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Phlebotomy Certificate (PLAB)

Description

The Phlebotomy Certificate is a one-semester program which prepares students to use proper techniques and procedures for collecting blood specimens for laboratory analysis and blood donations. The student will gain workplace competencies to include critical thinking and communication skills consistent with the role of a Phlebotomist. The student who successfully completes the program is awarded a Certificate in Phlebotomy from Laredo Community College.

Mission Statement

The Phlebotomy Program offers a dynamic curriculum based on nationally recognized quality standards to prepare graduates to serve the health care needs of the local, regional and global community.

Entry-Level Competencies

Upon graduation and initial employment, the phlebotomist will demonstrate entry-level competencies as indicated below.

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the health care delivery system and medical terminology.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of infection control and safety.
  3. Demonstrate basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of body systems and anatomic terminology in order to relate major areas of the clinical laboratory to general pathologic conditions associated with the body systems.
  4. Demonstrate understanding of the importance of specimen collection and specimen integrity in the delivery of patient care.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary and substances that can interfere in clinical analysis of blood constituents.
  6. Follow standard operating procedures to collect specimens.
  7. Demonstrate understanding of requisitioning, specimen transport and specimen processing.
  8. Demonstrate understanding of quality assurance and quality control in phlebotomy.
  9. Communicate (verbally and non verbally) effectively and appropriately in the workplace.

Clinical Education

The City of Laredo Health Department, Doctor's Hospital of Laredo and Laredo Medical Center currently serve as the designated clinical sites for the student to gain clinical experiences through coordinated and supervised rotation schedules. Other clinical sites may be used as they become available. The student is assigned to clinical laboratories to enhance technical and critical thinking skills under the supervision of assigned preceptors. Students must complete a minimum of 100 venipunctures and 15 capillary punctures. Applicants should be aware that they will be required to work with patients and family members who may speak only Spanish.

Application Process

  1. Complete an application packet. Application deadline is the first Friday in June for Fall and the first Friday in October for Spring. All information provided in the packet must be accurate. Applicants will be disqualified should it be determined that the information provided by the applicant is inaccurate and dishonest.
  2. Applicants are not required to submit requisites such as a physical, drug screen, criminal background check, etc., until the applicant has been informed of acceptance to the program.
  3. Students interested in pursuing a Certificate in Phlebotomy may enroll in the courses listed below at any time before applying to the program. Courses may also be taken concurrently upon acceptance to the program. Enrollment in the courses listed below is strongly encourage while acceptance to the program.
    • MDCA 1409 Anatomy & Physiology for Medical Assistants (or BIOL 2301, BIOL 2101 & BIOL 2302 , BIOL 2102 may substitute)
    • MDCA 1313 Medical Terminology
    • MDCA 1305 Medical Law & Ethics
    • HPRS 1304 Basic Health Profession Skills

    NOTE: Applicants accepted to the program may concurrently enroll in courses listed above to include PLAB 1223 and PLAB 1260.

  4. Applicants who successfully completed the courses listed above must have earned a grade of C or better (minimum GPA required 2.5) within 5 years of the application to the program.
  5. The application packet will be reviewed along with the academic transcript.

Selection Process

Communication for all applicants is conducted using Laredo Community College's official email system on Pasport

  1. Phase 1
    1. The applicant will receive a questionnaire by with a specified due date for submission.
    2. The completed questionnaire must be submitted by email (Pasport email account)
    3. The questionnaire will be scored using a rubric which will be provided to the applicant.
    4. Failure to submit questionnaire will result in applicant disqualification.
  2. Phase 2
    1. The applicant will be contacted for an interview.
    2. The applicant will be interviewed by a designated committee. Committee members will score applicant interviews.
  3. Phase 3
    1. Applicants selected for program admission will be notified by Pasport email. The email will include which will explain the steps to meet all requirements prior to the beginning of each semester.
    2. Applicants who are not selected for the program may enroll in all courses found in the curriculum EXCEPT for PLAB 1223 and PLAB 1260.

Acceptance to the Program

  1. Upon acceptance to the Phlebotomy Program, the student is required:
    1. To submit:
      1. A completed physical examination (the form is included in the application packet)
      2. Immunization records and results of a TB test within the past 6 months
      3. A current CPR card
      4. Results from 10 panel drug screen
      5. Webb County Sheriff's Department Criminal background Check
      6. Receipt for Castlebranch Criminal Background Check ($50.00)
      7. Receipt for payment of national certification exam fee: $105.00
    2. Students must make their own copies of documents and receipts to keep as evidence that documents were submitted.
  2. The student must successfully complete all Phlebotomy Program curriculum requirements to be eligible to take the national certification exam. Students, who do not satisfactorily complete competencies in PLAB 1223 and are not passing the course with a 75% C or better by midterm, will not be permitted to progress to PLAB 1260, the clinical rotation component of the program. The Phlebotomy Student Handbook offers detailed information about this process.
  3. Upon successful completion of the national exam, successful completion of both courses, PLAB 1223 and PLAB 1260, the student will be awarded the Phlebotomy Certificate and a nationally recognized Phlebotomy Technician Certificate.
  4. A failing grade in the the national exam will not exclude student from retaking the exam. The student is required to pay $105.00 for each attempt.

* Criminal background reports which show a history of convictions, deferred adjudications involving crimes against persons, misdemeanors, etc., will disqualify a student from consideration for admission because the student would not be eligible for clinical placement.

**Fees are subject to change

For further information about the Phlebotomy Certificate Program contact Adriana B. Nunemaker, at 721-5261 or by email at adriana.nunemaker@laredo.edu. The Health Sciences Department is located in the Ruben M. Garcia Allied Health Building, room 114.

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