Phlebotomy Certificate (C45600)

Admission Information

Individuals applying for admission to the Gaston College Phlebotomy Program MUST meet all Gaston College admission requirements for GENERAL ADMISSION to the college.  Admission to the general college does not guarantee admission to the Phlebotomy Program.

To be eligible to participate in the selective admission process, an applicant must complete the following application steps:

1. Complete Residency Determination
2. Submit a Gaston College application
3. Meet with an advisor and/or attend an information session
4. Submit official high school (and college, if applicable) transcripts
5. Provide proof of course placement requirements

Admission Requirements to the Phlebotomy Program

1. Complete and submit a Gaston College Phlebotomy Program Application. Applications can be requested through the Phlebotomy Office (704.922.6377), or online at Gaston College/Health and Human Services/Phlebotomy/Admission Requirements.

2. Applicants must have a minimum composite score of 55 on the ATI TEAS exam to be considered for admission to the Phlebotomy Program.  NOTE: A minimum composite score of 16 on the ACT or a minimum composite score of 790 on the SAT can be accepted in place of the ATI TEAS score. ATI TEAS/ACT/SAT scores must be current within five (5) years from the date of program admission. Applicants with an Associate or higher college degree will have the ATI TEAS examination waived with proof of graduation from an accredited college.

3. In order to enroll in PBT 100, students must be fully accepted into the Phlebotomy Program.

Selective Admission Criteria

The Phlebotomy Certificate Program is limited to 18 students. While the ATI TEAS/ACT/SAT score is the only required admission criterion, acceptance into the program is competitive and based on a point system with the top 18 admission scores being accepted into the program.  Admission points can be earned from the following categories:

• CPR Certification (current)
• Nursing Assistant I/II Certificate (current)
• College degree/diploma
• Successful completion of a College level math course
• Successful completion of a College level Anatomy & Physiology course
• Successful completion of PSY 150
• Previous Qualified Non-Admitted Applicant to the Phlebotomy program
• ATI TEAS, SAT, ACT score

In the event of a tie, the application with the earliest submission date will be accepted first.  Applicants earning the highest admission points will be offered acceptance into the program.            

Admission Status

Qualified applicants will be contacted for an admission interview by the Program Chair for Phlebotomy. Accepted applicants will receive a letter in the mail after the application deadline, once all application requirements have been verified. Individuals not accepted to the Phlebotomy Program must repeat the application process to be considered for admission to the next class. Students reapplying for admission must meet the admission requirements current at the time of their application.

Students Admitted to the Phlebotomy Program

Applicants accepted into the Phlebotomy Program must meet the following requirements in order to enroll and continue in phlebotomy courses:

• Earn a minimum grade of “B” (80%) in ALL phlebotomy curriculum courses. In “PBT” prefix courses that have a lab component, students must receive a passing grade in both theory and classroom skills procedures in order to pass the course and progress in the program.
• Students taking PSY 150, while enrolled in PBT program must achieve a minimum grade of “C” in order to successfully complete the PBT requirements.
• A completed Gaston College Health and Human Services Student Medical form documenting satisfactory emotional and physical health. This is required by the due date stated in the applicant’s admission letter.
• Hold a current Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers certification through the American Heart Association.
• Students will be required to submit documentation of additional non-academic criteria such as, but not limited to, criminal background checks, urine drug testing, and proof of immunizations. Students are to complete these requirements by registering and paying a fee to a third-party vendor. Instructions will be provided by the compliance specialist.
• Professional liability insurance (malpractice insurance). This insurance is arranged through the Gaston College Business Office.

Clinical agencies reserve the right to deny a student access to the facility based on failure to meet the above requirements. If a student is denied access to any clinical agency, the student will not be allowed to continue in the Phlebotomy program. Detailed information regarding these agency requirements will be provided upon conditional acceptance into the Phlebotomy program.

Clinical Practicum

The semester sequence for the program will consist of a concentrated classroom experience followed by a practicum experience. In order to participate in the Practicum of the Phlebotomy Program, students must pass PBT 100. Upon successful completion of PBT 100, PBT 101 and PSY 150, the student will be awarded the Phlebotomy Technician Certificate.

The Practicum (PBT 101) will provide the student the opportunity to apply the skills learned in the classroom/laboratory phase to the work environment, under supervision. Students will be assigned to either an area hospital laboratory, an independent laboratory, a medical clinic, or a physician’s office laboratory for an eight-hour (8-hour) shift, three (3) days a week for a total of twenty-four (24) hours a week clinical experience. Hours for the practicum will vary according to the facility to which you will be assigned.

NOTE: In order to participate in the Practicum of the Phlebotomy Program, students must be willing to work any of the practicum assignment hours. There is no guarantee of “preferred” hours.

Due to the limited number of practicum facilities, the student rotations through clinical facilities may be divided. The practicum rotation may consist of two (2) sections, based on need. If there are more students than practicum sites available at the end of the classroom experience, the group will be divided into two (2) sections as listed:                                                              

• Students assigned to Section A will complete their Phlebotomy Practicum immediately following the concentrated classroom experience.
• Students assigned to Section B will complete their Phlebotomy Practicum six (6) weeks after the concentrated classroom experience, following Section A.
• If all students can be placed in a practicum facility for the first rotation (immediately following the concentrated classroom experience), there will be only one Phlebotomy Practicum for that year.
• Assignment to a Phlebotomy Practicum section is the sole decision of the Phlebotomy faculty.

Major Courses

• PBT 100 Phlebotomy Technology (6 Credit Hours)
• PBT 101 Phlebotomy Practicum (3 Credit Hours)
• PSY 150 General Psychology (3 Credit Hours)

Total Program Hours: 12