Phlebotomy (Certificate)

The Phlebotomy curriculum prepares individuals to obtain blood and other specimens for the purpose of laboratory analysis.

Course work includes proper specimen collection and handling, communication skills, and maintaining patient data.

Graduates may qualify for employment in hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, and other health care settings and may be eligible for national certification as phlebotomy technicians.

Admission to Program

Students are encouraged to begin the admissions process early so that there will be time for them to complete the preadmission courses before the phlebotomy program application due date, which is available in counseling/admissions. Two or more semesters may be required to complete these pre-admission courses.

SCC Requirements

  • Completion and return of the SCC Admissions Application.
  • Submission of a copy of high school diploma or GED/HSE certificate.
  • Complete all-Southeastern requirements to be admitted as a degree-seeking student.
  • Meet with the program advisor to discuss requirements, connected careers, and possible transfer opportunities.
  • Meeting with an SCC counselor.

Phlebotomy Program Requirements

  • Completion of ENG 002 with a grade of C or better or test out of the course through the placement assessment.
  • Meeting with the admission counselors to complete the Application for Phlebotomy before the application due date.

Selection into the phlebotomy program is based on the placement assessment scores and proof of certification for selected previous health-related training such as EMT, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Nursing Assistant I, Nursing Assistant II, EMT-Intermediate, EMT Advanced, High School Health Occupations, and Medical Assisting. Students accepted for the spring semester phlebotomy program will be notified of acceptance to the program between the end of the fall semester and the beginning of the spring semester. Students accepted for the fall semester phlebotomy program will be notified of acceptance to the program between the end of the summer semester and the beginning of the fall semester.

Continuation in Program

Submission of Required Documentation

Continuation in the phlebotomy program is contingent upon the submission of the required documentation on or before the specified date communicated by the college. Admission requirements include, but are not limited, to:

  • Completed SCC Health Form
  • Two-step TB skin test
  • Recorded compliance with immunization requirements (included on the SCC Health Form)
  • Certification of ability to perform essential functions
  • Malpractice insurance
  • OSHA training
  • Physical exam and statement certifying the student’s physical and emotional health
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Completed Background Check
  • Completed 12-Panel Drug Screen

All students must meet clinical requirements. Failure to meet clinical requirements by assigned deadline will result in removal of current phlebotomy student status. Students in the phlebotomy program with pre-existing physical, emotional, or behavioral problems which conflict with safe practice must provide professional certification that appropriate treatment and/or counseling has taken place and that the problem has been adequately accommodated to continue in the program.

Coursework

Students must complete all courses in the curriculum master plan and achieve a grade of C or better in all Phlebotomy curriculum courses in order to receive a certificate.

Relationship with Clinical Agency

Use of alcohol and drugs may impair the well-being of healthcare workers and the persons they serve in the clinical setting. In addition, the contract between SCC and a clinical agency requires that the college abides by the existing rules and regulations of the agency. Clinical agencies require acceptable criminal background checks and drug screens prior to participating in clinical. Clinical agencies control and can refuse to allow individuals to practice at their facility. Therefore, the college agrees to not assign a student to a clinical agency if the agency denies the student because of health, performance, positive criminal background check, or other reasonable cause. Without access to the clinical facilities, students will be unable to satisfactorily complete the phlebotomy program courses. Students may be required, at their own expense, to be tested for consumption of alcohol/drugs for cause at any time while in this program.

Dismissal of Students

Faculty in the phlebotomy program follow published college and health technologies division policies and practices that provide for identification and dismissal of students who do the following:

  • demonstrate physical or emotional problems which conflict with the safety essential to phlebotomy practice and do not respond to appropriate treatment and/or counseling within a reasonable period of time.
  • demonstrate unsafe or unethical clinical practices or behavior that conflicts with safety essential to phlebotomy practice. Students who demonstrate behavior that conflicts with safety essential to phlebotomy practice can be dismissed from the program regardless of whether treatment or counseling has occurred.

Readmission

Readmission students must meet current admission requirements. There can be no more than two admissions into the phlebotomy program. Readmission of students who were dismissed from the program for drug use and/or for any other physical, emotional, or behavioral problems which conflicted with the safety essential to phlebotomy practice is contingent on professional documentation that appropriate treatment and/or counseling has taken place and that the problem has been adequately accommodated.

Degrees and Certificates