A phlebotomist plays a vital role in health care by collecting blood specimens from patients for laboratory tests used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Phlebotomists perform venipunctures, finger sticks or heel sticks to obtain specimens.

In addition, phlebotomists also work with laboratory personnel to manage, process and transport specimens collected from patients. In some settings, phlebotomists may perform bedside testing. Phlebotomists work in dynamic, fast-paced environments and are challenged each day with situations requiring specialized knowledge and skill. Hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, nursing homes, research settings and reference labs all employ phlebotomists.

Wake Tech offers a 16-week program that will train you to be a phlebotomist. You will receive intense, individualized phlebotomy training in theory and skills and complete a psychology course the first eight weeks of the semester. During the second eight weeks, you will actually practice phlebotomy in hospital and clinic settings supervised by highly skilled professionals.

Course work includes proper specimen collection and handling, communication skills and maintaining patient data. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be eligible to take the Phlebotomy examination given by the American Society for Clinical Pathology's Board of Certification.

Graduates may qualify for employment in hospitals, clinics, physicians' offices and other health care settings.

Wake Tech's Phlebotomy program is approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 5600 N. River Road, Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119 (Phone: 773-714-8880).

Admission process

1. Submit unofficial transcript(s) from high school, high school equivalency programs and previous college(s) to [email protected]. Once received, your file will be reviewed for course placement.
    
2. Students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the program reaches its enrollment cap. Once classes are filled, additional students will be placed on a waiting list and offered seats if and when they become available.
    
3. About one month later, students will receive an email to attend a mandatory departmental orientation.
   Acceptance or alternate status is based on receiving an unofficial transcript, attendance at the departmental orientation and completion of all clinical site requirements.

Once accepted into the program, students will be able to register for Phlebotomy classes.

Financial assistance available

Don't have enough money to pay for a course? Right now, Wake Tech's Propel program offers scholarships that cover the cost of registration, fees, books, course-specific supplies and credentialing exams.

The Propel scholarship application is closed while existing applications are being processed.

If you are a veteran, it is possible your benefits also may cover the cost of the program. Check with a veterans' benefits specialist for more information.

Program outcomes

Definitions:

1. The ASCP pass rate is the number of graduates who completed and passed the Board of Certification (BOC) exam on their first attempt within the first year of graduation.
2. Completion rate is the number of students who entered the second half of the semester and subsequently completed the program within that semester.
3. Placement rate is the number of graduates who reported, found employment (in the clinical laboratory field or in a closely related field) and/or continued their education within one year of graduation.