Phlebotomy

The Phlebotomy Program is a two (2) semester technical certificate program.  The Phlebotomy Program is approved by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).  Graduates of the program are eligible to take the national phlebotomy certification examination.

Applicants should be aware that violation of any federal, state, or local drug law or conviction of a crime may prohibit the student from entering a clinical agency to care for clients.  In addition, clinical facilities may require a criminal background check and/or drug test as a condition of clinical practice in the respective facility.  Inability to complete the clinical course because of failure to meet these requirements will result in course failure.

The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) is also a resource for information regarding the program.  One may contact NAACLS at: 5600 N. River Rd., Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, Phone:  1-773-714-8880, Fax:  1-773-714-8886, Email:  info@naacls.org, Website:  http://www.naacls.org.

Admission

Phlebotomy students are admitted every fall and spring semester to the Helena-West Helena campuses.  Application must be made to the Phlebotomy program.  Students who wish to be considered for admission to the Phlebotomy program must meet the following criteria:

1. Fulfill all college admission requirements
2. Be at least 18 years of age.
3. Submit official high school transcript documenting graduation from high school  or official Arkansas High School Diploma/GED certificate and official transcripts from all previously attended colleges to the Registrar’s Office and Phlebotomy Program Director.
4. Document a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average in all courses taken at PCCUA.
5. Provide SAT, ACT, or NG ACCUPLACER scores taken within the last four (4) years that meet the minimum skill level in reading, math, and English or complete all required developmental courses prior to making application to the Phlebotomy program.
6. Submit completed application to the Phlebotomy Program on the Helena-West Helena campus.  The application must be received by the Phlebotomy Program Director on the Helena-West Helena campus by June 1st for fall admission or December 1st for spring admission.
7. Students who speak English as a second language must also take the NG ACCUPLACER ESL Exam to prove proficiency in English. The following scores are required in each category.
   • Listening: minimum score of 106
   • Reading: minimum score of 116
   • WritePlacer ESL: minimum score of 5
8. Rare exception to the admission policy may be made by the Faculty Committee.

All students who meet minimum admission criteria will be accepted unless the number of qualified applicants exceeds space available.  This means MEETING THE MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION OR TAKING COURSES REQUIRED FOR THE PLB TECHNICAL CERTIFICATE DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADMISSION TO THE PLB PROGRAM.  When the number of qualified applicants exceeds space available, the selection process will be implemented, and admission will become competitive.

Applicants not selected for admission and/or applicants who elect not to enroll in the phlebotomy class must repeat the application process that includes submitting a new application to the phlebotomy program.

Selection Process

1. Qualified applicants will be ranked according to the following criteria:
   • For applicants with college credit, quality points earned on courses taken at all colleges previously attended or
   • For applicants with high school credits only, quality points earned in high school for all completed science and math courses
2. When two or more applicants have an equal number of total points, applicants will be admitted according to the date and time the application was received in the Medical Laboratory Technology office on the Helena-West Helena campus.
3. Quality points for repeated courses will be determined by the most recent grade with three (3) quality points subtracted for each repetition.
4. Applicants initially not selected for admission will be placed on an alternate list in order of total quality points earned.  Spaces that become available before the first day of fall classes will be filled from the alternate list.

Enrollment Process

Before enrolling in the Phlebotomy program, the student must provide the following documents:

1. Completed Health Statement
2. Proof of immunization compliance
   • Current Td
   • Two (2) Varicella or positive titer
   • Two (2) MMR, if born after 1957 or positive titers
   • Initiation of Hepatitis B series or positive titer
3. Proof of TB skin test within the last year
4. Signed Communicable Disease Statement
5. Current US Federal or State issued photo ID (driver’s license, military ID, passport)
6. Proof of liability insurance

After Enrollment

Proof of Influenza (flu) immunization is required by November 1st of the fall semester.

Policies for Progression for Students Admitted in the Phlebotomy Curriculum 

1. Students in the Phlebotomy program must obtain permission from the Director of the MLT program to take required courses for transfer at another college, before enrolling in the course the student expects to transfer to PCCUA.
2. Once admitted to the Phlebotomy program, students should complete the required curricular pattern within 150% of the time (3 semesters).
3. Students must complete pre-requisites or corequisite general education courses before or with corequisite phlebotomy courses.
4. Students admitted for the first time to the Phlebotomy program are allowed a maximum of one readmission to the program.  No required PLB course may be repeated more than one time.
5. A minimum grade of “C” is mandatory in all required PLB courses and in the following general education courses:
   • BY 103, Intro to Anatomy
   • OT 113, Medical Terminology I
   • MS 143, Elementary Algebra or higher
6. A minimum of 70% of tests in PLB 114 and PLB 124 must be passed to successfully complete the course and progress to PLB 134.
7. Students who fail to earn a minimum grade of “C” in both PLB 114 and PLB 124 must withdraw from the corequisite course, PLB 134.
8. Students who fail to earn a minimum grade of “C” in PLB 134 must repeat all required corequisite courses, PLB 114 and PLB 124 regardless of the previous grade earned.
9. General education courses may be taken earlier than prescribed or as prescribed in the College Catalog.
10. Science and math courses taken more than five (5) years before admission to the Phlebotomy program must be repeated.
11. Phlebotomy courses with a clinical component may not be audited.
12. All phlebotomy students are required to have a current American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR card before enrolling in respective PLB courses. The card must remain current throughout enrollment in PLB courses. Certification expiring mid semester must be renewed before entry into the respective semester. Electronic certification or recertification is NOT accepted.
13. Students enrolled in the Phlebotomy program must be familiar with all policies in the current College Catalog, student handbooks, and posted on the PCCUA Web. The Student Handbook is available in the Registrar’s Office. The Phlebotomy program supplies the Phlebotomy Student Handbook upon enrollment and at the beginning of each academic year.