Phlebotomy

Phlebotomy technicians are important members of the clinical laboratory team. New diagnostic techniques, clinical laboratory technology and automated instruments have greatly increased the volume of and demand for medical laboratory testing performed by phlebotomy technicians. Delta College's LifeLong Learning Phlebotomy Technician Program is designed to prepare individuals to work in a clinical setting as a phlebotomy technician in accordance with procedures established by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

Students will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Agency exam or the American Society of Clinical Pathology exam to become a certified phlebotomy technician. The phlebotomy course consists of over 80 hours of lectures and labs, held on weekends at Delta College and over 230 hours of clinical experience, covering at least 8 hours per day on weekdays at various local agencies.

By getting your Phlebotomy Technician certificate at Delta College, you quickly get your foot in the door to this prestigious medical field. Phlebotomy is often an excellent stepping-stone to other positions available within the health care industry.

100% of our graduates have been hired with $10.25 average starting wages.

This employment data is based on 2012 Winter and 2012 Fall student feedback.

Phlebotomy positions are available NOW in your community!

• Visit Delta College LifeLong Learning on Facebook for employment opportunity information. 
• The Phlebotomy program is published on the Career Education Consumer Report (CECR) for Individual Training Account eligibility.  This report is a listing of courses in high demand fields that are eligibly for a number of types of funding.  Please print and reference this page when visiting your local Michigan Works office.

What is a Phlebotomist?

A Phlebotomist:

• Obtains adequate and correct blood specimens by skin or venipuncture, using proper technique for adults, children and infants
• Maintains the integrity of a specimen in relation to tests to be performed
• Prepares blood smears
• Labels specimens accurately and completely
• Starts glucose tolerance procedures and collects remaining specimens at scheduled times
• Draws other timed specimens as indicated
• Promotes the comfort and well-being of the patient, as much as possible, during blood collection
• Observes safety policies and quality control procedures
• Delivers, as requested, reports from the laboratory to the nursing station, or specimens from the nursing station to the laboratory
• Sorts and appropriately refers specimens received in the reception area of the laboratory.

Additional information on this career can be found at http://www.ascp.org/pdf/PhlebotomyTechnicianandDonorPhlebotomyTechnician.aspx.
The phlebotomy course is designed to prepare individuals to work in a clinical setting as a Phlebotomist in accordance with procedures established by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

How long is this course?

The course runs for 8 weeks and includes lecture, simulated laboratory and clinical experience at area agencies.  The Phlebotomy course consists of over 80 hours of lectures and labs, held on weekends at Delta College and over 230 hours of clinical experience, covering at least 8 hours per day on weekdays at various local agencies.

What kind of certification will I receive?

After successfully completing the program, you will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Agency exam or the American Society of Clinical Pathology exam to become a certified phlebotomist. A certificate is issued to those who successfully complete the theory and clinical portion of the course. The graduates will sit for a mock certification examination as part of the course. There are no excused absences from this course.

Prerequisites

1. Admission

Students must go through Admission to Delta College. There are several ways to apply to Delta College. For an admissions application, office hours and other important information please contact the Admissions Office.

1. You may apply online.
2. You may also apply in person within the Admissions Office and pick-up the application. Your application will be processed while you are at the college and you will receive your student number.

2. Required COMPASS^® Scores/Levels

Students must go through Admission to Delta College and show course readiness with the following COMPASS^® test scores prior to registration. Students are exempt from COMPASS^® testing with an associates degree or higher. If you are exempt, students must present transcripts to LifeLong Learning prior to registration.

COMPASS^®
• Writing – Level 4, Score 70 and above
• Reading – Level 4, Score 81 and above
• Math - Level 4 (Elem./Inter. Algebra), Score 41 and above

READING: Level 4
COMPASS^® - Score 81 and above
ASSET – Score 42 and above
ENG 111 – enrolled in, C- or higher
RDG 097 – C or higher
OAT 095 – B- or higher
RDG 093 – A
ACT English - 20 or higher

WRITING: Level 4
COMPASS^® - Score 70 and above
ASSET – Score 42 and above
ENG 111 – enrolled in, C- or higher
OAT 095 – C or higher
WRT 098 – A- or higher
WRT 090 – A
ACT English – 20 or higher

MATH: Level 4
COMPASS^® – Elem/Inter Algebra Score 41 and above
ASSET – Elem Algebra Score 38 and above
Inter Algebra Score 31 and above
MTH 097 – C or higher
MTH 117 – C or higher
ACT – 19 or higher

Accessing your Prerequisite Level:

Students who have completed COMPASS^® Testing may access their scores through their MyDelta account. Within the Student section of MyDelta click on the "Placement Test Summary" link to calculate your scores.  The placement test summary will calculate completed academic course work in combination with your COMPASS^®/Asset test scores to give you an overall placement level.  If your placement level does not meet the required prerequisite levels listed above for this program, you may need to retake one or more of the COMPASS^® assessments.  For more information on COMPASS^® visit the Testing Center.

3. High School Diploma or GED^® Test Credential

It is our recommendation that students who meet the above prerequisites have also attained a high school diploma or GED® test credential (not a high school certificate of completion) prior to participation and/or completion of this program. This recommendation is based on overall student success and hiring standards of many employers in the Great Lakes Bay Region.

4. Clinical Requirements

Phlebotomy Student Clinical Requirements (PDF): Please read this information carefully as the clinical requirements are mandatory for Phlebotomy students and must be reviewed and completed prior to the class start date. 

As a clinical student, it is your responsibility to maintain current health records while in a health care program. For admission to all clinical agencies, students must have a copy of all enclosed documents on file in the LifeLong Learning Office. Give all completed forms to your instructor on the first day of class, students who do not have required documentation will not be allowed at the clinical site.

Personal Health
Enclosed are the following health related forms that you must take to your personal physician to complete and give to your instructor on the first day of class. It is suggested that you call your physician immediately as it may take 4-6 weeks to make an appointment.
1. Physical Examination – "Delta College Physical Exam Form"
2. Hepatitis B Vaccine – "Hepatitis B Acknowledgment/ Release Form"
3. Signed "Health & Wellness Waiver and Release Form"
4. Signed "Release for Training and Participation Form"
5. Documentation of  Negative TB Skin Test – a positive skin test requires annual documentation by a physician or by a chest x-ray every two years.
6. Documentation of MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) immunization documentation unless you were born before  1957 – you may request a rubella titer drawn from your physician if no documentation is present.
7. Documentation of Td (tetanus) immunization documentation, current within 10 years

Current Criminal History
In accordance with Public Act 303 of 2002, section 20173; if your criminal history includes an instance that will prohibit you from participating as a student in the clinical experience, you will be dropped from the program and no refund will be given. If your background includes criminal history which would prohibit you from working in a health care facility, you are advised to drop the program prior to the first day of class.

8. Signed "Current Criminal History Release Form"

Delta College ID card
Prior to the first day of class you will need to get a Delta College student ID card, available in the Public Safety Office in the N-wing.  Items to bring with you are a valid picture id along with your printed statement of registration in the Phlebotomy program. This service is free of charge and will be used to create clinical badges.

Other requirements

Uniform

• You will need to purchase a lab coat (no long or knee length lab coats)
• You may also buy scrubs if you wish; it is entirely your choice
• You need some great shoes!  You will be on your feet a lot!
• When athletic shoes are worn, they must be predominantly white
• Casual wear is OK for Delta, not for the clinical sites
• You do not need a white uniform

CDC and MIOSHA Guidelines:

• You must always wear closed-toe shoes (never open toe)
• You must always wear some type of sock or stocking
• Natural fingernails will not be longer than 1/4 inch from the fingertips
• No artificial nails allowed!

Classroom

• Attire is casual (lab coat starts on 1st lab day)
• Refrain from heavy colognes, perfumes and lotions
• Bring a three-ring notebook (1 or 1 1/2 inch will work)
• Bring a small pocket notepad (3X5 or whatever fits in your lab coat pocket)
• Bring an assortment of colored pencils

Textbooks

Textbooks are required for this course. You may purchase your books through the Delta College Bookstore:

Online: Order your book online at www.bookstore.delta.edu
By Phone: You can place your textbook order by phone 989-686-9030
In Person: Purchase textbooks in person on main campus in the bookstore

Cost & Schedule

Cost: $1795
Course Number: CHG-1730

What employers are saying...

“Thank you for sending such awesome phlebotomy students! They are ready to do this as a career, we were very pleased to have them on our clinical site. You truly put on an excellent Phlebotomy program, they came here very well prepared and left here professionals. They have my recommendation and it was truly a privilege having them as student interns. “

—  Mike McNicholl, Phlebotomy Team Leader, Mid-Michigan Medical Center Midland

Instructor Spotlight

BJ Helton, MPH, CIC, MT(ASCP), Infection Prevention Coordinator
Covenant HealthCare, Saginaw, Michigan

BJ Helton is currently employed as the Infection Prevention and Control Coordinator at Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, MI. She began her epidemiological career thirteen years ago, bringing fifteen years of prior clinical laboratory experience with her. She has been a member of the Michigan Society for Infection Control and Association for Professionals in Infection Control since 1998. Helton received her A.A.S. in Medical Technology from Mid-Michigan Community College, her B.S. in Education from Central Michigan University and her Masters in Public Health from Northwestern University. Helton has many years of teaching experience with several of the Great Lakes Bay Region’s colleges and has been a member of the Delta College Science Division faculty for over 12 years and continues as the instructor of LifeLong Learning’s Phlebotomy program. She was the recipient of the Delta College Lynn Heatley Award for Distinguished Service for 2004-2005.

Questions?

We can help! Call us at (989) 686-9444 or send us an email at lifelonglearning@delta.edu.

LifeLong Learning Personnel has made every reasonable effort to determine that everything stated in this guide was accurate at the time it was published. Programs and Testing Services offered and related fees, with other matters contained therein, are subject to change or cancellation without notice by Delta College LifeLong Learning for reasons related to student enrollment, or for any reason, at the discretion of the college. Delta College LifeLong Learning reserves the right to cancel class and test sessions.