Phlebotomist Training
How to Find the Right One Near Menomonie Wisconsin 

A critical first step you must take to enter the rewarding medical profession of phlebotomy is to select the best phlebotomy school near Menomonie WI. It may seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare all of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. Nevertheless it's important that you complete your due diligence to make certain that you obtain a quality 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. And if you will drive to classes or participate online is an option you need to consider as well. Online schools will be covered in greater detail a bit later. What's important to remember is that there is a lot more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than locating the cheapest or the closest one. Finding out if the program is accredited or if the school has a job assistance program must also be part of your due diligence 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 choose the ideal one for you. But prior to doing that, let's address what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards continue our conversation about online training.

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Where do Phlebotomy Techs Practice?

The most basic response is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, including Menomonie WI hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood banks. They may be charged to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from babies or toddlers to seniors. A number of phlebotomy techs, based on their practice and their training, specialize in drawing blood from a particular kind of patient. For instance, those practicing in a nursing home or assisted living facility would only be collecting blood from senior patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be drawing blood from mothers and newborns exclusively. In contrast, phlebotomists working in a general hospital environment would be collecting blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients every day.

Phlebotomy Technician Training, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially two kinds of programs that provide phlebotomist training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program generally takes less than a year to complete and provides a basic education along with the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest route to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it's not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training to become a phlebotomist. Available at community and junior colleges, they typically require 2 years to finish. Bachelor's Degrees are less accessible and as a four year program provide a more extensive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to get certified. While not required in most states, a number of Menomonie WI employers look for certification prior to 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 call for certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomy tech, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of other states even require licensing. So it's important that you pick a phlebotomy training program that not only provides a superior education, but also prepares you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

First, let's resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can't receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A substantial portion of the course of study will be clinical training and it will be carried out either in an approved healthcare facility or an on-campus lab. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical component of the training may be accessed online, it may be a more practical alternative for some Menomonie WI students. As an additional benefit, some online schools are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some expenditures, including those for commuting or textbooks, may be reduced as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency (more on accreditation to follow). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can obtain a superior education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your certificate or degree online might be the right choice for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Training Programs

Since you now have a basic understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it's time to start your due diligence process. You may have already selected the kind of program you intend to enroll in, whether it be for a certificate or a degree. As we previously mentioned, the location of the campus is important if you will be commuting from Menomonie WI in addition to the cost of tuition. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomist college. Each of these decisions are an important part of the process for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when arriving at your decision. Following are a few questions that you need to ask about each of the colleges you are considering prior to making your ultimate selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program State Specific? As mentioned previously, each state has its own regulations for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Several states call for certification, while a few others mandate licensing. Every state has its own prerequisite regarding the minimum hours of clinical training completed before practicing as a phlebotomist. As a result, you may need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. 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 practicing and prepares you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomy school and program you pick should be accredited by a respected regional or national accrediting agency, such as the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS). There are many benefits 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 sit for a certification examination offered by any of the previously listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are typically not available for non-accredited programs. Last, graduating from an accredited college can make you more attractive to potential employers in the Menomonie WI job market.

What is the School's Reputation? In a number of states there is little or no regulation of phlebotomy colleges, 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 considering. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also check with a few Menomonie WI hospitals or clinics that you may have an interest in working for and see if they can offer any insights. As a final thought, you can contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been submitted or if the colleges are in full compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? First, contact the state regulator where you will be working to find out if there are any minimum requirements for the amount 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 less than these minimums might indicate that the program is not comprehensive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internships Provided? Ask the colleges you are looking at if they have an internship program in partnership with regional healthcare facilities. They are the optimal means to get hands-on practical training frequently not provided on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students develop relationships within the local Menomonie WI medical community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Support Available? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Ask if the colleges you are looking at provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place the majority of their students in jobs, it's an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as a large network of professional contacts within the Menomonie WI medical community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? And last, it's crucial to make sure that the final school you pick offers classes at times that are compatible with your hectic lifestyle. This is particularly true if you choose to still work while attending college. If you can only go to classes in the evenings or on weekends near Menomonie WI, check that they are available at those times. Also, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, make sure it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be completed within your schedule. And find out what the make-up procedure is in case you need to miss any classes as a result of illness or emergencies.

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Enroll in the Right Menomonie Phlebotomist Training Program

Making certain that you select the most suitable phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling medical care career position. As we have addressed in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy training programs are found in a number of academic institutes, such as junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide assortment of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program options can vary somewhat from state to state as every state has its own prerequisites when it comes to phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must thoroughly screen and compare each program before making your final decision. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the best phlebotomist college for you. And with the proper training, you can achieve your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Menomonie Wisconsin.

 

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