized are single use only and sterile. After collection, the sample has to be correctly labeled with the patient's information. Next, paperwork must be correctly filled out to be able to track the sample from the time of collection through the laboratory screening procedure. The phlebotomist then transports the blood to either an in-house lab or to an outside lab facility where it can be tested for such things as infectious diseases, pregnancy or blood type. Many phlebotomists in fact work in West Odessa TX laboratories and are in charge of making sure that samples are analyzed properly under the highest quality assurance procedures. And if those weren't sufficient responsibilities, they may be required to instruct other phlebotomists in the drawing, delivery and follow-up process.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 types of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to finish and furnishes a general education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it's not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomist. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take two years to finish. Bachelor's Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. Once you have completed your training, you will probably want to be certified. Although not required in the majority of states, many West Odessa TX employers look for certification before hiring technicians. A few of the principal 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, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it's imperative that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Certificates and Degrees

To start with, let's dispel one likely mistaken belief. You can't get all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant part of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completion of an internship prior to graduation. But since the non-clinical portion of the training may be accessed online, it might be a more practical option for many West Odessa TX students. As an added benefit, a number of online colleges are more affordable than their on-campus competitors. And some expenses, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a national or regional accrediting organization (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a premium education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomist Certificate or Degree Programs

Now that you have a basic understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it's time to begin your due diligence process. You may have already decided on the kind of program you intend 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 West Odessa TX in addition to the cost of tuition. Possibly you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomy online college. All of these decisions are a critical part of the process for picking a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about all of the programs you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Texas? As previously mentioned, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed prior to working as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it's very important to enroll in a phlebotomy program that meets the state specific requirements for Texas or the state where you will be working and prepares you for all examinations you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you select should be accredited by a respected national or regional accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of advantages to graduating from an accredited school aside from a guarantee of a premium education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not qualify to sit for a certification exam administered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more desirable to future employers in the West Odessa TX job market.

What is the Program's Reputation? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist colleges, so there are some that are not of the highest quality. So in addition to accreditation, it's essential to investigate the reputations of any colleges you are reviewing. You can begin by requesting references from the schools from employers where they place their students as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also talk to some West Odessa TX clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Texas school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Plenty of Training Provided? First, check with 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. As a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are considering should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may signify that the program is not comprehensive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internships Included? Ask the programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with local medical facilities. They are the ideal means to obtain hands-on clinical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local West Odessa TX medical community. And they look good on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Getting your first phlebotomist job will be a lot easier with the help of a job placement program. Ask if the programs you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in positions, it's an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with a large network of professional contacts within the West Odessa TX medical community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? And last, it's critical to make sure that the ultimate college you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near West Odessa TX, make sure they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you need to miss any classes due to illness or emergencies.

Learn More About How to Become a Phlebotomist in West Odessa

Enroll in the Right West Odessa Phlebotomy Training

Making sure that you choose the ideal phlebotomist training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying health care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a superior college. Phlebotomist training programs can be offered in a wide range of educational institutes, such as junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course options may vary somewhat across the country as every state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you need to carefully screen and compare each college before making your final choice. By asking the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the right phlebotomy college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in West Odessa Texas.

 

West Odessa Phlebotomy Classes Near Me | West Odessa Phlebotomy Courses Near Me