Phlebotomy Certificate

Launch your phlebotomy career in just six months

A Phlebotomy Certificate from Clackamas Community College is a fast track to a career in health care. You could become a certified phlebotomist after just six months of classes.

Phlebotomy technicians play a vital role in health care by collecting blood samples from patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics and laboratories. They are skilled professionals, trained to ensure patients' comfort and safety throughout the process. 

The Phlebotomy Certificate program at CCC provides the hands-on skills and knowledge to perform procedures and thrive in your future phlebotomy career. Whether you are changing careers or just starting out, the Phlebotomy Certificate program at CCC is a great way to build your career in health care. Get ready to enter a growing field with many opportunities for professional development and growth.

Please note that the Phlebotomy Certificate program is a limited-entry program. A limited number of students will be accepted into the program. All potential students must also complete a formal application process.

Required classes for the Phlebotomy Certificate

Explore rewarding career opportunities in phlebotomy

Gain the skills required to become a certified phlebotomist

Clackamas Community College's phlebotomy program offers a comprehensive curriculum that blends theory and practice. Our experienced instructors will guide you through hands-on training in a simulated lab setting. 

You should learn the skills you need to become a phlebotomist, including:

• Blood collection techniques: Perform venipuncture and capillary puncture procedures safely and efficiently, ensuring patient comfort.
• Specimen handling: Learn the correct methods for collecting, processing and handling laboratory specimens according to current protocols.
• Safety and compliance: Understand and uphold legal and ethical standards, along with laboratory safety.
• A strong health care foundation: Gain a solid understanding of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology relevant to phlebotomy.
• Effective communication and teamwork: Develop exceptional communication skills for interacting with patients and colleagues.
• Career readiness: Prepare for your certification exam and confidently enter the workforce as a qualified phlebotomist.

Investing in your future

Clackamas Community College offers some of the lowest tuition rates in the Portland metro area. Here is a summary of the estimated costs for this program: 

Get help paying for college

Scholarships and grants (free money!) are available for students in this program. For help with financial aid and scholarships, contact the Financial Aid Resource Lab

How to apply to the phlebotomy program

Ready to get started? Applying to this program is a simple four-step process. 

We recommend you meet with a health science advisor prior to applying to the program. Our advisors will help answer prerequisite program requirements.

Tracy Pantano-Rumsey, academic advisor
tracy.pantanorumsey@clackamas.edu, 503-594-6131

Phil Reid, academic advisor
philr@clackamas.edu, 503-594-0623

For more information on the application process and program requirements, view the advising guide linked below.

Advising Guide

Application essays and scoring rubric

The Phlebotomy Certificate program application requires prospective students to answer one essay question. The applications are "de-identified" prior to reviewing and scoring essays to reduce bias.

Before submitting your essays, we recommend you use the free Grammarly online software to check your spelling and grammar.

Essay 1: (250 words or less) The admissions team would like to know more about what makes you a well-rounded applicant. Share what experiences led you to the medical field and phlebotomy specifically. Share with us what makes you a unique and strong candidate for this program.

Note: We are asking this question because as students in the phlebotomy program, we recognize that candidates have additional skills and experience they have gained that make them strong candidates.

Preparation before entering the program ensures success

Students who are formally accepted into the phlebotomy program must attend a mandatory orientation. During the orientation, students will start the process of completing all non-academic requirements. 

Please start collecting your vaccine records for the below list of immunizations and, if accepted, be prepared to submit documentation during the orientation. 

Eligibility requirements:

• 18 years of age 
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Immunizations (MMR, Varicella, Tdap, Hep B, COVID-19, Flu) 
• Tuberculosis test
• Criminal background check
• Drug screen

Note: A criminal background check requires a Social Security Number. Students will start the criminal background check process during the orientation and upload vaccine records. 

Essential functions

To be successful in the Phlebotomy program and become employable, the student must be able to perform essential functions expected of the phlebotomist (see list below). Please contact the Phlebotomy (PHB) program regarding questions or concerns about these requirements.

Students must have the physical, intellectual and emotional abilities to provide safe patient care; visual acuity, hearing, speech, manual dexterity, physical strength, and endurance must be maintained as well. The practice of phlebotomy requires the following functional abilities with or without reasonable accommodations: 

Visual acuity (clearness of vision)

With or without corrective lenses sufficient to assess patients and their own environments.

Detect changes in skin color or condition; collect data from recording equipment and measurement devices used in patient care; detect a fire in a patient area and initiate emergency action; reading and following instructions pertaining to phlebotomy materials; ability to perform procedures involving fine detail, including the use of indirect field of vision.

Hearing ability

With or without hearing aids to hear a patient’s call for help, to auscultate a patient’s vital signs, and their own environment. Detect audible alarms; hear clearly during telephone conversations; effectively hear to communicate with patients and other healthcare team members.

Olfactory ability (smells)

Detect smoke from burning materials; detect odors from hazardous material spills.

Tactile ability (sense of touch)

Read and record patient vital signs; detect unsafe temperature levels in heat-producing devices used in patient care; perform patient care procedures; detect anatomical abnormalities.

Strength and Mobility

Ability to lift 25lbs; prolonged time sitting and/or standing on feet (8-12 hours); repetitive bending and twisting.

Ability to speak, comprehend, read, and write in English 

Able to question the patient about his/her condition; accurately relay information about the patient both verbally and in written communication to others.

Fine motor skills (ability to make movements using the small muscles in your hands or wrists)

Demonstrate eye/hand coordination; safely dispose of needles in sharps containers; safely perform venipuncture.

Emotional stability to function effectively under stress

Ability to adapt to changing situations and to follow through on assigned patient care responsibilities.

Cognitive ability (reasoning and/or thinking)

Ability to collect, analyze, apply information.

Ability to make clinical judgments and manage decisions that promote positive patient outcomes.

ADA Accommodations

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 (ADA) mandates that reasonable accommodations must be made for individuals with disabilities. Any student who may need an accommodation for a disability should make an appointment with the Program Director and the Disability Resource Center. 

Frequently asked questions

What is a phlebotomist?

A phlebotomist is a medical professional trained to perform blood collection and process laboratory specimens for testing.

How competitive is CCC’s program?

Admission to CCC’s phlebotomy program is limited entry and requires the attendance of an information session, application submission, and orientation attendance to be accepted into the program. More information can be found in the Phlebotomy Advising Guide.

What modality is the program delivered in?

The phlebotomy program is a part-time, closed cohort program offering classes in-person and online. All lab courses are taught in person at the Harmony campus. The program consists of five courses and 14 credits delivered over two terms, including an externship.

Is the program accredited?

The phlebotomy program is not accredited. However, the completion of the program allows for the student to take the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam.

I am interested in the phlebotomy program but don’t know how to apply. Who can I talk to?

The phlebotomy program is housed under the Health Sciences Department, which is a part of the Health Professions educational focus area. They have two dedicated academic advisors who are knowledgeable in the phlebotomy application process and are available to assist with any questions related to transfer credits, academic requirements to apply and the application process itself. You can schedule an appointment with an advisor here. Or you can reach out to the advisors via email:

• Tracy Pantano-Rumsey: tracy.pantanorumsey@clackamas.edu
• Phil Reid: philr@clackamas.edu

What additional requirements are needed to join the program?

The phlebotomy program follows the guidelines for Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) requirements for students in clinical practicum (409-030-0110). This includes required and recommended immunizations: Hep B, MMR, Tdap, COVID-19 and seasonal flu. It also includes a required 10-panel drug screening (to be completed after orientation into the program). A complete list of the 10-panel drug screening information can be found here. A tuberculosis screening and criminal background check (to be completed after orientation into the program) are also required. Students must also have current CPR/BLS certification through the American Heart Association (AHA). 

I am an employer looking to hire a recent graduate of the program. Does CCC have a job board for students and alumni?

Yes, thank you for reaching out with employment opportunities for our students. Please find a job board to post job notices for students and alumni here: https://www.collegecentral.com/clackamas/. You will have to sign up as an employer and complete the posting, but this will share your job with a wider audience.