Phlebotomist Courses
How to Choose the Best One Near Onalaska Wisconsin 

Perhaps the most important decision you must make to enter the rewarding medical profession of phlebotomy is to choose the best phlebotomy training near Onalaska WI. There are a number of training options that are offered in your area and it may seem like an intimidating undertaking to research and analyze each one. Nevertheless it's vital that you do your due diligence to ensure that you get a quality education. Quite often the two requirements that first come to mind for prospective students are the location of the school and the cost of tuition. Yet another factor you may consider is whether to attend online classes or commute to a nearby campus. We'll review a bit more about online schools later in this article. So when evaluating phlebotomist training programs, location and cost must not be the sole parameters you are looking at. Researching if the program is accredited or if the school has a job assistance program should also be included in your due diligence process. Toward that end, we will supply a list of questions that you need to ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you select the ideal one for you. But before we do that, let's address what a phlebotomist is and does, and then continue our conversation about online classes.

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Should You Choose a Career as a Plebotomist?

Right out of the gate, not many people probably know what a phlebotomist or phlebotomy technician is. The basic answer is a medical professional who draws blood from patients. So of course anyone who chooses this profession must be comfortable with blood and needles. And if you are anxious in hospitals or other Onalaska WI medical environments, well this job probably is not the best choice for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomists tend to work around anxious people who don’t like needles or having their blood drawn. And because many medical facilities are open around the clock, you may be required to work weekends, evenings and 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 right profession for you.

Phlebotomy Education, Licensing and Certification

There are basically two kinds of programs that furnish phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program normally takes less than a year to finish and offers a general education together with the training on how to draw blood. It offers the fastest route 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 on becoming a phlebotomist. Available at junior and community colleges, they usually take 2 years to complete. Bachelor's Degrees are less accessible and as a 4 year program furnish a more extensive background in lab sciences. After you have finished your training, you will no doubt want to be certified. While not required in most states, a number of Onalaska WI employers require certification before hiring technicians. A few 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 some states that do require certification prior to practicing as a phlebotomist, like Nevada and California. California and a handful of additional states even require licensing. So it's important that you enroll in a phlebotomist training program that not only furnishes a premium education, but also preps you for any licensing or certification exams that you elect or are required to take.

Phlebotomy Online Certificates and Degrees

First, let's resolve one potential mistaken belief. You can't receive all of your phlebotomist training online. A substantial part of the curriculum 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 completion of an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-clinical part of the training may be attended online, it may be a more practical option for many Onalaska WI students. As an additional benefit, a number of online programs are more affordable than their on-campus counterparts. And some costs, for instance those for textbooks or commuting, may be lessened as well. Just make certain that the online phlebotomist college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization (more on accreditation later). With both the comprehensive online and clinical training, you can receive a quality education with this approach to learning. If you are dedicated enough to study at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the right option for you.

Topics to Ask Phlebotomy Colleges

Since you now 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 want to enroll in, whether it be for a degree or a certificate. As we mentioned earlier, the location of the campus is relevant if you will be commuting from Onalaska WI as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an accredited online phlebotomy school. All of these decisions are a critical component of the process for choosing a phlebotomy program or school. But they are not the sole concerns when making your decision. Following are several questions that you should ask about each of the schools you are looking at before making your final decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program State Specific? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomy technician. Some states call for certification, while a few others require licensing. Every state has its own requirement regarding the minimum amount of clinical training completed before working as a phlebotomy tech. Consequently, you might need to pass a State Board, certification or licensing exam. Therefore it's very important to select a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be working and readies you for any examinations you may be required to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist school and program you choose should be accredited by a reputable 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 school in addition to an assurance of a superior education. To begin with, if your program has not received accreditation, you will not qualify to take a certification exam offered by any of the earlier listed certifying organizations. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited programs. Last, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to potential employers in the Onalaska WI job market.

What is the School's Ranking? In many 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 the reputations of any schools you are looking at. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they place their students as part of their job placement program. You can screen internet school reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. You can even check with several Onalaska WI hospitals or clinics that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any insights. As a closing thought, you can contact the Wisconsin school licensing authority and find out if any complaints have been submitted or if the colleges are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Included? First, check with 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. At a minimum, any phlebotomy program that you are considering should furnish at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything less than these minimums might signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer sufficient training.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Ask the colleges you are reviewing if they have an internship program in collaboration with area health care facilities. They are the optimal way to get hands-on clinical training typically not provided on campus. As an additional benefit, internships can help students establish contacts within the local Onalaska WI healthcare community. And they are a plus on resumes as well.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Finding your first phlebotomy position will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing provide assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, meaning they place most of their students in jobs, it's an indication that the program has both an excellent reputation along with a substantial network of professional contacts within the Onalaska WI healthcare community.

Are Class Times Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it's crucial to verify that the ultimate college you select offers classes at times that will accommodate your busy lifestyle. This is particularly true if you opt to still work while attending school. If you need to attend classes at night or on weekends near Onalaska WI, make certain they are available at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend on a part-time basis, confirm it is an option also. Even if you have decided to attend online, with the practical training requirement, make certain those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up policy is in case you have to miss any classes because of emergencies or illness.

Learn More About How to Become a Phlebotomist in Onalaska

Choose the Best Onalaska Phlebotomist Training

Making certain that you enroll in the most suitable phlebotomy training is a critical first step toward your success in this fulfilling health care field. As we have addressed in this article, there are multiple factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality college. Phlebotomist training programs are offered in a number of educational institutes, including community or junior colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that offer a wide array of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Course offerings may vary somewhat across the country as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomy training, licensing and certification. The most important point is that you need to carefully research and compare each school prior to making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have provided, you will be able to fine tune your choices so that you can pick the best phlebotomy program for you. And with the appropriate training, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a phlebotomist in Onalaska Wisconsin.

 

Onalaska Phlebotomy Programs Near Me | Onalaska Phlebotomy Schools Near Me