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MT to Coder, Phlebotomist, and/or Pharm Tech? - out of work MT

Posted: Mar 14, 2011

I am a burnt out MT of 13 years and am going back to school. The MT profession has failed me and my family so I need to make a career change. I am trying to decided if I want to go to be a medical coder, phlebotomist, and/or pharmacy technician. One of our community colleges offers an associates degree which includes a phlebotomy certificate and a pharmacy tech certificate. They also offer a medical coder certificate alone. Do you think it would be easier to find a job with an associates degrees along with the phlebotomy and pharm tech certificates which will take 2 years to complete, but will make me more marketable in my job search OR should I just go for the medical coder certificate and possibly get a job faster because a technical certificate program is much shorter. Thanks for any insight in advance

I am in the same position as you and I.... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
have gone back to school to become a coder. However, I just found out a few weeks ago one of the hospitals where I live is sending some of their coding work overseas. So, now I am not so sure about the path I have taken. If I were you, I would go for the phlebotomy and/or pharmacy tech. Those are jobs that can never be sent overseas.

Certificate will help with phlebotomist, and/or pharmacy technician but not with coding - MT/Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Coders need credentials, CCS or CPC, etc., not just a certificate or even a degree. You probably would be fine with a community college associates degree in phlebotomy and/or pharmacy tech. In order to be a coder though, they want credentials through AHIMA and/or AAPC.

Varies from state to state I think - out of work MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I will have to be certified and get credentials to work as a pharmacy tech in my state and possibly need it for the phlebotomy too. I am trying to prepare myself for a medical center that is going to be built in my little community in the next 1 to 2 years. They are suppose to have doctor offices, a lab, radiology department, and possibly a pharmacy and with gas prices going up with no end in sight, it would be nice to work close to home. My first choice was radiology tech or ECG tech but those fields seem a little over-saturated right now, and I could not find a college within 100 miles giving it so I will go with the phlebotomy and pharmacy tech.

No decent salary in either of those jobs... - DJ

[ In Reply To ..]
At least in the mid west. I considered each of those areas as well.. and decided the time/cost involved in completing a program was not worth the salary. Surgical techs are paid more and is a certificate program offered any many community colleges... look it that!? Do your research about salaries before you take a leap.. Just my opinion.

Surg Tech/Rad Tech/ECG Tech not local - out of work MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I did research surgical tech, radiology tech, and ECG tech and none of them are offered within 100 miles of my home so there is noway I can drive over 100 miles 3 to 4 days a week. I live in the sticks and there are not that many options for me

Thats unfortunate... - DJ

[ In Reply To ..]
Have you considered an on-line certificate program via an accredited college... perhaps something in the computer sciences? Lots of $$ to be made in programing, analyst, etc.

Yes, I did consider that - out of work MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I consider something in computers but I just don't see it being something in needed or in demand within 50 miles of my home. If I have to drive more than an hour to get to work that puts a huge strain on me, my kids, and my gas tank so I am trying to get into a field that will be available at least 25 miles of my home so if I have to work as a pharm tech or phlebotomist for $10 to $15 an hour I will.

Computer science grads are everywhere looking for jobs - and those jobs going overseas faster than most

[ In Reply To ..]
That's the one thing that overseas seems to want more than any of the rest of our jobs, computer science positions. That's also what we have more of than anything else, people with those skills but no jobs. Everybody and his/her cousin can also create web sites. IT jobs sound like a great idea, but that area is saturated and those jobs going overseas.

In my area, coders and cert'd phar techs get $14-15 - and phlebotomists about $12. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Certified (credentialed) coders usually do better than that nationwide - See message

[ In Reply To ..]
There are levels of coding jobs, or at least jobs where people do coding but have limited coding skills vs. those who have skills at the professional level and make more.

I'm not sure if the pharmacy tech income varies as much depending to location or not.

pharm tech - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I live in the midwest. I know someone who recently graduated pharm tech and actually had to move out of state for her job. She's only getting 8 an hour.

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