Phlebotomy Technician

Instructional Program (CIP)

Description

Program Description:

The Phlebotomy Technician Program is designed to prepare students with the knowledge, technical skills, and professional competencies needed to perform blood collection and specimen-processing procedures safely and effectively in healthcare environments. The hybrid program consists of 360 total clock hours, including 140 didactic hours, 60 clinical skills lab hours, and a 160-hour externship. Students receive instruction in healthcare practices, human anatomy, blood collection procedures, specialized procedures, specimen processing, and career preparation.

Graduates are prepared to perform phlebotomy-related duties in healthcare settings such as physician office laboratories, urgent care centers, nursing homes, hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other appropriate clinical environments. The program emphasizes professionalism, ethics, patient rights, HIPAA privacy requirements, compassion, integrity, and effective interpersonal communication.

Competencies to be achieved:

• 
  Blood Collection Methods: Proficiency in performing capillary and venipuncture procedures using appropriate blood collection equipment and techniques while maintaining patient safety and specimen quality.


• 
  Patient Identification and Preparation: Ability to review laboratory requisitions, accurately identify patients, obtain consent, conduct patient interviews, educate patients, and appropriately prepare them for specimen collection.


• 
  Equipment and Order of Draw: Knowledge of blood collection equipment, additives, and the correct order of draw to preserve specimen integrity and support accurate laboratory results. Ability to prepare specimens for storage and testing through special handling, centrifuging, aliquoting, packaging, and placement in biohazard bags, as well as maintain proper chain-of-custody procedures when required.


• 
  Infection Control and Safety: Knowledge of infection prevention, safety procedures, first aid, personal wellness, cough etiquette, and other practices necessary to maintain a safe healthcare environment.


• 
  Medical Terminology and Anatomy: Understanding of medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, and the circulatory system as they relate to phlebotomy practice and blood collection. Knowledge of special specimen collections, point-of-care testing, non-blood specimens, specimen-tracking technology, and arterial puncture procedures.


• 
  Patient Communication: Ability to communicate effectively with patients using verbal, non-verbal, therapeutic, and customer-service communication techniques while addressing challenges that may arise during patient care.


• 
  Laboratory Informatics and Documentation: Ability to maintain appropriate records and documentation, use laboratory informatics systems, communicate with laboratory and non-laboratory personnel, and support accurate reporting and distribution of laboratory results.  Understanding of quality assurance, legal and ethical responsibilities, patient rights, privacy protections, and HIPAA requirements applicable to phlebotomy practice.


• 
  Emergency Procedures: Ability to follow appropriate emergency and safety procedures within a clinical setting. Emergency procedures are included among the program’s required skills-lab competencies.


• 
  Career Readiness: Development of employment skills through professional résumé preparation and both virtual and in-person mock interviews. Completion of a 160-clock-hour externship involving observation and hands-on clinical training. Each required phlebotomy skill must be evaluated and verified through a clinical competency form. Externship placements may include urgent care centers, doctors’ offices, hospitals, and other relevant healthcare sites.

Clinical Externship Requirement:

Students are required to complete 160 clinical externship hours consisting of observation and hands-on training. Each phlebotomy skill must be evaluated and verified using a clinical competency form. APCC’s Externship Department assists students in locating an appropriate externship site.

Students with prior medical education or relevant professional experience may be eligible to request an exemption from the externship requirement. To request a waiver, the student must provide evidence of the qualifying experience, including a comprehensive letter from a current or former employer and a detailed notarized résumé.

WIOA Contact for Enrollment Status /Credential Verification: 

Name: Maria Vega

Email: mariav@apc.college

Phone number: (602) 768-8929

Credentials: (The following questions must be answered along with a supporting explanation for each)

• Industry Recognized: (Developed and offered by, or endorsed by a nationally-recognized industry association or organization representing a sizeable portion of the industry sector)

Yes or No: Yes

Nationally Recognized Industry Association or Organization: National Healthcareer Association

• Stackable: (Part of a sequence of credentials)

Yes or No: Yes

Career Pathway: Healthcare/Medical

• Portable: (Recognized in other geographical areas; by other educational institutions; or by other industries/companies)

 Yes or No (Explain): Yes, NHA certification is recognized nation-wide.

• 
  Accredited Curriculum:  (This is referring to the course being accredited,  not the test or school)

Yes or No: No

 Accrediting Agency and link to website: N/A

Details

Cost Items

Demand Occupation(s)