Phlebotomy Certificate

Program Coordinator/Contact

Stacie Lansink, Program Director
Department of Allied and Population Health
Avera Health and Science Center
605-688-5855

Program Information

The certificate prepares students to enter the health care field as phlebotomists. Phlebotomists work in variety of settings including clinical laboratories, hospitals, and community health centers, where they collect blood for donation and analysis. This role is critical in health care as the blood tests are used to diagnose illness, evaluate effectiveness of medications, and determine whether a patient is receiving proper nutrition.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the certificate, students will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the health care system and medical terminology.
• Communicate (verbally and nonverbally) effectively and appropriately in the health care environment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of specimen collection, various types of additives used in the collection of blood for laboratory analysis, special precautions that are necessary due to a patient’s disease state, and substances that can interfere with analysis of blood constituents.
• Follow standard operating procedures to collect a blood specimen via venipuncture and capillary (dermal) puncture.
• Demonstrate an understanding of age specific and psycho-social considerations involved in the performance of phlebotomy procedures on various age groups of patients.

Academic Requirements

Students must earn at least a “C” in each course used to meet the certificate requirements.

Course Delivery Format

The certificate in phlebotomy would provide students with coursework and clinical experience in phlebotomy. The courses are offered online with an on-campus laboratory course to train students to draw blood. Students also complete 100 hours of clinical experience in health care settings. Following completion of the certificate, the student would be eligible for certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology.