You may have heard that accelerated phlebotomy classes can be completed in as little as four weeks. But is this really a good idea? Accelerated courses certainly have their advantages and disadvantages. Before you make your decision, it’s important to consider the pros and cons of taking 4 week phlebotomy classes. Doing so will help ensure that you make an informed decision about your educational path.
Advantages of 4 week phlebotomy classes
- Join the workforce quickly
- Save time and money
- Complete course requirements online
- Gain certification faster
Join the workforce quickly
If you’re currently unemployed and are looking to join the workforce quickly, taking a four-week phlebotomy class is going to be ideal. By completing your training in a shorter period of time, you can get started on your career sooner than if you were to take a longer course.
Phlebotomists are currently in demand across the United States. The BLS reports that the healthcare industry adds on average 21,500 new phlebotomy jobs every year. That’s an increase of 10% over the next decade. So employers are willing to hire phlebotomists as long as they have successfully graduated from any accredited program.
With a shorter four-week course, you can get the education and credentials you need to join this growing field quickly and easily.
Save time and money
Not only will you be able to finish the course quickly, but you will also save on tuition costs. Since most phlebotomy courses are priced per credit hour, a four-week course is going to cost significantly less than an 8-12 week course or a 1-2 semester program.
If you are currently out of the workforce and need to pay for other living expenses on your own, then completing phlebotomy classes as quickly as possible will be essential.
Complete course requirements online
Because 4 week phlebotomy classes need to offer classroom hours as well as clinical hours, programs offer an online option to fulfill the education requirements for classroom hours.
Online phlebotomy classes are in demand for obvious reasons – they allow you to complete your coursework from the comfort of your own home. Some classes are even pre-recorded, so you do not need to attend at set hours of the day.
Even though this may seem like a good solution for working parents or full-time professionals, keep in mind that you will still need to complete in-person training, and the schedule of these programs may not be as flexible.
Gain certification faster
Even though you likely live in a state that does not require phlebotomists to be licensed, most employers prefer their phlebotomists to be certified. The certification process requires taking an exam with one of the many different phlebotomy certification providers. To be eligible for any of the exams, you must complete classes from an accredited phlebotomy school.
Most 4 week phlebotomy schools understand that their students need to test for certification soon after completing the program. To accommodate this, many schools offer proctored testing at their locations, or provide you with a refresher course towards the end of classes that covers all of the material on the exam before you take it. This will help ensure that you are ready to take and pass your certification exam as quickly as possible, which allows you to be employable for more job openings.
Disadvantages of 4 week phlebotomy classes
- Increased stress and workload
- Reduced time for hands-on practice
- Less flexibility to review material or ask questions
- Risk of not passing a phlebotomy certification exam
Increased stress and workload
With the accelerated pace of a four-week course, you can expect to be extremely busy and maybe even overwhelmed. The amount of information that needs to be learned in such a short period of time can be intimidating, and if you don’t keep up, you risk falling behind.
For some students who are already working full-time or raising a family, this might not be the best option.
Reduced time for hands-on practice
While some four-week courses offer plenty of hands-on training in the classroom and clinical setting, others do not. Remember, most states do not have licensure requirements or boards who set strict training requirements for phlebotomy programs. So the contents and duration of these accelerated classes can vary from one school to another.
When reaching out to 4 week programs, be sure to ask questions about their clinical experience and the number of hours spent in the lab. This will be important to ensure you receive the hands-on practice you need to be successful in your phlebotomy career.
Less flexibility to review material or ask questions
In a four-week course, there is not as much time for students to review materials or go over topics that they might have missed. The majority of the program focuses on getting through all of the content and clinical requirements that students would expect to see on a certification exam.
This means that there may not be much time to ask questions or review material if needed, which can be a challenge for some students.
Risk of not passing a phlebotomy certification exam
Another potential downside to four-week programs is that students may be at a higher risk of not passing a phlebotomy certification exam. These exams have passing rates between 60% – 80%, so if you’re cramming in a lot of information in a short period of time, it is more difficult to retain it all. Most exam providers allow students to retake the exam, however an additional fee is almost always required.
It’s important to remember that passing the exam is necessary for most job opportunities and that for most individuals the end goal of taking phlebotomy classes is passing the exam. Taking a longer course might be beneficial for students who need more time to review material and practice their skills in order to pass their certification exam.
It’s essential to do your research when looking into 4 week phlebotomy classes and make sure that the program you choose is accredited, offers hands-on training,
Overall, taking 4 week phlebotomy classes can be beneficial for those who need to complete their training quickly, have the ability to stay on task and study a lot of material within a short period of time. However, it’s important to weigh carefully the pros and cons before making your decision. Make sure the program you choose is accredited and offers sufficient hands-on practice and review time. Additionally, keep in mind that if you’re not ready to take the certification exam after a four-week course, you may need to retake the certification exam for a fee if you do not pass.