Phlebotomy

Phlebotomists work directly with other health-care providers and patients, and in laboratory settings. You will collect blood from patients, manage and handle specimens, and perform its associated data entry. It's a job that requires good people and communication skills, attention to detail, a professional yet caring attitude, and a commitment to teamwork and excellence.

Phlebotomists are becoming more and more in demand in many areas. Jobs are available in hospitals, community clinics and medical offices.

Phlebotomy is a 28-week applied certificate program offered by distance education through Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatoon Campus. Labs and clinical experiences are a large part of the program, so expect hands-on training in:

• professional practices;
• infection control and safety;
• specimen collection and handling; and
• basic specimen processing

Specimen collection and handling includes two days of supervised clinical experience at various sites throughout Saskatchewan.

Learning Environment

Students will experience a mix of web-assisted learning, home study, and practical and clinical labs. The theory components of your program are delivered by online distance learning which enables you to learn and study from home. You will be required to attend on- campus laboratories in Saskatoon on designated weekends (students will be notified of dates in advance). The clinical experience can be offered at various designated sites around the province.

For this program, there is a heavy workload with 15-20 hours per week of homework. Clinical experience hours coincide with health-care hours, and start as early as 7 a.m.

Theory courses: online distance learning which enables you to learn and study from home

Practical labs: Saskatoon (designated weekend dates)

Clinical Practicum Experiences
Clinical practicum placements (Monday to Friday) may occur at any approved site in Saskatchewan.

• PRAC 110: Ten days of practicum (2 consecutive weeks) at various sites around Saskatchewan

Put Your Learning to Work

You'll participate in a two-week clinical experience, scheduled consecutively and occurring within eight weeks of your last theory course. Your clinical experience may take place at various sites around the province.

Ladder into a Saskatchewan Polytechnic Diploma or Applied Certificate

You can transfer several Phlebotomy courses into Saskatchewan Polytechnic School of Health Sciences diploma programs, including:

• Combined Laboratory and X-Ray Technology
• Cytotechnology
• Medical Lab Assistant
• Medical Laboratory Technology
• Medical Radiologic Technology

Your Career

Potential Careers

28 weeks

• Saskatoon
• Online/Distance options available



Some programs offered online or otherwise by distance (i.e., correspondence) include on-site labs, clinicals, practicums or work experiences. They may be offered course-by-course or full-time, or both, and deliveries may change over time.

• The theory components of your program are delivered by online distance learning which enables you to learn and study from home. You will be required to attend on- campus laboratories in Saskatoon on designated weekends (students will be notified of dates in advance). The clinical experience can be offered at various designated sites around the province.

View the program page for a complete list of courses and additional information.

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 with an overall average of 60% with English Language Arts A30, English Language Arts B30, Foundations of Math 20 or Foundations of Math 30 or Pre-Calculus 30*, Health Science 20 or Biology 30*, and Physical Science 20 or Chemistry 30*
• 45 words per minute keyboarding speed with 98% accuracy (5-minute testing report to be submitted with transcripts)
  • Testing is available through Saskatchewan Polytechnic Test Centres. A completed Keyboarding Test Results form must be submitted to Registration Services.
• English Language Requirement

*Previous Saskatchewan biology, chemistry, and mathematics requirements also accepted:

• Biology 20
• Chemistry 20
• Math 20 or any 30-level math

Note:

• This will no longer be required effective from the spring intake 2022: Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of CPR Health Care Provider (HCP), CPR Basic Life Support (BLS), CPR Level 'C' AED or equivalent certification upon admission into the program. CPR certification is valid for two (2) years from the date of completion regardless of the length of time indicated by the provider of the card or certificate. Recertification may be required during your studies. The cost of CPR certification is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants will be required to provide evidence of a Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search upon admission to the program. At the discretion of the practicum agency, you may be declined access to a clinical or work placement based on the contents of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search. The cost of the Criminal Record Check and Vulnerable Sector Search is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide current immunization records and meet Saskatchewan Polytechnic immunization requirements prior to entry into clinical practicum.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of current N95 respirator mask testing upon admission into the program. N95 respirator mask testing is valid for two (2) years from the date of completion. Retesting may be required during your studies. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility.
  • Effective beginning spring intake 2022: Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of current N95 respirator mask testing prior to start of clinical practicums as directed by the program. N95 respirator mask testing is valid for two (2) years from the date of completion. Retesting may be required during your studies. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility.
• Accepted applicants are required to provide evidence of 2015 WHMIS Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification upon admission into the program. Recertification will be required every three years to remain current. The cost of WHMIS certification is your responsibility. Register for WHMIS.
  
• Accepted applicants will be required to provide evidence of Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) Object Moving certification or Safe Moving and Repositioning Techniques (SMART®) certification upon admission to the program. TLR® or SMART® certification is valid for three (3) years from the date of completion. Recertification may be required during your studies. The cost of TLR® or SMART® certification is your responsibility. Register for TLR.
  

Alternative Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through an alternative admission assessment. Interested individuals should still apply. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met. Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission.

ACCUPLACER©

• 250 Arithmetic
• 253 Reading
• 247 Writing
• 4 Writeplacer

Admission Method

The First Qualified/First Admitted (FQFA) process is used for the majority of Saskatchewan Polytechnic programs. When we determine that you meet the program's admission requirements, you will be offered admission based on the date you fully qualify for the program. The earlier you provide the appropriate documents and information that qualify you for admission to the next intake, the earlier you might begin your studies. Your application, once qualified, is always considered for the next intake. 

Applicants to programs with multiple intakes in an academic year remain in the application pool until the last intake for that academic year has begun. Programs using the FQFA process receive applications year round and maintain an application pool for each academic year. Qualified applicants who are not offered a seat must reapply for the next academic year. 

Sponsored programs or programs targeted to specific groups do not accept applications year round or maintain an application pool.

See Admission Processes for more information about this method of admission.

2021/22 Academic Year

$4,245

Additional programs costs that students are responsible for include:

• CPR C/AED (Health Care Provider) – recognized by the program for two years from date of certification. If expires during programming student must recertify.
  • approx. $130 to $160
• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search
  • approx. $75
• Immunizations
  • no cost if immunizations are completed with Sask Polytech health nurse.
  • completed outside of Saskatchewan Polytechnic range from $90 to $120 for Hepatitis B series
• Mask FIT Testing
  • N95 - approx. $75 to $125
  • Mask Fit testing is recommended to be updated annually, however, it is mandatory to be updated every two years. If expiry date occurs during programming student must re-submit proof of testing to the program. Cost of re-testing is the student's responsibility.
• WHMIS 2015 - Globally Harmonized System (GHS) certification
  • Approx. $35

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training.  See links below to more information about PLAR and detailed PLAR candidate guides for courses in this program.

• Candidate Guide
• Candidate Guide (Department of Arts and Sciences courses)
  • communications, mathematics, sciences, social sciences
• More about PLAR

Transfer Credit

Many Sask Polytech students benefit from transferring course credit. You may be eligible to transfer credit to Sask Polytech or to another college or university.

Medical Diagnostic Career and Program Information Session

Personal Readiness

Have a question? Email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca.

• Medical Laboratory Assistant