Phlebotomy Schools
Phlebotomy Course Overview
Phlebotomy, sometimes referred to as venipuncture, is the drawing of blood for medical purposes. This procedure taught in phlebotomy training courses is most commonly prescribed by a doctor for testing and diagnosing health related issues. There are a number of facilities where phlebotomy is routinely practiced such as in hospitals, blood donor clinics, private physicians’ offices, community health clinics, laboratories, etc.
There are many colleges, universities and other accredited training institutes that offer a wide variety of phlebotomy courses. Due to the relatively short period of time it takes to complete phlebotomy training, it has proven to be an excellent venue for those who wish to enter the healthcare field. Demand for trained healthcare professionals is at an all time high providing many fulfilling career opportunities. Certified phlebotomists or those who have taken a nationally approved phlebotomy course within the United States can typically expect to begin their careers with a minimum salary of about $12.00 an hour.
What you will learn about Phlebotomy
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Accredited programs that offer a phlebotomy course teach more than just how to draw blood from patients. For students with no prior medical experience, it is important to select a school based on more than simply the length of time it takes to complete the program. The classroom curriculum of top phlebotomy schools will include subjects in their phlebotomy course on the following topics:
- Safety in the laboratory – Students learn the proper procedures in keeping themselves and co-workers from physical harm and protected against infection.
- Physiology and anatomy – Topics studied include the respiratory, lymphatic, urinary, skeletal and muscular systems.
- CPR – It is becoming a requirement in most medical facilities that all workers have up to date CPR training.
- Accepted procedures in blood sampling – Vein puncture (venipuncture) techniques can vary from patient to patient. You will learn proper procedures for use on the elderly, infants, children and adults.
- Blood and cell composition – The fundamentals of phlebotomy depend on a comprehensive knowledge of infection that can affect the blood and the cells.
Other course can include:
- Pre-analytical errors and how to avoid them.
- Medical terminology
- The difficult patient
- Relevant legal situations
- Laboratory Testing
- Customer relations
- Storage and transportation
Pre-considerations before taking a Phlebotomy Course
Whether you decide to study phlebotomy at a traditional college, training institute or through an online program, one of the key factors that must be considered is that you receive practical hands on training through an internship program. The goal upon completion of a phlebotomy course should always be that as a graduate you will be adequately prepared to take your phlebotomy certification exam. Although not all states require certification in order to practice phlebotomy, your prospects of getting a job in the field without certification are virtually impossible. Take some to get as much detailed information from all schools that you may be considering and get answers to key questions such as:
- How long will it take to complete the course?
- Does the school provide a hands on internship program?
- Does the program qualify for professional certification?
- What is the cost of the program?
- Is there an application fee?
- Are there any other fees associated with the school or program?
- Is there financial aid available if needed?
- Is program/school accreditation granted by an independent body?
- What is the application process and do they provide help to complete it?
- What are the prerequisites for enrolling in the phlebotomy program?
Requesting Phlebotomy School Information
These are all important factors to consider so remember to request as much detailed information from several schools and programs as you can. The more information you have, the better equipped you will be to make an informed decision. Once you have all the brochures and information you need, it is a good idea to visit the sites of several recognized certification bodies. Their respective websites will outline their specific requirements for taking the certification exams. This is especially true if you are looking into taking phlebotomy courses online. Take a few minutes to visit the following recognized certification organizations and find out what you need to know before you enroll in a specific phlebotomy course.
- The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) www.ascp.org/
- The Association of Phlebotomy Technicians (APT) http://phlebotomycertificationguide.com/
- The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) http://www.nationalphlebotomy.org/
- American Certification Agency at: www.acacert.com
- American Medical Technologists at: www.amtl.com
- National Center for Competency Testing at: www.ncctinc.com
- American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification at: www.ascp.org
Ensuring Schools are Reputable
When reviewing the information that you have gathered you will want to make certain that the programs and schools you are looking at are in good standing with the Better Business Bureau and that they have been designed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The Better Business Bureau’s Consumers page can be found at: http://www.bbb.org/us/consumers/. For more information about CLSI their website is at: http://www.clsi.org/.
Most states offer one or more phlebotomy schools and training programs. Visit our phlebotomy schools page for a state by state list of recognized colleges and training institutes that offer phlebotomy courses. If your state does not appear to offer phlebotomy courses, there are a couple of resources that may be able to offer information on programs in your area. Initially you can contact your local hospital, community clinic, blood bank, physician’s office or laboratory who may be able to give you the name of a training facility in or close to where you live. Alternately the above certification organizations may also be able to direct you to local resources.
It may seem that there is a lot of work involved in finding the right phlebotomy training but in the end, the more information you have about the industry and the phlebotomy certification requirements, the more likely you are to secure a fulfilling career in the field. Understanding what is required in receiving your phlebotomy certification and having detailed information from several accredited training institutes or colleges will make choosing the right phlebotomy course a relatively easy task. Taking the time before hand to do your research is an important step in choosing the program that best suits your particular needs and ultimately securing an exciting and rewarding career.
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