Therapeutic & Diagnostic Services: Phlebotomy

The Phlebotomy Therapeutic & Diagnostic Services curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in the Health Sciences.

Students will complete general education courses that provide a foundation for success in nursing and allied health curricula. Students may select a career pathway that will prepare them for an entry level position in health care. Courses may also provide foundational knowledge needed in the pursuit of advanced health science degrees or programs.

Graduates should qualify for an entry-level job associated with the Phlebotomy program major.

Phlebotomy Therapeutic & Diagnostic Services is a program that 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 any required pre-admission coursework before the program start date.

SCC Requirements

  • Complete and return the SCC Application for Admission. (Students applying for admission must have a current SCC application on file.)
  • Submit a copy of your high school diploma or GED/HSE certificate.
  • Submit official transcripts from any community college or university previously attended.
  • 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.
  • Meet with an SCC counselor.

Program Requirements

Current program requirements are listed on the Student Readiness Checklist on the SCC Nursing and Healthcare Training webpage.

Applicants are selected on a “best-qualified” basis and ranked based on order of qualifications determined by specific criteria. Criteria considered include grades in college courses related directly to the phlebotomy program (Transition English or placement assessment scores) and previous health professional training or proof of current certifications (EMT, Homemaker/Home Health Aide, Nursing Assistant I, Nursing Assistant II, EMT-Intermediate, EMT Advanced, High School Health Occupations, and Medical Assisting, etc.).

Continuation in Program

Coursework

Students in the program are advised to take courses in the sequence of the curriculum master plan. Students must achieve a grade of “C” or better in all phlebotomy and other major required courses to graduate from the program. 

Submission of Required Documentation

Enrollment and continuation in the 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
  • Certification from student’s healthcare provider showing evidence the student meets the conditions of physical and mental health capabilities at a level acceptable to and in keeping with safe care to the public (included on the SCC Health Form)
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
  • Completed Background Check
  • Completed 12-Panel Drug Screen

All students must meet clinical requirements. Failure to meet clinical requirements on or before the deadline communicated by the program director/phlebotomy faculty or failure to meet subsequent updates will result in removal of current phlebotomy student status. 

Students in the phlebotomy program with pre-existing physical, mental, 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.

Phlebotomy faculty and/or program director reserves the right to deny admission to a student who has demonstrated past behaviors which conflict with safety essential to care for the public or phlebotomy practice

Relationship with Clinical Agency

The contract between SCC and a clinical agency requires that the college abides by the existing rules and regulations of the agency. Clinical agencies may require acceptable criminal background checks and drug screens prior to allowing students in the clinical area. From a safety perspective, the users of alcohol and drugs may impair the well-being of themselves and the persons they serve in the clinical settings. The college follows agency protocol regarding drug screening and criminal background checks. The college agrees to not assign or to withdraw any students from the clinical agency when the students are unacceptable to the agency because of health, performance, a positive criminal background check, or other reasonable causes. Without access to the clinical facilities, students will be unable to satisfactorily complete phlebotomy 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. Clinical sites control admittance of all persons to their facilities.

Dismissal of Students

Faculty in the phlebotomy program follow published college and healthcare training division policies and practices that provide for identification and dismissal of students as follows:

  • demonstrate physical or mental 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 which 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, mental, or behavioral problem which conflict 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.