Phlebotomy Technician

Program Overview

The Phlebotomy Technician program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in a variety of settings, including hospitals, laboratories, blood centers, or other healthcare facilities. The primary function of the Phlebotomy Tech is to collect blood samples from patients via venipuncture or capillary puncture. The Phlebotomy Tech facilitates the collection and transportation of laboratory specimens and is often the patient’s only contact with the medical lab. A Phlebotomy Technician also draws blood for transfusions, donations, and research.

Duties performed by a Phlebotomy Tech differ according to the medical setting, but typical duties may include:

• Draw blood from patients or donors
• Assemble equipment (such as needles, blood collection devices, gauze, tourniquet, cotton, and alcohol)
• Verify or record identity of patient or donor
• Converse with patients to alleviate fear of procedure
• Apply tourniquet to arm, locate vein, swab area with disinfectant, and insert needle into vein to draw blood into collection tube
• Label and store blood container for processing
• Conduct interviews, take vital signs and test blood samples to screen donors at a blood bank
• Analyze information and make appropriate recommendations

Graduates of this program may sit for the Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PTC) exam given through the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) at no cost.

This program is not eligible for any Federal Financial Aid or VA programs.