Phlebotomist Courses
How to Pick the Best One Near West Bend Wisconsin 

Perhaps the most important decision you must make to enter the gratifying medical profession of phlebotomy is to select the right phlebotomy training near West Bend WI. There are numerous training programs that are offered in your area and it might seem like a daunting task to research and compare each one. However it's necessary that you perform your due diligence to make sure that you obtain a quality education. More often than not the two qualifications that first are considered by prospective students are the location of the school and the cost of tuition. And if you will drive to classes or attend them online is an option you need to consider as well. Online schools will be discussed in more detail a bit later. So when evaluating phlebotomist training programs, cost and location shouldn’t be the only parameters you are looking at. Finding out if the program is accredited or if the school has a job placement program must also be part of your evaluation process. Toward that end, we will provide a list of questions that you should ask each of the phlebotomy schools you are reviewing to help you choose the best one for you. But prior to doing that, let's cover what a phlebotomist is and does, and then resume our discussion about online classes.

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Should You Go to School to Become a Phlebotomy Tech?

Right out of the gate, not many people are likely to know what a phlebotomy tech or phlebotomist is. The basic answer is a medical professional whose job is to draw blood. So of course anyone who chooses this profession must be able to handle needles and blood. And if you are nervous in hospitals or other West Bend WI medical environments, well this job probably is not right for you. And then there are the patients. Phlebotomists routinely work around anxious people who hate needles or having their blood taken. And because many medical facilities are open around the clock, you will probably be expected to work weekends, evenings and even on holidays. But if you don’t mind working with the blood and needles, and if you enjoy interacting with people and are compassionate and very patient, this could be the perfect job for you.

Phlebotomy Education, Certification and Licensing

There are essentially 2 kinds of programs that offer phlebotomy training, which are certificate and degree programs. The certificate program usually 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 phlebotomist. An Associate of Science Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, even though it's not specifically a phlebotomist degree, will provide training on becoming a phlebotomy tech. Offered at community and junior colleges, they typically take two years to complete. Bachelor's Degrees are less available and as a 4 year program offer a more comprehensive foundation in lab sciences. When you have finished your training, you will probably want to become certified. While not required in the majority of states, many West Bend WI employers look for certification before employing technicians. Some of the key 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 in order to practice as a phlebotomy tech, such as Nevada and California. California and a few additional states even require licensing. So it's important that you enroll in a phlebotomy training program that not only offers a quality education, but also readies you for any certification or licensing exams that you are required or elect to take.

Online Phlebotomist Schools

First, let's dispel one possible misconception. You can't obtain all of your phlebotomist training online. A significant portion of the curriculum will be practical training and it will be carried out either in an on-campus lab or an approved healthcare facility. A large number of courses also require completing an internship in order to graduate. But since the non-practical part of the training can be accessed online, it might be a more practical option for many West Bend WI students. As an additional benefit, a number of online colleges are less expensive than their on-campus competitors. And some costs, such as those for commuting or textbooks, may be minimized as well. Just make sure that the online phlebotomy school you select is accredited by a national or regional 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 disciplined enough to learn at home, then attaining your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.

Subjects to Ask Phlebotomy Programs

Since you now have a general understanding about what it takes to become a phlebotomist, it's time to begin 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 school is significant if you will be commuting from West Bend WI as well as the tuition expense. Maybe you have decided to enroll in an accredited phlebotomist online college. All of these decisions are an important part of the process for choosing a phlebotomy school or program. But they are not the sole considerations when arriving at your decision. Below we have provided some questions that you should ask about all of the colleges you are considering before making your ultimate decision.

Is the Phlebotomy Program Specific to Wisconsin? As earlier discussed, each state has its own laws for practicing as a phlebotomist. Several states call for certification, while some others mandate 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 very important to choose a phlebotomy program that fulfills the state specific requirements for Wisconsin or the state where you will be practicing and readies you for any examinations you may have to take.

Is the Program Accredited? The phlebotomist program and school you choose should be accredited by a highly regarded regional or national accrediting agency, for example 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. To begin with, if your program is not accredited, you will not be able to take a certification examination administered by any of the earlier listed certifying agencies. Also, accreditation will help in obtaining financial aid or loans, which are typically unavailable for non-accredited colleges. Finally, graduating from an accredited school can make you more desirable to future employers in the West Bend WI job market.

What is the College's Ranking? In many states there is minimal or no regulation of phlebotomist schools, so there are those that are not of the highest caliber. So in addition to accreditation, it's essential to investigate the reputations of any schools you are reviewing. You can start by asking the schools for references from employers where they refer their graduates as part of their job assistance program. You can research online school rating and review services and solicit the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. You can even talk to a few West Bend WI clinics or hospitals that you might have an interest in working for and find out if they can provide any insights. As a closing thought, you can check with the Wisconsin school licensing authority and find out if any grievances have been filed or if the schools are in total compliance.

Is Enough Training Provided? To begin with, 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. At a minimum, any phlebotomist program that you are reviewing should provide at least 40 hours of classroom training (the majority require 120) and 120 hours of clinical training. Anything below these minimums may signify that the program is not expansive enough to offer adequate training.

Are Internships Provided? Find out from the schools you are considering if they have an internship program in partnership with regional medical facilities. They are the ideal way to obtain hands-on practical training often not available on campus. As an added benefit, internships can assist students establish relationships within the local West Bend WI medical community. And they are a plus on resumes also.

Is Job Placement Assistance Available? Landing your first phlebotomy job will be a lot easier with the assistance of a job placement program. Find out if the programs you are looking at offer assistance and what their job placement rate is. If a college has a high rate, signifying they place the majority of their students in positions, it's an indication that the school has both a good reputation as well as an extensive network of professional contacts within the West Bend WI medical community.

Are Classes Compatible With Your Schedule? And last, it's important to confirm that the final college you pick provides classes at times that are compatible with your active schedule. This is especially true if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you can only attend classes at night or on weekends near West Bend WI, make certain they are offered at those times. Additionally, if you can only attend part-time, verify it is an option as well. And if you have decided to study online, with the clinical training requirement, make sure those hours can also be fulfilled within your schedule. And ask what the make-up procedure is should you need to miss any classes as a result of emergencies or illness.

Learn More About Becoming a Phlebotomist in West Bend

Pick the Best West Bend Phlebotomist Training Program

Making certain that you pick the ideal phlebotomist training is a critical first step toward your success in this gratifying health care field. As we have covered in this article, there are several factors that contribute toward the selection of a quality program. Phlebotomy training programs are offered in a variety of educational institutions, including junior or community colleges, trade schools, and colleges and universities that provide a wide range of programs in healthcare and medical sciences. Training program offerings may vary slightly across the country as every state has its own mandates when it concerns phlebotomy training, certification and licensing. The most important point is that you must thoroughly research and compare each program prior to making your final choice. By addressing the questions that we have furnished, you will be able to fine tune your options so that you can pick the ideal phlebotomy school for you. And with the appropriate training, you can reach your goal of becoming a phlebotomy technician in West Bend Wisconsin.

 

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