This program prepares students for a career as a Phlebotomist/Data Clerk. Phlebotomist/data clerks primarily work in outpatient blood drawing centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices or blood donor collection agencies. Their primary responsibilities are to draw blood specimens for the purpose of analysis and to enter and retrieve data from the computer. Phlebotomists also prepare and maintain equipment for obtaining blood specimens, ensure proper care for specimens and enter test procedures into the computer for specimen analysis. An internship provides students with supervised workplace experience.

Manual dexterity is essential in this program.

Graduates of this program are eligible for national board examinations.  Graduates may also receive advanced standing in the Clinical Lab Technician A.A.S. degree program. A Certificate is awarded upon completion of the requirements for this program.

Students who successfully complete the Certificate in Phlebotomy (PDC) will be able to:

• Collect, transport, handle and process blood specimens for analysis; 

• Recognize the importance of specimen collection in the overall patient care system;

• Relate the anatomy and physiology of body systems and anatomic terminology to the major areas of the clinical laboratory, and to general pathologic conditions associated with body systems;

• Identify and select equipment, supplies and additives used in blood collection;

• Recognize factors that affect specimen collection procedures and test results, and take appropriate actions within predetermined limits, when applicable;

• Recognize and adhere to infection control and safety policies and procedures;

• Recognize the various components of the health care delivery system; 

• Recognize the responsibilities of other laboratory and health care personnel and interact with them with respect for their jobs and patient care; 

• Demonstrate professional conduct, stress management, interpersonal and communication skills with patients, peers and other health care personnel and with the public; 

• Demonstrate an understanding of requisitioning and the legal implications of their work environment; 

• Recognize and act upon individual needs for continuing education as a function of growth and maintenance of professional competence.

First Semester

Course No.	Descriptive Title	Credit Hours
ENG 101	Composition I	3
AHS 100	Allied Health Introductory Seminar	1
PDC 101	Basic Concepts of Phlebotomy	4
BIO 103	Human Biology	4
MSO 102	Medical Terminology	2
TOTAL		14

Second Semester

Course No.	Descriptive Title	Credit Hours
PDC 102	Phlebotomy Internship (a) (b)	4
HED 134	First Aid, Safety and CPR	3
CIS 111	Computer Systems and Applications	3
BIO 112	A Biomedical View of HIV/AIDS	3
TOTAL		13
	TOTAL CREDIT HOURS	27

NOTE: All PDC students are required to submit a completed physical examination form prior to clinical assignment. All immunizations indicated on the form must be current. When this form is on file, the College Health Office will issue a waiver clearing the student for clinical assignment. Hepatitis B Vaccine series is highly recommended and may be required by the clinical facility under the OSHA Standard on Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens.

a. A grade of C or better in a previous course is required. See course description for details.

b. Criminal background checks and drug screens are required for clinical placement.

NOTE: Students enrolled in a Certificate program must complete at least 50% of the program credits at DCC.* Students must earn an overall cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher in order to be awarded the certificate.

*Certain courses may be required to be taken at DCC; check your specific program for these exceptions.