Top Phlebotomist Schools in New Jersey

Searching for phlebotomist schools in New Jersey? This comprehensive guide outlines the top accredited programs, delineates the certification process, and highlights the career prospects in this high-demand healthcare field. Whether you’re just starting or looking to advance your skills, find essential information on New Jersey’s phlebotomy education landscape, leading to a fulfilling career as a phlebotomist.

Exploring Top Phlebotomy Programs in New Jersey

New Jersey offers an array of esteemed institutions providing phlebotomy courses, such as Ocean County College and Bergen Community College in Paramus, to name a few. These programs are designed to prepare students for entry-level jobs, create pathways for career advancement, and ensure certification readiness.

Ocean County College

The Phlebotomy Technician program at Ocean County College prepares students to become proficient in drawing blood for various purposes such as tests, transfusions, research, or blood donations. The program is designed to equip students with the skills necessary to earn certification as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) through the National Healthcareer Association.

Key Features:

Professional Certification: Prepares students to earn the CPT credential.
Comprehensive Training: Combines didactic, student laboratory, and clinical experiences.

Curriculum:

Blood Collection Methods: Training in various blood collection techniques using proper methods and precautions.
Anatomy & Physiology: Understanding the human body and its functions relevant to phlebotomy.
Blood Collection Equipment & Procedures: Learning to use different equipment and follow procedures accurately.
Capillary Procedures: Techniques for collecting blood through capillary methods.
Interpersonal Relations: Developing skills for interacting with patients.
Medical Terminology: Familiarizing with the terminology used in the medical field.

Additional Information:

Credits: Upon successful completion, students are eligible for 4 college credits towards an Ocean County College General Education Associate’s degree.
Certification Exam: Eligibility to take the National Healthcareer Association’s CPT examination after program completion.

Bergen Community College

Overview:

Bergen Community College offers a Phlebotomy program designed to prepare students for a career in the healthcare field as phlebotomists. The program provides comprehensive training in blood collection techniques, safety procedures, and patient interaction skills.

Key Features:

Comprehensive Training: Covers various blood collection methods, including venipuncture and capillary techniques.
Safety Procedures: Emphasis on universal precautions and safety protocols to protect both patients and healthcare workers.
Patient Interaction: Training in effective communication and interpersonal skills to ensure patient comfort and cooperation.
Multiple Locations: Courses are available at various Bergen Community College campuses, including Paramus (main campus), Hackensack (Ciarco Learning Center), and Lyndhurst (Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands).

Benefits:

Hands-On Experience: Students gain practical experience in a clinical setting, practicing blood draws and handling specimens.
Certification Preparation: The program prepares students to take certification exams, enhancing their employability in the healthcare field.
Flexible Learning: Options for continuing education and adult education programs cater to a diverse range of students.

A comprehensive curriculum is offered, covering everything from the use of basic tools and equipment to blood-related illnesses and patient care protocols. A balance between theoretical knowledge and its practical application is maintained, ensuring students gain hands-on training with medical equipment. Certain programs even offer clinical externships, giving students hands-on experience in a real-world setting.

Accredited Phlebotomy Technician Programs

Selecting an accredited phlebotomy program guarantees that the program adheres to specific quality standards. Take, for example, the Phlebotomy Technician program at AIMS Education, which is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), or the National Career Institute program, accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education.

AIMS Education has also verified that its curriculum satisfies the educational requirements for licensure or certification in New Jersey. Upon completion of the program, graduates can qualify to take the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). This certification can open up new career opportunities in the healthcare field.

Pathways to Certification

Becoming a Certified Phlebotomy Technician in New Jersey involves a few key steps:

Complete a Phlebotomy Technician training course approved by the Department of Education and Work Force Development.
Pass a competency evaluation that includes completing 40 live sticks to demonstrate practical skills.
Be at least 18 years old to qualify for certification as a phlebotomist.

Once these educational and practical requirements are met, you’re eligible to take the National Certification Exam for phlebotomists in New Jersey.

Career Outlook for Certified Phlebotomists

As a phlebotomist, you’ll be entering a growing field. The employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow by 8 per cent from 2022 to 2032, outpacing the average growth rate for all occupations. The median annual wage for phlebotomists in May 2022 was $38,530.

Furthermore, around 19,500 job openings for phlebotomists are expected each year over the next decade, primarily due to the need to replace workers who transfer to other roles or leave the labour force.

Understanding Program Costs

Program tuition can vary across institutes. For instance, Rutgers’ Phlebotomy Program charges $1,600 for tuition, while the TIA School of Allied Health offers a Phlebotomy Technician program that costs $699 and is completed in just 3 weeks. However, tuition isn’t the only cost to consider. Extra costs can include phlebotomy program fees, such as:

A non-refundable application fee
A background check fee
Textbook costs
A fee for drug screening at some clinical sites

The good news is, that some phlebotomy programs, like Rutgers, include the national certification exam cost within their course fees, helping ease the financial burden of the certification process.

Classroom Learning and Medical Terminology

Beyond practical training, phlebotomy education also delves into a wealth of theoretical knowledge. Understanding medical terminology and anatomy is a critical component, enhancing the quality of patient care delivered by professionals in this field. Programs, such as those offered by the Allied Health Training Institute and Berkeley College, include extensive training on:

Medical terminology
The circulatory system
Anatomy related to phlebotomy
Methods and techniques for acquiring and handling specimens.

In addition to core phlebotomy skills, students are taught about the anatomy and physiology of the heart, disease processes, legal aspects of patient contact, and medical ethics. Theoretical lectures in some programs cover a wide range of lab procedures, including blood specimen collection, infection control, safety, quality assurance, and specimen processing. Programs also address infection control and legal issues in healthcare, providing a comprehensive theoretical background that complements the practical skills in phlebotomy.

Blood Collection Procedures and Equipment

Phlebotomy equipment, also known as blood collection equipment, includes lancets for capillary blood draws, vacuum tubes for venous draws, and various types of needles, including straight and butterfly needles. Phlebotomy students learn to select the correct hypodermic needle gauge to minimize hemolysis and ensure specimen integrity. Proper venipuncture technique involves anchoring the vein and inserting the needle at the right angle and depth, whereas capillary puncture demands cleanliness and sterile methods to prevent infection and specimen contamination.

Training emphasizes the following blood collection practice aspects:

Following the correct order of draw for evacuated blood collection tubes and for microtiter specimens to prevent cross-contamination of additives and ensure accurate test results
Adherence to universal safety precautions during phlebotomy procedures
Proper hand hygiene
Careful disposal of sharps and protective equipment
Handling and storage of blood samples

These safety practices are essential to ensure the accuracy of test results and prevent the spread of infections.

Infection Control and Quality Assurance

Safety protocols are a critical part of phlebotomy training, emphasizing the prevention of needlestick injuries and the transmission of infectious diseases. Training includes:

Proper clean-up of blood spills
Disposal of used needles and syringes in puncture-resistant sharps containers to maintain a safe and hygienic environment
Infection prevention and control practices such as hand hygiene, glove use, and the use of personal protective equipment such as lab coats and gowns during blood collection procedures.

Phlebotomy programs integrate classroom learning that covers infection control, safety, and quality assurance, with a focus on OSHA, CLIA, and other standards required in a laboratory setting.

Exam Eligibility and Requirements

Eligibility to sit for phlebotomy certification exams varies across different certifying bodies, each with specific requirements. Here are some examples:

For the NHA’s CPT exam, a high school diploma or GED is required, along with either the completion of a formal phlebotomy training program or one year of supervised work experience.
ASCP’s PBT certification also requires a high school diploma or GED but with a NAACLS-approved phlebotomy program completion or a full year of approved laboratory work experience.
For the AMT’s RPT certification, candidates must complete an approved program with 120 hours of instruction or have substantial work experience, alongside a high school diploma and evidence of successful veni- and capillary punctures.

The NHA’s CPT exam involves 100 questions, spans 2 hours, and covers a wide variety of topics including safety, blood collection, and processing. A minimum score of 390 on a scaled system from 200 to 500 is required to pass the exam, with a pass rate in 2022 of 77.31%.

Continuing Education and Advancement Opportunities

The learning journey for a phlebotomist continues even after certification. The American Medical Technologists (AMT) organization offers a range of phlebotomy continuing education courses such as:

Webinars
Articles
Online courses
Specific courses like ‘The Science of the Sequence: Understanding the Order of the Draw’ and ‘A Look at the Total Testing Process’

These continuing education (CE) credits are necessary to maintain your certification, with professional organizations like AMT providing continuing education programs.

The topics covered in these programs include preventing needlesticks and sharps injuries, and aiming for quality improvements in phlebotomy practices, all while maintaining healthcare setting quality assurance.

Career Path Enhancement

As a phlebotomist, you can leverage your experience to further your career. For instance, you can use your patient care experience to pursue a nursing degree. Alternatively, a master’s degree to become a physician’s assistant is another advanced educational path where a phlebotomist’s medical background is highly applicable.

Support Services for Phlebotomy Students

A wide range of support services are available to you as a phlebotomy student. These services include:

Academic Assistance
Tutoring
Study groups
Career counselling
Job placement assistance

These services are designed to ensure you’re well-supported throughout your educational journey and transition into professional life.

Let’s explore these services further and understand their potential contribution to your success.

Job Placement and Career Services

Finding a job after graduation can be daunting, but many phlebotomy schools in New Jersey offer job placement and career services. For instance, the Rutgers School of Health Professions boasts a nearly 100% placement rate for their Phlebotomy and Specimen Accessioning Certificate Program graduates. Similarly, TIA School of Allied Health provides employment assistance along with their New York State Licensed phlebotomy course, offering e-learning and hands-on training to support students entering the job market.

Summary

New Jersey offers a wealth of top-notch phlebotomy programs, each with its unique features and offerings. Whether you’re looking for a program that provides comprehensive theoretical knowledge, hands-on practical experience, or a supportive learning environment, you’re sure to find a program that suits your needs. Remember, the key to a successful career in phlebotomy lies in choosing the right program, acing your certification exam, and leveraging your skills and experience to advance in your career. Here’s to a bright future in phlebotomy!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a phlebotomy license in NJ?

To get a phlebotomy license in NJ, you need to complete an approved training course, pass a competency evaluation with 40 live sticks, and be at least 18 years old. Good luck with your certification!

How much is phlebotomy school in NJ?

The cost of phlebotomy school in New Jersey varies depending on the program and its specific fees. It’s best to directly contact the schools you are interested in for accurate pricing.

How long does it take to become a phlebotomist in NJ?

It typically takes around 3 weeks to become a phlebotomist in NJ, with 50 hours of classroom instruction and 30 hours of clinical/lab experience. This may vary slightly based on the specific program.

What are some top phlebotomy programs in New Jersey?

Some top phlebotomy programs in New Jersey include Ocean County College, ACE Healthcare Group, Bergen Community College in Paramus, and Atlantic Cape Community College. These institutions are known for their prestigious phlebotomy courses.

What are the requirements to become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician in New Jersey?

To become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician in New Jersey, you need to complete an approved training course, pass a competency evaluation, and be at least 18 years old. This is regulated by the Department of Education and Workforce Development.