Phlebotomy Technician
Do you find blood collection intriguing and are looking for a way to turn your passion into a rewarding future? A career as a phlebotomy technician may be just what you’re looking for.
Through classroom instruction, labs and clinical rotations, students are trained to succeed in this fast-paced yet rewarding health care field. Students learn types of blood collections, proper techniques and universal precautions. Students also can participate in the clinical setting, which allows them to apply the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom.
COM’s Phlebotomy Technician Program is a noncredit, nontransferable program to prepare students for the workforce.
The program prepares students to take the National Healthcare Association (NHA) Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam.
Program Details
Next Start Date
August 2024
Learning Format
Face to Face
Program Length
Approx. 14 weeks
Let’s Connect!
409-933-8645
cealliedhealth@com.edu
Career Insights
Occupational summary for Phlebotomy Technician
2,280 Annual Job Openings
(2019)
17% Projected Growth
(2019-2029)
$36,320 yr Median Salary / $17.46 hr
Additional Program Info
Due to recent changes, students applying for the fall Phlebotomy program will now be required to submit a background check through Pre-Check, as well as carry health insurance and have a current medical history form on file.
Applicants need a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate.
Clinical sites require participants to have:
- updated immunizations
- background checks
- drug screens
- verified IDs
The program applicant must pay this cost.
Effective September 1, 2017, HB 1508 amends the Texas Occupations Code Section 53 that requires education providers to notify potential or enrolled students that a criminal history may make them ineligible for an occupational license upon program completion. NOTE: Criminal history checks are required for clinical experience purposes.
Should you wish to request a review of the impact of criminal history on your potential licensure prior to or during your quest for a degree, you can visit this link and request a “Criminal History Evaluation”: https://www.precheck.com/
This information is being provided to all persons who apply or enroll in the program, with notice of the requirements as described above, regardless of whether or not the person has been convicted of a criminal offense. Additionally, HB 1508 authorizes licensing agencies to require reimbursements when a student fails to receive the required notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Phlebotomy program length is 15 weeks (about 3 and a half months).
The Phlebotomy program is offered once in the spring semester and once in the fall semester.
The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $37,380 in May 2021 according to bls.gov.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 21,500 openings for phlebotomists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Complete the online application in full.
- Once approved, you will receive an approval e-mail from CEAlliedHealth@com.edu
- You will need to contact the CE office after the approval e-mail to get registered.
- Applicants need a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate.
- Copy of valid Driver’s License or valid Identification Card.
- Copy of Social Security Card.
- Criminal History report through PreCheck.
- Proof of health insurance. Clinical sites require students to have health insurance. The agencies do not specify the types of coverage or the extent of coverage you should buy; they just require you to be covered by a health insurance policy.
- Current medical history form on file.
- Drug Screen. A NEGATIVE 10 Panel drug screen test result is required to be presented
by the student at least 1 month prior to the start of the Clinical portion of the
EKG Technician program. Report MUST contain date of collection & results with listing of all items tested for. Report should be valid within the last 12 consecutive months & cannot expire before the program completion date. Drug screens that are less than 10 panels will not be accepted. - Immunizations or Titers
- Proof of completed Varicella series (2 shots) or a positive Titer (must be VZV Ab IgG).
- Proof of one MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) vaccine or a positive Titer (must be MMR IgG).
- Proof of Tdap vaccination within the past 10 years (Must be updated 10 years after administration date).
- Proof of a completed Hepatitis B series (3 shots) or a positive HBsAB Quantitative Titer lab result. Note: For clinical purposes, a Qualitative (QUAL) titer lab result is not accepted.
- Current Annual seasonal flu vaccination (Seasonal flu must be updated every October 1st)
- Proof of Tuberculosis screen (must be PPD, Chest X-Ray, or QuantiFERON serological test). (Expires 1 year after administration date). Proof must include date administered, date read, and read result.
- Students who may perform invasive procedures should know their HIV antibody and Hepatitis B antibody or antigen status.
- Proof of completed Covid Vaccination status.
College of the Mainland does not require COVID Vaccinations to attend classes; however, many of our affiliated clinical sites mandate COVID Vaccinations. Some of them will accept an exemption for medical or religious beliefs. It is the discretion of the clinical site if you qualify for one of these exemptions. In each case, it is the responsibility of the student to complete the specific clinical site’s exemption paperwork and submit directly to them.
If a student cannot provide immunization records, a student can complete a titer test to prove immunity. Should the titer test show no immunity, the student will need to complete the series again.
Clinical hours are essential to meet the EKG Programs’ academic requirements. If you are unable to be scheduled at a clinical location because you have not met the vaccination requirements, you will not be able to complete the program.
Phlebotomy Technician
PLAB-1023
This course is designed to introduce the students to basic knowledge and skills of the phlebotomy profession. Students will learn several types of blood collections utilizing the proper techniques and universal precautions. On completion of the course, a National Healthcare Association CPT exam will be administered. The required textbook is available in the COM Bookstore.
Clinical Phlebotomy
PLAB-1060
This course will cover a health-related work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills, and concepts. Direct supervision is provided by the clinical professional.
The student will be eligible to sit for the ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) exam once all course requirements have been met. This includes requirements for both PLAB 1023 and PLAB 1060. For questions regarding certification visit the National Healthcareer Association website.
Texas Public Education Grants (TPEG)
State legislation has made grant funds available to students with financial need for workforce and career training classes. Limited funds are available for persons who qualify to assist with payment of a percentage of tuition for vocational courses. These limited funds are distributed on a first come, first served basis for qualified applicants, and vary by course. Books are not included. This grant does not require repayment and is applicable for programs with tuition over $1000.
A FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application is required and takes
at least two weeks to process. The student must have an active college account in
Colleague to apply.
Visit our Continuing Education Grants page to apply.
COM (College of the Mainland) Foundation Scholarships
COM offers 100 scholarships, which full-time and part-time students can apply for each year to help pay for tuition and textbooks. Only one COM Foundation scholarship will be awarded to any student.
Scholarships are available for students in all majors, and most scholarships are $500 per fall and spring semesters.
A FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application is required and takes at least two weeks to process. The student must have an active college account in Colleague to apply.
Visit the Scholarships page to apply.
Financial Aid
All students applying for financial aid should first complete the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This information is used to determine whether you are eligible for federal grants, certain scholarships, and work-study programs. Learn more about the FASFA.
Visit the Financial Aid page for more information.
No refunds will be issued after a class has started. A 100% refund will be given if the student submits a written, signed request for a refund no later than the 1st day of the course. Students will receive a 100% refund if class is canceled by the Continuing Education Department. Course tuition/fees are not transferable from one class to another or from one student to another.
The college will cancel a course that lacks sufficient enrollment three (3) business days prior to the class start date. When a course is canceled, every effort is made to notify all registered students promptly. A full refund is processed automatically. COM’s first form of communicating class cancellations is via email.
Disclaimer: The courses in this schedule will be taught as listed provided there are sufficient students enrolled in each section to justify the course offering. The College will cancel a course that lacks sufficient enrollment three working days prior to the class start date. The schedule of time, room and instructor reflect the intention of the College at the time the schedule is published. These are subject to change and their listing in the schedule is not an assurance to students that they will be taught exactly as listed.