Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Phlebotomy Technician, non-credit training

Why choose the Phlebotomy Technician non-credit training program at PCC?

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.

Award information

Learn more about Medical Professions and all 3 awards available »

What will you learn?

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 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.

Upcoming courses

What will you do?

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.