Phlebotomist Training Schools
How to Pick the Best One Near Marshfield Wisconsin 

Perhaps the most important decision you must make to enter the gratifying healthcare vocation of phlebotomy is to choose the right phlebotomy training near Marshfield WI. There are numerous training programs that are offered in your area and it might seem like a daunting undertaking to investigate and analyze each one. However it's important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you receive a quality education. In fact, a large number of prospective students start the process by considering 2 of the qualifiers that first come to mind, which are cost and location. Yet another factor you might look into is whether to attend classes online or commute to a nearby campus. We'll discuss more about online schools later in this article. What's important to keep in mind is that there is a lot more to comparing phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Other variables including reputation and accreditation are also significant considerations and must be part of your decision process as well. Toward that end, we will furnish a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let's address education options, licensing and certification, and online classes.

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

Phlebotomist Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program generally takes under a year to complete and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the quickest method 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 to become a phlebotomy tech. Offered at junior and community colleges, they typically take 2 years to finish. Bachelor's Degrees are not as accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive foundation in lab sciences. After you have completed your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in most states, most Marshfield WI employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some 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 a few states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it's important that you select a phlebotomist training program that not only offers a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomist Online Colleges

First, let's dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can't obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the curriculum will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. Many courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it could be a more convenient alternative for many Marshfield WI students. As an added benefit, many online classes are less expensive than their traditional competitors. And some expenditures, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lowered also. Just verify that the online phlebotomist school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this means of learning. If you are disciplined enough to study at home, then earning your certificate or degree online may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Phlebotomist Colleges

Now that you have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it's time to initiate your due diligence process. You may have already picked the type of program you want to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the college is significant if you will be commuting from Marshfield WI in addition to the tuition expense. Maybe you have opted to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online school. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the only considerations when arriving at your decision. Following are several questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are reviewing prior to making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Your State? As earlier discussed, each state has its own requirements for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others require licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of practical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing examination. Therefore it's extremely important to choose a phlebotomy program that complies with the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working and readies you for any exams you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy program and school you pick 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 aside from a guarantee of a quality education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam administered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing loans or financial assistance, which are frequently not available for non-accredited schools. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to future employers in the Marshfield WI job market.

What is the Program's Ranking? In numerous states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So along with accreditation, it's imperative to check out the reputations of any schools you are considering. 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 screen internet school reviews and rating services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can also talk to some Marshfield WI hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and see if they can provide any insights. As a final thought, you can check with the Wisconsin school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? First, contact the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the length of training, both classroom and practical. As a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are reviewing should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of practical training. Anything lower than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Included? Ask the programs you are looking at if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop contacts within the local Marshfield WI healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Help Available? Finding your first phlebotomy job will be much easier with the help of a job placement program. Find out if the schools you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement percentage is. If a college has a higher rate, signifying they place most of their students in positions, it's an indication that the program has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Marshfield WI healthcare community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it's important to verify that the ultimate school you select provides classes at times that will accommodate your busy schedule. This is especially important if you opt to still work while attending college. If you need to go to classes at night or on weekends near Marshfield WI, make sure they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to study online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed 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 How to Become a Phlebotomist in Marshfield

Pick the Best Marshfield Phlebotomy Training

Making certain that you pick the ideal phlebotomy training is an important first step toward your success in this gratifying healthcare career position. As we have covered in this article, there are a number of factors that go into the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist certificate or degree programs are available in a variety of academic institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide an extensive range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Program options may differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must diligently evaluate and compare each program before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have presented, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the ideal phlebotomist college for you. And with the appropriate training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Marshfield Wisconsin.

 

Marshfield Phlebotomy Courses | Marshfield Phlebotomy Certificate