Phlebotomist Programs
How to Enroll in the Right One Near Mount Pleasant Wisconsin 

Perhaps the most serious decision you must make to enter the gratifying medical profession of phlebotomy is to select the right phlebotomy school near Mount Pleasant WI. It might seem like a daunting task to investigate and compare each of the school alternatives that are accessible to you. However it's vital that you perform your due diligence to ensure that you get a superior education. More often than not the two requirements that initially come to mind for prospective students are where the school is located and how much the tuition is. And if you will commute to classes or attend them online is an option you need to consider as well. We'll discuss a bit more about online schools later in this article. What you need to keep in mind is that there is much more to checking out phlebotomy training programs than finding the closest or the cheapest one. Finding out if the program is accredited or if the school has a job assistance program should also be part of your due diligence 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 evaluating to help you pick the right one for you. But before we do that, let's cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and afterwards resume our discussion about online classes.

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Where do Phlebotomists Work?

The quickest answer is wherever there are patients. Their work places are numerous and varied, including Mount Pleasant WI hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, or blood centers. They may be assigned to collect blood samples from patients of of every age, from infants or toddlers to seniors. Some phlebotomists, depending on their training and their practice, specialize in drawing samples from a certain type of patient. For example, those practicing in an assisted living facility or nursing home would only be drawing blood from older patients. If they are practicing in a maternity ward, they would be collecting blood from mothers and newborns solely. On the other hand, phlebotomists working in a general hospital setting would be drawing blood from a wide range of patients and would collect samples from different patients on a daily basis.

Phlebotomy Technician Education, Licensing and Certification

There are primarily two kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are degree and certificate programs. The certificate program typically takes less than a year to complete and offers a basic education as well as the training on how to draw blood. It provides the quickest means to becoming a phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, although not specifically a phlebotomy degree, will incorporate training on becoming a phlebotomist. 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 expansive background in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to get certified. While not mandated in the majority of states, most Mount Pleasant WI employers look for certification prior to hiring technicians. A few of the principal certifying agencies 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomist, including Nevada and California. California and a few other states even require licensing. So it's important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only supplies a superior education, but also preps you for any certification or licensing examinations that you are required or elect to take.

Phlebotomy Online Training

First, let's dispel one possible mistaken belief. You can't receive all of your phlebotomy training online. A significant component of the program of studies will be clinical training and it will be performed either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completing an internship prior to graduation. However since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it may be a more convenient option for many Mount Pleasant WI students. As an additional benefit, a number of online schools are less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive clinical and online training, you can receive a premium education with this means of learning. If you are dedicated enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online might be the right option for you.

Points to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Now that you have a general understanding about what is involved in becoming a phlebotomist, it's time to start your due diligence process. You might have already decided on 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 college is important if you will be commuting from Mount Pleasant WI in addition to the tuition expense. Perhaps you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online program. All of these decisions are an important part of the procedure for selecting a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the sole considerations when making your decision. Below we have provided several questions that you need to ask about each of the colleges you are considering prior to making your final selection.

Is the Phlebotomist Program Specific to Wisconsin? As mentioned previously, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Some states require certification, while some others mandate licensing. Each has its own requirement regarding the minimum hours of clinical training performed prior to working as a phlebotomy tech. As a result, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it's very important to enroll in a phlebotomist program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be practicing and preps you for all exams you may have to take.

Is the College Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school 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 many benefits to graduating from an accredited program in addition to an assurance of a quality education. First, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to sit for a certification exam offered by any of the previously listed certifying organizations. Next, accreditation will help in securing financial aid or loans, which are often unavailable for non-accredited programs. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the Mount Pleasant WI job market.

What is the College's Ranking? In a number of states there is little 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 check out the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can start by requesting references from the schools from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school rating and review services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. You can also talk to a few Mount Pleasant WI clinics or hospitals that you may be interested in working for and find out if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority and ask if any complaints have been submitted or if the schools are in full compliance.

Is Sufficient Training Provided? To begin with, 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. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are looking at should provide no less than 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to furnish sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the programs you are considering if they have an internship program in collaboration with area healthcare facilities. They are the optimal way to receive hands-on clinical training frequently not obtainable on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can assist students establish contacts within the local Mount Pleasant WI health care community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Support Provided? Getting your first phlebotomist position will be much easier with the support of a job placement program. Inquire if the schools you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a school has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it's an indication that the college has both a good reputation along with an extensive network of professional contacts within the Mount Pleasant WI health care community.

Are Classes Available as Needed? Finally, it's crucial to confirm that the ultimate college you select provides classes at times that are compatible with your hectic schedule. This is especially true if you choose to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes in the evenings or on weekends near Mount Pleasant WI, make sure they are available at those times. Additionally, 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 certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is in case you have to miss any classes due to emergencies or illness.

Find Out About Becoming a Phlebotomist in Mount Pleasant

Choose the Right Mount Pleasant Phlebotomy Training Program

Making sure that you enroll in the ideal phlebotomy training is an essential first step toward your success in this gratifying medical care career position. As we have discussed in this article, there are several factors that go into the selection of a quality school. Phlebotomist training programs can be available in a number of academic institutes, including junior or community colleges, vocational schools, and colleges and universities that offer an extensive array of courses in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings can differ somewhat across the country as each state has its own criteria when it concerns phlebotomist training, certification and licensing. The most critical point is that you need to thoroughly screen and compare each school before making your ultimate choice. By asking the questions that we have provided, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can select the right phlebotomy college for you. And with the appropriate education, you can realize your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in Mount Pleasant Wisconsin.

 

Mount Pleasant Phlebotomy Programs | Mount Pleasant Phlebotomy Schools