Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

The job

As a phlebotomist, you will:

• Safely and securely obtain blood specimens by performing blood draws and collecting urine specimens
• Work directly with patients, maintaining quality results by following clinic procedures and testing schedules
• Provide the highest standards in discreet and courteous lab service for patients and medical providers
• Verify patient identities, correctly label and track collected specimens, and maintain daily tallies of collections performed

Phlebotomists play an important role in the healthcare industry, with a median salary of $30,670 in 2014, and an expected growth of 27% from 2012 to 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Becoming a certified phlebotomist provides excellent technical skills that you can put to good use over the course of your healthcare career.

Begin your career as a nationally certified phlebotomist by enrolling in the Institute for Health Professionals’ two-term Phlebotomy Technician course.

The program

The Phlebotomy Technician training consists of two courses that span two terms, totaling 190 hours, that will prepare you to pass the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) exam and become a nationally certified phlebotomist.

Term I is a 90-hour course consisting of both classroom and lab work. You will learn about:

• Blood collecting, handling, transporting, and processing specimens
• Anatomy, physiology of pertinent body systems, and pathologic conditions
• Lab equipment use and care
• Safety precautions and quality control
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

Term II is a 100-hour clinical rotation.

• You must successfully complete Term I to enroll in Term II.
• Students will be supervised by laboratory personnel for a total of 100 hours in a hospital, physician’s office, outpatient facility, or other site approved by the Institute for Health Professionals.
• A minimum of 100 successful, supervised blood draws must be completed.
• At the end of the clinical rotation, you are prepared and eligible for the national certification exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathologists. Holding a national certificate greatly enhances employability in the field.

After completing both terms, you will be able to:

• Confirm patient’s identity and correctly label specimen receptacles
• Obtain blood specimens by performing venipunctures and fingersticks
• Instruct patients in the proper protocol for collecting urine specimens
• Establish a chain of custody for specimens after a patient has provided samples
• Track collected specimens and maintain daily tallies of collections performed
• Maintain quality results by following clinic procedures and testing schedules
• Maintain a safe, secure, and healthy work environment by following standards and procedures and complying with legal regulations
• Take the national certification exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathologists

Phlebotomy required books

These books are not available at our bookstores through PCC. Instead, you should go to Amazon or any other bookseller to get your books.

Here are the links to Amazon’s site for the books:
These books are not available at our bookstores through PCC. Instead, you should go to Amazon or any other bookseller to get your books. Here are the links to Amazon’s site for the books:

1. Required: must obtain prior to the first day of class. Phlebotomy Essentials Textbook and Workbook by Mccall, 7th Edition
2. Optional: Phlebotomy Essentials Student Workbook by Mccall, 6^th Edition, ISBN# 978-1451194531

This training is a good fit for:

• Level-headed individuals who want to work directly with patients
• Those interested in working in a fast-paced, entry-level medical setting
• Individuals not intimidated by bodily fluids

Many patients are afraid of blood draws, so you must be able to present a calm, friendly, and professional demeanor that will put them at ease.

Only individuals who meet or exceed the minimum requirements listed in the application packet will be considered for admission. Please carefully read over the requirements before applying.

The investment

• Time: 2 terms, 190 hours
• Tuition: $2,999 including supplies, but not including the cost of the book
  • Tuition is due at the time of registration or the student may set up a 6-month payment plan with the Portland Community College Student Account Services office. For information about the payment plan, please visit the PCC payment plan webpage.

The instructor

Forrest Murphy is an ASCP and Washington State certified phlebotomist with over 13 years of healthcare experience, including roles at Providence, LabCorp, and The Vancouver Clinic. Most of his career has been lab-focused, with a strong emphasis on phlebotomy and processing. Notably, he developed a comprehensive two-week curriculum for Providence phlebotomists.
Forrest enjoys teaching phlebotomy at PCC, where he can share his extensive experience and support those entering a field he is truly passionate about.

FAQs

What should I do next to get into the training?

1. Follow the steps at the bottom of this page. Interested students are encouraged to attend a Phlebotomy free informational session.
2. After review, qualified applicants will be invited to interview for a space in the program.
3. A background check will be conducted on students selected to interview and tentatively selected for the course. You must complete and submit a background check within 7 days after the interview to receive final approval and acceptance into the course. Instructions to obtain a background check will be provided to selected applicants. The approximate cost to the student is $68.

Do I need to submit the original documentation of the paperwork required in my application?

No. Please only submit copies of your original documents.

How many students are accepted into this program?

Up to 15 students per class are accepted.

Can I use federal financial aid?

No, federal financial aid does not apply to non-credit courses. Students are required to pay, in full, once they are notified of their acceptance into the program.

Can I find my own clinical?

No. We are required to have affiliation agreements with the labs that take our students. We will place you in one of the clinical sites we have affiliation agreements with.

How long does this course take?

The program is 2 terms in length. Term I is composed of a lecture and lab, while term II consists of a 100-hour clinical.

Will this prepare me for a national certification exam?

Yes! After completion of the program, you will be prepared to sit for the national certification exam through the American Society for Clinical Pathologists.

Do I have to submit to a drug screen?

Yes. Be aware that the hospital where you are placed for your clinical practicum may require a drug screen test for which you are financially responsible. Also, there are situations where the hospital may require a more thorough background check in addition to the one PCC requires. These potential costs will be your responsibility.

Do I have to submit a background check?

Yes. Students who are invited to interview, and are tentatively selected for the course, must complete and submit a background check within 7 days after the interview to receive final approval and acceptance into the course. The approximate cost to the student is $68.00.

What vaccinations do I have to have?

• Hepatitis B titer/immunity exam shows positive or reactive results. Or a confirmation from your medical provider stating you have immunity to protect you against Hep. B.
• Influenza vaccine for the current season
• Tuberculosis testing (PPD) for current years shows negative results. If the result is positive, a clear chest X-ray is required
• MMR titer/immunity exam result shows immunity
• Varicella titer/immunity exam shows immunity (positive)
• Tetanus within the last 10 years