Phlebotomy Certificate

Program Statement

Students completing the two-semester Phlebotomy Certificate Program will be prepared to perform routine and special blood collection procedures as well as process specimens prior to testing in a modern clinical laboratory.

Program Information

There are two program options:

1. Traditional, two semesters
2. Hybrid accelerated program offered over one semester

• A clinical practicum is an essential and required component of this certificate program. Clinical practicum hours are traditionally and typically scheduled Monday through Friday during daytime hours. (see Clinical Affiliation below for details).  Students should be prepared to travel one hour or more to an assigned clinical site.
• Clinical practicum success is determined through skills competency demonstration.
• Successful completion of program objectives is required to receive the Certificate of Recognition in Phlebotomy from Bristol Community College. Students who receive this certificate are eligible to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP-BOC) national certification examination. 

Essential Functions

The Phlebotomy program essential functions include cognitive, physical and behavioral abilities which are necessary to perform the duties of a professional phlebotomist. In order to meet program and course learning outcomes, students must possess the following basic abilities: 

• Cognitive ability sufficient to learn and use the body of knowledge necessary to meet the program curriculum requirements and attain career entry status in the profession.
• Physical ability, sufficient mobility and motor coordination to safely collect and process patient specimens, process specimens and use a computer.
• Visual acuity sufficient to read physician orders, obtain specimens, and differentiate colors.
• Hearing ability sufficient to respond to messages and requests from instructors, patients, physicians, and staff.
• Communication skills sufficient to allow for communication with instructors, staff, patients, and physicians.
• Emotional stability sufficient to interact professionally with instructors, staff, patients, and physicians, respect patient confidentiality, use reasonable judgment, and accept responsibility for their actions. 

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must possess a high school diploma or a state-approved high school equivalency credential.
2. All applicants must demonstrate a minimum grade point average of 2.0 overall in the following pre-admission courses:
   • Chemistry or biology (high school or college) with a minimum grade “C“ (2.0) or higher.
   • Math (high school or college) with a minimum grade of "C" (2.0) or higher.
3. Attend one mandatory Health Science Information Session. Applicants are advised to preregister early as seating is limited.

Transcripts from attendance at other regionally accredited colleges and universities may be required with submission of your application.  Please refer to the Admissions page within this catalog for further information.  Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your application not being reviewed for the program to which you applied.  

Students who exited the program before completion are eligible to reapply one time only through the Admissions Office.

Additional Requirements Upon Admission

As a prerequisite for a clinical placement in the program, all students must undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.  These checks are required due to potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, or the elderly during a clinical experience.  Students found to have certain criminal convictions or pending criminal actions will be presumed ineligible for clinical placement.  The College is authorized by the Commonwealth's Department of Criminal Justice to access CORI records.  Sex Offender checks shall be performed pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 6, Sections 178C-178P. 

A ten-panel random drug screen is required upon entrance and at random. If there is a need for any re-testing, the fee is paid by the student.  

Please be advised that despite Massachusetts law that permits the use of medical marijuana and the possession, use, distribution and cultivation of marijuana in limited amounts, any possession, use, distribution or cultivation of marijuana remains prohibited under College policy pursuant to federal law. Further, any student who tests positive for marijuana will be ineligible for clinical placement. Please refer to the College's Student Handbook for the College's complete Marijuana Policy.  

Admitted students must comply with Bristol Community College, clinical providers,  and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health requirements for college students participating in in-person classes. Refer to the Student Handbook for specific details.  

Compliance with all program requirements as outlined above and in the Student Handbook is a contingency for continuing in the program. It is based on fulfillment of all requirements by specified due dates. 

Students must carry personal health insurance and professional liability insurance. 

Additional Costs

Students accepted into the program are responsible for associated costs such as uniforms, name tags, random ten-panel drug test, safety supplies, transportation to and from clinical assignments and certification examination application fees.

Grade Requirements

• MED 101: Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Science includes 45 hours of lecture. A minimum grade of “C” is required in MED 101 to progress to PLB 102.
• PLB 102: Principles and Methods of Phlebotomy includes 45 hours of lecture/lab, plus approximately 100 hours of clinical training following completion of the didactic and laboratory components. Students must achieve a minimum of “C” in the on-campus lecture and lab component of PLB 102 in order to progress to the clinical practicum component. A minimum grade of a “C” in the clinical practicum is required to receive a passing grade in the course and consequently in the program. The student will not begin the clinical practicum component until the successful completion of the didactic and lab component of PLB 102, this may extend up to a semester past the course enrollment.

Clinical Affiliation

Students will be assigned to an affiliate agency for a 100-hour clinical practicum. The practicum is a consecutive two to three-week experience that is scheduled during the first shift (day), Monday through Friday. This is a full-time commitment during those three weeks (5 days per week, 8 hours per day for 3 consecutive weeks). Students enrolled in a concurrent program may not register for courses that will conflict with the clinical practicum. Students must plan their schedules accordingly. Transportation to clinical affiliation sites is the responsibility of the student. Students should be prepared to travel an hour or more from campus. The availability of clinical affiliations depends on the area healthcare providers' ability to accept students.   The clinical practicum will be scheduled upon successful completion of the didactic and lab component of PLB 102.