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Phlebotomy Technician

Phlebotomy student wearing gloves performs a blood draw with a tourniquet applied, with lab tubes and equipment visible in a clinical training setting.

Build the skills and clinical experience to start your career in phlebotomy.

Phlebotomists play an important role in patient care by collecting blood and other specimens for testing, research, transfusion, and donation. This two-part program combines classroom learning, hands-on lab training, and clinical experience to prepare you for entry-level employment and national certification.

Program Overview

This hybrid Phlebotomy Technician program equips students with the theoretical knowledge, hands-on lab skills, and clinical readiness needed to perform safe blood collection and specimen processing in a variety of healthcare settings. Through instruction in venipuncture, capillary techniques, infection control, quality assurance, and professional communication—along with an externship and NHA-aligned exam preparation—students gain job-ready skills and meet educational requirements for entry-level employment and national phlebotomy certification eligibility.

Phlebotomy Technician Part I: Theory & Lab

In the Part I hybrid course, students develop the foundational knowledge and technical skills needed to work as a phlebotomy technician. Training includes venipuncture and capillary collection, infection control, specimen handling, order of draw, quality assurance, and professional communication. Students also receive access to National Healthcareer Association (NHA) study resources and exam-aligned materials to support certification preparation.
Phlebotomy Technician Part II: Externship

In the Part II externship, students apply their training in a real-world health care setting while strengthening their blood collection, specimen processing, and patient interaction skills. This hands-on experience helps build the clinical readiness needed for certification and entry-level practice.

Course Prerequisites

To earn a Phlebotomy Technician certificate, students must complete both Part I and Part II and meet the following requirements:

Must be 18 years or older and have a high school diploma or GED
Must complete all clinical eligibility requirements, including a background check, proof of medical insurance, and required health forms
Students without a prior degree or English 121 must take the Accuplacer Assessment and score a minimum of 240

For course and prerequisite information, please email NonCreditAlliedHealth@HowardCC.edu.
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