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 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.

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

Phlebotomy is an 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

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 days (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 practicum hours will coincide with health care hours, and may include early morning start times (5 or 6 a.m.), evening, night and weekend shifts.

Theory courses:

Online distance learning which enables you to learn and study from home.

Practical labs:

Saskatoon (designated lab dates may occur during the week or on the weekend)

Clinical practicum experiences:

Clinical practicum placements (Monday to Friday) may occur at any approved site in Saskatchewan.
CLIN 120: Ten days of practicum (two consecutive weeks) at various sites around Saskatchewan.

Travel to clinical practice education

Students are responsible for arranging their own travel and parking costs, both for on-campus labs and for attending their clinical experience at their assigned clinical location. Housing/accommodation arrangements and costs may also be required for some placements.
Not all clinical facilities are easily accessible by public transportation; students are responsible for personal transportation where required.

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 Sask Polytech diploma or applied certificate

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

Refer to our frequently asked questions to learn more about the program and career as a phlebotomist.

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 classification
Phlebotomist	Medical laboratory technicians & related technical occupations (33101)
Phlebotomy Aide	Medical laboratory technicians & related technical occupations (33101)
Laboratory Patient Technician	Medical laboratory technicians & related technical occupations (33101)

Part-time delivery

Part-time students may take the following available courses prior to admission, but must apply and be accepted to the program thereafter, in order to graduate and receive a credential: INFC 180, and MTER 180. Note: Generally, all courses required for a program must be completed within a specific timeline, to ensure program currency and relevancy. The timeline is four (4) years for a certificate. See Policy 114 - credentials. To register for individual courses, please view the part-time offerings available in the Courses section below.

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*
Minimum 25 net words per minute keyboarding speed with 90% accuracy (5-minute testing report to be submitted with transcripts)
- Gross words per minute minus errors per minute indicates net words per minute.
- Testing is available through Saskatchewan Polytechnic Testing Services. A completed Keyboarding Test Results Form must be submitted to Enrolment 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:

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 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 (SPCR-1002).

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. Applicants are automatically considered for alternative admission. However, some specific admission requirements may still need to be met.

ACCUPLACER©

Refer to the ACCUPLACER© cut scores for this program below, and review additional details concerning Alternative Admission using Accuplacer.

250 Arithmetic
253 Reading
247 Writing
4 Writeplacer

Post-secondary

Some programs allow applicants to meet the admission grade level requirement using 15 approved post-secondary credits. Review additional information.

If the program applied to has specific course requirements, they may be met through alternative post-secondary courses. Review already approved courses that may be used for admission purposes for your programs.

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 approximate cost for books and supplies. Visit the Tuition and Fees web page for a complete breakdown of tuition and fees for this program.

2024-25 academic year

$7,260

Additional program costs that students are responsible for include:

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 - two sizes
- 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
Transferring Lifting Repositioning (TLR®) Object Moving certification
- Students should enroll into a course a minimum of 1-2 months prior to program start date as courses fill up quickly.
- Phlebotomy only require Object Moving TLR – (course code to register into is SPCR-1002)
- Approx. $95
Students will be required to purchase or routinely have access to a laptop or desktop computer for coursework. Associated expenses are the students' responsibility.
Students are responsible for all travel/parking/accommodation costs associated with their on-campus labs and clinical experience.

This program is not eligible for the Canada-Saskatchewan student loan program.

Courses

Semester information only pertains to full-time/on-campus students, and part-time/online students should view course prerequisites when scheduling courses.

Get credit for what you know

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 link(s) below to get more information 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 Laboratory Assistant

Additional information

Have a question? Email ConEd@saskpolytech.ca or call 306-659-4418.