Phlebotomy

Program Overview

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.

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:

Learning Environment

Students will experience a mix of web-assisted learning, home study, and practical and clinical labs. 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.

Career and Salary Information

Your Career

As a phlebotomist you will be employed by medical laboratories to perform blood collection and specimen management and handling, which includes the associated data entry. The provincial health regions have identified an ongoing need for workplace-ready phlebotomists. Look for job opportunities with regional health districts, government health agencies and private labs.

Potential Careers

Sample Job Title	NOC Classification¹	Earning Potential²
Phlebotomist	Medical Laboratory Technicians and Pathologists' Assistants (3212)	$40,900 - $86,600

Length and Start Date

Start Date(s): September and December

Length: 28 weeks

Locations

Online
Saskatoon

Some online programs include on-site labs, clinicals, practicums or work experiences. Online programs may be offered course-by-course or full-time, or both, and deliveries may change over time.

Admissions

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:

CPR Heartsaver "C" AED or equivalent is required prior to entry into the clinical practicum. The cost of CPR Heartsaver "C" AED or equivalent 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 prior to entry into clinical practicum. The cost of N95 respirator mask testing is your responsibility.

Special Admission

Applicants who do not possess the academic qualifications for a program may be admitted if evidence of probable success can be established through a special admission assessment. Interested individuals should still apply. Applicants are automatically considered for special 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 Special Admission.

ACCUPLACER©

70 Arithmetic
80 Reading
80 Sentence
4 WritePlacer

Admission Method

First Qualified/First Admitted

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.

Tuition and Fees

Estimates are based on current rates and are subject to change. Amounts for a program may vary by campus. Totals shown here include all mandatory fees as well as books and supplies. For a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program, click here to access the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus Tuition and Fee Schedules.

$3,400

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. $75 to $125
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.

Courses

Expand All +

Code

Name/Description

Credits

ETHC 185

Professional Practices 1

You will receive an introduction to health care and health care delivery systems. You will study the legal and ethical issues faced by health care professionals. You will discuss interpersonal and employability skills required in health care professions with an emphasis on teamwork, communication and stress management. You will learn methods to deal with grief and loss, in addition to skills and techniques for critical thinking and conflict management.
Credit Units: 3
Course Hours: 42.0
Equivalent Course(s): ETHC 185CE, HUMR 182
Potential Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Print Distance Group, Prior Learning

INFC 180

Infection Control and Safety

You will study the transmission of microorganisms, blood-borne pathogens (i.e. hepatitis virus and HIV), routine practices, isolation procedures, immunization for medical workers, sterilization and disinfection, biohazard waste, safety and WHMIS.
Credit Units: 2
Course Hours: 25.0
Equivalent Course(s): INFC 180CE
Potential Learning Method(s): Lecture/Lab, Online, Print Distance Group, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

MTER 180

Medical Terminology

You will learn to use the prefixes, suffixes and combining forms from which medical terms are derived. You will also learn to use medical abbreviations.
Credit Units: 1
Course Hours: 10.0
Equivalent Course(s): MED 161, MTER 180CE
Potential Learning Method(s): Lecture/Theory, Online, Print Distance Group, Print Distance Individual, Prior Learning

PRAC 110

Venipuncture Practicum

You will participate in a supervised clinical experience. The clinical experience will assist you in developing competent venipuncture skills.
Credit Units: 4
Course Hours: 58.0
Prerequisites(s): ETHC 185, PROC 181, PROC 184
Potential Learning Method(s): Clinical/Practicum, Online

PROC 181

Specimen Collection and Handling

You will learn how to collect, handle and transport various laboratory specimens to ensure the quality of laboratory results. The collection of blood specimens will be emphasized. You will practice capillary and venous collection on adults at various sites in the community.
Credit Units: 3
Course Hours: 40.0
Prerequisites(s): INFC 180
Potential Learning Method(s): Lecture/Lab, Online, Print Distance Group, Prior Learning

PROC 184

Basic Specimen Processing

You will study the theory and practice required to perform basic specimen processing. You will focus on the use of centrifuges and transfer pipettes, specimen accessioning and aliquot techniques.
Credit Units: 1
Course Hours: 12.0
Prerequisites(s): INFC 180, MTER 180
Potential Learning Method(s): Lecture/Lab, Print Distance Group

PLAR & Transfer Credit

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

Saskatchewan Polytechnic recognizes that adults learn in many different ways and through many different means. This includes acquiring knowledge and skills through life and work experience or non-formal training. A detailed Candidate Guide, which includes a self-audit for all PLAR-ready courses, has been developed for this program. This information guides a candidate through all steps in the PLAR process.

Transfer Credit

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

Additional Information

Career Exploration in Saskatoon

Career Exploration in Regina

Personal Readiness

Related Programs

Application Form

Part-Time Delivery

Part-time students may take the following courses prior to admission, but must apply and be accepted to the program thereafter, in order to graduate and receive a credential: ETHC 185, INFC 180, and MTER 180.

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

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