Phlebotomy Technician

Hours: 100 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Online, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $945.00

Course Overview:

This course provides an introduction to the field of phlebotomy, giving you  the knowledge and concepts needed to understand specimen collection and laboratory processes. You will study healthcare structures, safety protocols, and infection control, as well as medical terminology and anatomy relevant to blood collection. The course also examines the circulatory and immune systems, routine venipuncture and capillary collection procedures, and factors that may complicate specimen collection. Additional topics include handling and transporting specimens, special collection requirements, point-of-care testing, quality systems in phlebotomy, and legal and ethical issues such as patient confidentiality. By the end of this course, you will be prepared with the foundational knowledge necessary for further study or entry-level roles in healthcare settings that involve specimen management and laboratory testing.

Students will:

• Explain the role of the phlebotomist, including professional standards, responsibilities, and ethical considerations.
• Describe the structure of healthcare organizations and the place of phlebotomy services within them.
• Identify key safety and infection control principles used in healthcare settings.
• Interpret medical terminology, abbreviations, and documentation relevant to phlebotomy.
• Summarize basic human anatomy, physiology, and circulation systems related to specimen collection and testing.
• Outline venipuncture and capillary collection procedures, equipment, and common complications.
• Discuss specimen types, the order of draw, and requirements for handling and processing.
• Recognize special collection procedures and modifications needed for specific patient populations.
• Describe common point-of-care testing methods and the importance of quality assurance.
• Explain the role of quality systems and legal/ethical responsibilities, including confidentiality and HIPAA compliance.

This course prepares a student to take the AMCA Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PTC) national certification exam.

Course Outline:

Lesson 1: Introduction to Phlebotomy

This lesson provides an overview of phlebotomy, including its definition, modern practice, essential job skills, duties, and personal qualities of successful phlebotomists. It covers professional standards, certification, and legal responsibilities such as informed consent and confidentiality, laying the foundation for a career in this exciting healthcare field.

Lesson 2: Healthcare Structure

In this lesson, you will learn how healthcare organizations are structured, including hospital branches, laboratory services, and other healthcare settings. You will understand the roles of key departments, the functions of clinical laboratory areas, and how quality standards ensure accurate, reliable patient testing.

Lesson 3: Safety

In this lesson, you will learn about OSHA’s role in workplace safety and the types of hazards you may encounter in healthcare, including physical, sharps, chemical, radioactive, electrical, fire, and MRI risks. You will also review labeling systems, chemical hygiene plans, first-aid responses, and latex sensitivity precautions.

Lesson 4: Infection Control

In this lesson, you will learn how infections spread in healthcare settings and how to reduce transmission risks. You will review the chain of infection, proper hand hygiene, correct hand-washing steps, and the use of personal protective equipment. You will also study Standard and Transmission-based Precautions and their role in protecting patients and healthcare workers.

Lesson 5: Medical Terminology

In this lesson, you will build your understanding of medical word parts, including roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms. You will practice translating common terms into their medical form, applying phlebotomy-specific terminology, and correctly using approved medical abbreviations in alignment with professional standards.

 Lesson 6: Human Anatomy and Physiology

This lesson introduces you to the body’s structure and function at different levels, from cells to entire systems. You will connect anatomic terms, body planes, and cavities to real-world patient care, while examining how each major body system works, what organs are involved, and which laboratory tests help identify common conditions.

Lesson 7: Circulatory, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems

In this lesson, you will trace blood flow through the heart, lungs, and body while comparing arteries, veins, and capillaries. You will review blood components, cellular elements, and the process of hemostasis, along with related diseases and tests. You will also examine lymphatic circulation and the immune system’s role in defending the body.

Lesson 8: Circulatory, Lymphatic, and Immune Systems

This lesson details the materials needed to safely collect blood samples. You will examine tourniquets, antiseptics, and disinfectants, along with needles, syringes, and winged infusion sets. The discussion also covers tube holders, additives, color-coded stoppers, and the correct order of draw, concluding with proper disposal of used needles to ensure patient and provider safety.

Lesson 9: Routine Venipuncture

This lesson focuses on the step-by-step process of performing a routine venipuncture. You will see how patient identification differs for inpatients and outpatients, how to prepare and position patients, and how to select, clean, and access a vein. The lesson also covers tourniquet use, labeling requirements, and the differences between evacuated tube and syringe collections.

Lesson 10: Capillary Collection

This lesson covers when capillary collection is the preferred method, such as in infants or patients with fragile veins. You will examine skin puncture devices, site selection, and safe puncture depth. The sequence of steps, the order of draw, and reasons for discarding the first drop of blood are also addressed, along with precautions to prevent complications.

Lesson 11: Preanalytic Variables and Venipuncture Complications

This lesson highlights factors that can influence test results before analysis takes place. You will consider patient-related variables, such as age, lifestyle, and health conditions, as well as procedural issues like site selection, tourniquet use, and sample handling. Common complications, specimen rejection causes, and long-term risks of venipuncture are also addressed to prepare you for preventing errors.

Lesson 12:  Preanalytic Variables and Venipuncture Complications

This lesson addresses blood collection procedures for patients with unique needs. You will consider the differences in physiology and comfort for pediatric and geriatric patients, as well as precautions for long-term care and critical care populations. The lesson also explains bilirubin testing, neonatal screenings, and the use of vascular access devices for ongoing or emergency blood draws.

Lesson 13: Arterial Blood Collection

This lesson introduces the collection and testing of arterial blood, focusing on how it differs from venous sampling. You will study the purpose of arterial blood gas testing, the equipment and arteries used, and the precautions needed to ensure accurate results. The lesson also reviews collateral circulation testing, possible complications, common errors, and the role of capillary blood gas collection.

Lesson 14: Special Collections and Procedures

This lesson explains the circumstances that require non-routine collection and handling of blood specimens. You will study fasting and timed draws, tolerance tests, therapeutic drug monitoring, and blood cultures. The lesson also covers donor collections, autologous donation, and therapeutic phlebotomy, along with handling temperature-sensitive and light-sensitive samples, preparing blood smears, and following legal or forensic collection requirements.

Lesson 15: Special Nonblood Collection Procedures

This lesson covers the collection and handling of specimens beyond blood. You will learn how to obtain urine, feces, semen, saliva, breath, gastric fluid, and other body fluids, along with instructions for patient preparation when needed. The lesson also explains neonatal and diagnostic procedures such as sweat electrolyte testing, cerebrospinal fluid collection, and amniotic fluid sampling, emphasizing proper technique, safety, and chain of custody where required.

Lesson 16: Specimen Handling, Transport, and Processing

This lesson explains the steps required to maintain specimen integrity after collection. You will learn safe transport methods, reasons for upright positioning, and time limits for separating serum or plasma. The lesson also addresses temperature and light-sensitive analytes, centrifuge use, stopper removal, safety equipment, and the most common causes of specimen rejection.

Lesson 17: Point-of-Care Testing

This lesson introduces point-of-care testing (POCT), highlighting its benefits, limitations, and quality assurance requirements. You will study common bedside and clinic-based tests such as blood gases, glucose, cholesterol, hemoglobin, pregnancy, and occult blood. The lesson also includes therapeutic drug monitoring concepts and outlines the role of electrocardiography, focusing on patient preparation and interpretation of major ECG features.

Lesson 18: Quality Phlebotomy

High-quality phlebotomy ensures both accurate test results and patient trust. This lesson examines how quality systems, manuals, and service directories guide daily practice. It highlights common errors, equipment checks, and patient factors that can affect results, while also addressing specimen labeling, transport, and processing standards that protect both safety and reliability.

Lesson 19: Legal Issues in Phlebotomy

Legal awareness is an essential part of safe and professional practice. This lesson reviews different types of laws, legal terms, and the concept of liability as it applies to phlebotomy. You will consider malpractice, standards of care, and patient confidentiality, with special focus on HIPAA and safeguarding protected health information, while also learning practical steps to reduce legal risks.

SIMTICS Virtual Hands-On Labs:

• Obtain Swabs for Culture
• Perform Capillary Puncture and Hematology Testing
• Perform Rapid Infectious Mononucleosis Test
• Perform Rapid Strep Test
• Perform Routine Clinical Urinalysis Test
• Perform Venipuncture
• Perform Basic Life Support (BLS) on a Child
• Perform Basic Life Support (BLS) on an Adult
• Perform Basic Life Support (BLS) on an Infant

All necessary course materials are included.

Certification(s):

This course prepares a student to take the AMCA Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PTC) national certification exam.

System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:

• Cable, Fiber, DSL, or LEO Satellite (i.e. Starlink) internet with speeds of at least 10mb/sec download and 5mb/sec upload are recommended for the best experience.

NOTE: While cellular hotspots may allow access to our courses, users may experience connectivity issues by trying to access our learning management system.  This is due to the potential high download and upload latency of cellular connections.   Therefore, it is not recommended that students use a cellular hotspot as their primary way of accessing their courses.

Hardware Requirements:

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 4 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher.  1920x1080 resolution is recommended for the best experience.
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone for Webinar or Live Online sessions.

Operating System Requirements:

• Windows 7 or higher.
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions
  

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is described in the above course outline.