Phlebotomist Schools
How to Find the Right One Near Beaver Dam Wisconsin 

Perhaps the most serious decision you must make to enter the fulfilling medical vocation of phlebotomy is to select the right phlebotomy school near Beaver Dam WI. It might seem like a challenging undertaking to analyze and compare all of the training options that are available to you. Notwithstanding, to guarantee that you will get a quality education you must perform your due diligence prior to making your selection. In reality, most potential students start the process by considering two of the qualifiers that initially come to mind, which are cost and location. Whether you will commute to classes or participate online is another consideration as well. We'll talk a bit more about online classes later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is far more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than locating 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 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 select 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 schools.

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

Should You Choose a Career as a Phlebotomy Technician?

Right out of the gate, not many people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The short answer is a health care professional who draws blood from patients. So of course anyone who selects this profession must be OK around needles and blood. And if you are not comfortable in hospitals or other Beaver Dam WI medical facilities, well this profession may not be the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomists often work around nervous people who hate needles or having their blood taken. And because many medical facilities are open 24 hours, you will probably be required to work weekends, nights and, you guessed it even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the blood and needles, and if you enjoy helping people and are patient and compassionate, this may be the perfect job for you.

Phlebotomist Education, Certification and Licensing

There are basically 2 kinds of programs that provide phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and offers a basic education along with 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 specifically a phlebotomist degree, will include training to become a phlebotomist. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to complete. Bachelor's Degrees are not as accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more expansive background in lab sciences. When you have completed your training, you will probably want to become certified. Although not mandated in most states, most Beaver Dam WI employers require certification before employing technicians. Some 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 a few states that do require certification in order to practice as a phlebotomist, such as California and Nevada. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it's essential that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a premium education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

To start with, let's dispel one likely misconception. You can't receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the program of studies will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. Numerous courses also require completion of an internship in order to graduate. However since the non-clinical portion of the training can be attended online, it can be a more convenient option for many Beaver Dam WI students. As an added benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their traditional counterparts. And some costs, such as those for textbooks or commuting, may be minimized as well. Just confirm that the online phlebotomy college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation later). With both the extensive clinical and online training, you can receive a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then obtaining your degree or certificate online might be the ideal choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomist Training Programs

Now that you have a basic understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomy tech, it's time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already chosen the type of program you wish to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the school is relevant if you will be commuting from Beaver Dam WI in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist school. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the only concerns when making your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about each of the colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Your State? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, licensing or certification exam. Therefore it's extremely important to choose a phlebotomist program that satisfies the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working and readies you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the School Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you enroll in should be accredited by a highly regarded national or regional accrediting organization, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are a number of benefits to graduating from an accredited program aside from a guarantee of a premium education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not be able to take a certification examination offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in getting financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to prospective employers in the Beaver Dam WI job market.

What is the Program's Reputation? In a number of states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy schools, so there are those that are not of the highest quality. So along with accreditation, it's important to check out the reputations of all schools you are reviewing. You can begin by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can research online school rating and review services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. You can also contact some Beaver Dam WI 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 Wisconsin school licensing authority and ask if any grievances have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? First, check with the state regulator where you will be practicing to find out 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 no less than 40 hours of classroom training (most require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything lower than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to provide adequate training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the schools you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with local health care facilities. They are the optimal means to receive hands-on practical training frequently not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can help students develop relationships within the local Beaver Dam WI health care community. And they look good on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomist position will be a lot easier with the support of a job placement program. Ask if the schools you are considering provide assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a school has a higher rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it's an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation as well as a substantial network of professional contacts within the Beaver Dam WI healthcare community.

Are Classes Conveniently Scheduled? Finally, it's important to confirm that the ultimate program you select offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is particularly true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near Beaver Dam WI, make sure they are offered at those times. Also, if you can only attend part-time, confirm it is an option as well. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is should you need to miss any classes because of illness or emergencies.

Learn More About Becoming a Phlebotomist in Beaver Dam

Enroll in the Best Beaver Dam Phlebotomy Training Program

Making sure that you pick the ideal phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this rewarding medical care career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a premium college. Phlebotomy certificate or degree programs are offered in a variety of academic institutions, including community or junior colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings can vary slightly from state to state as each state has its own prerequisites when it concerns phlebotomist training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each school before making your ultimate selection. By asking the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can select the best phlebotomy program for you. And with the proper training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Beaver Dam Wisconsin.

 

Beaver Dam Phlebotomy Programs | Beaver Dam Phlebotomy Schools