Phlebotomy Certificate

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Academy of Health Professions

Lowell Campus Evenings and Weekends

Program Description:

MCC’s Phlebotomy Certificate program enables the student to build the skills necessary to work in hospitals, clinics, doctors’ offices, nursing homes, research settings, and reference labs as a phlebotomist. The student will be trained to perform a variety of blood-collection methods, using proper techniques and precautions including: vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles, and blood culture specimen collection on adults, children and infants. Emphasis will be placed on infection prevention, proper patient identification, proper labeling of specimens, and quality assurance. Students will be taught specimen handling, processing and accessioning, as well as the essentials of OSHA Safety Control procedures and regulations. Topics include professionalism, ethics and medical terminology. After completion of the program, students will be eligible to sit for a national certification exam.

Career and Transfer Outlooks

Graduates of the Phlebotomy Certificate program are prepared to assume entry-level employment as phlebotomists. Students may find career opportunities in long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, or group or individual physician’s offices. Graduates of this program’s coursework will be able to move up the career ladder by taking additional college-level courses and meet requirements for other certificates or associate degrees in a health career.

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Phlebotomist Certificate program are prepared to:

Perform the responsibilities and duties of the phlebotomist/ECG technologist in a variety of health care environments;
Exhibit proficiency in collecting, transporting handling, and processing blood specimens for analysis while adhering to infection control, and safety policies and procedures;
Perform electrocardiograms without supervision;
Demonstrate professional and ethical work habits as they apply to health care environments; exhibit excellent interpersonal and communication skills with patients, peers and health care personnel and the public;
Possess the necessary skills in employment readiness to become employed as a phlebotomist/ECG technologist

Program Specifics:

All classes and labs are held during evening and/or weekend hours at MCC’s Health, Science & Technology Center, located on Middle Street on the Lowell campus.
A 100-hour externship (off-site) is required and hours will be determined by the Program Coordinator, student and hosting health care facility.
Students are responsible for the purchase of textbooks and scrubs; white sneakers will serve as part of their professional attire during externship locations.
Transportation to and from externships sites is NOT provided.

Clinical Standards:

Students are required to attend all classes and pass clinical labs with 100 percent competency; student must complete 100 hours of an externship, and perform 100 venipunctures to be eligible to sit for the phlebotomists certificate examination.

Standard/Technical Skills Notice:

To view the list of standard and specific skills required to perform duties in the Academy of Health Professions, visit the Middlesex Community College website (www.middlesex.mass.edu/programs) or the Student Information Centers. These skills are not conditions for admission to MCC programs, but do indicate abilities and characteristics necessary for the successful completion of college Health programs, and to perform the duties of the career upon graduation.

Required Courses

Total Credits: 19

Admission Information

Admission Prerequisites: Current Reading Score of 75 on the College Placement Test, Completion of Essential Skills for the Health Professional (AHP 100) with a C- or better and Basic Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 105) with a C or better. In addition, students must have successfully completed the Academy of Health Professions Level I OR have current experience in a health field OR have permission of the program coordinator.

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