Phlebotomy Certificate (C45600)

Admission Requirements

Applications are accepted May-September. Interviews for admission are conducted September through the end of the second week in October. Individuals applying for admission to the Gaston College Phlebotomy Program must meet the requirements for general admission to Gaston College and the requirements for admission into the Phlebotomy Program.

Qualified applicants will be contacted for an admission interview by the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy Coordinator after receipt of the Phlebotomy Program Application.

Admission Process

Please Complete The Admission Process In The Order Listed Below:

1. Complete the Gaston College Application. This form can be obtained from the Gaston College Office of Admissions: 704.922.6214 or through the Gaston College web page: www.gaston.edu.
2. Submit an official high school, home school, GED or Adult High School Transcript (sealed and unopened), directly to the Office of Admissions, Gaston College, 201 Highway 321 South, Dallas, NC 28034-1499. Have your high school mail this for you. 
3. Submit official college and/or university transcripts, if applicable, to the Office of Admissions at Gaston College.
4. Complete the application form for the Phlebotomy Program. This form may be obtained from the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy department: 704.922.6377 or online: http://www.gaston.edu/programs/health_sciences/pbt/program_links.php
5. Schedule and take the College Placement Test (ACCUPLACER) to determine Reading and English placement at Gaston College. This can be scheduled through the Katherine Harper Testing Center: 704.922.8739. If the College Placement test score indicates that the applicant needs to take Reading 090 (RED 090) and/or English 090 (ENG 090), these courses must be completed before the applicant can be accepted into the Phlebotomy Program.
   Students who score 500 or higher on the Verbal or Critical Reading portion of the SAT are not required to take the Reading portion of the placement test. Students who score 500 or higher on the Writing portion of the SAT are not required to take the Writing portion of the placement test. Students who score 500 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the SAT are not required to take the Mathematics portion of the placement test. Students who score an 18 or higher on the English portion of the ACT are not required to take the Writing portion of the college’s placement test. Students who score 21 or higher on the Reading portion of the ACT are not required to take the Reading portion of the college’s placement test. Students who score a 22 or higher on the Mathematics portion of the ACT are not required to take the Math portion of the college’s placement test. Official test score results must be no more than 5 years old and they must be received and evaluated by the Gaston College Office of Admissions.
   Individuals who have completed college level Math or English courses with a grade of “C or higher do not have to take the college placement test.
6. Complete the online “New Student Orientation” for Gaston College. This must be completed before you can register for classes.
7. Schedule and take the ACT exam. The ACT exam is taken in addition to the College Placement Test (ACCUPLACER). Applicants should schedule and take the ACT examination to determine acceptance scores for admission into the Phlebotomy Program. Contact the Katherine Harper Testing Center: 704.922.8739 for instructions on registering for the ACT.
   PLEASE NOTE:  SAT score can be accepted in place of the ACT score. Applicants must attain a minimum composite score of 16 or higher on the ACT examination or a score of 790 or higher on the SAT examination to be considered for admission.
8. These scores must be current within five (5) years of program admission. Individuals with a previous college degree will have the ACT/SAT examination waived with proof of graduation from an accredited college. An admission interview will be scheduled by the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy Coordinator.

Selection Process

The Phlebotomy Certificate Program is limited to the number of students matching the number of internship spaces recruited. This usually means that 14-18 students can be accepted. Therefore, the top 14-18 qualifying admission scores will be accepted for program entry.

Acceptance is based on a point system with selection being conducted by the following method:

Applicants earning the highest Admission Points will be offered acceptance into the program.

1. While the ACT score is the only required admission criterion, ADDITIONAL ADMISSION POINTS can be earned from the following categories:     
         a. CPR Certification (current)     
         b. Nursing Assistant I/II Certificate (current)      
         c. College degree/diploma     
         d. College level math course     
         e. College level Anatomy & Physiology course     
         f. PSY 150
        g. Previous Applicant
2. In the event of a tie, the ACT score with the highest math component will be accepted first.
3. In the possible event of a tie for the math component, the English component will become the deciding factor.

Admission Status

Applicants will be notified by mail of their admission status by the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy Coordinator. Acceptance letters will be mailed to qualified applicants during the third week in October after the admission interview and verification of files being completed through Gaston College (ACT/SAT Scores, college placement test (ACCUPLACER and transcripts).
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 and must submit a new application.
 

English as a Second Language

United States resident applicants whose primary language is not English will be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. This may include scoring no less than 540 (207 on the computer) on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy Coordinator, in consultation with the Department Chairperson of the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy and Health Promotions Programs and the Dean of Health and Human Services, will determine the means of demonstrating proficiency on an individual basis.

Health Requirements

The following are special health requirements that are to be met by all phlebotomy students:
 

1. Submit a satisfactory physical examination report from a duly licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner indicating physical and emotional status. (Must be current within six months prior to entry into the program.) This form will be mailed with your acceptance letter once you have been accepted into the Phlebotomy Program.
2. Must complete the (series of three) Hepatitis B vaccine. Two of the immunizations must be completed by the first day of class. Those students who do not pursue immunization for Hepatitis B will be required to sign a waiver releasing Gaston College and the Phlebotomy Program of any responsibility for the possibility of their contracting Hepatitis B. (Waiver may be picked up in the Medical Assisting Phlebotomy Office, DBC 247).
   NOTE: A complete listing of immunization requirements for NC students entering college and programs that have a clinical component is located on the last page of the Phlebotomy Program Application.
3. Prospective students with known or suspected communicable or other serious illnesses are ethically and legally obligated to evaluate their health status in light of client safety. In addition, a physician’s statement documenting that the disease state is resolved or adequately controlled must be provided. Enrolled students should report any changes in health status to the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy Coordinator immediately. Documentation of satisfactory emotional and physical health may be required to remain in the program.

General Program Information

1. A minimum grade of “C” (80%) in each PBT course is required to pass the course.
2. A minimum grade of “C” is also required in all non-phlebotomy courses listed in the Phlebotomy Curriculum (C45600) in order to successfully complete the program.
3. Professional liability insurance (malpractice insurance) is required for students after admission to the Phlebotomy Program. This insurance is arranged through the Gaston College Business Office and the premium is paid by the student at the appropriate time. (at the beginning of the spring semester).
4. OSHA Safety Training: All students enrolled in the Phlebotomy Program are required to participate in OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens and HazCom Safety training sessions.

Criminal Background Check, Fingerprints & Drug Screening

In order to comply with current Student Affiliation Agreements students accepted into the Phlebotomy Certificate Program will be required to submit a Criminal Background Check, Fingerprints and Drug Screening according to Gaston College procedures prior to placement in a clinical facility. The facility reserves the right to deny the student access to the facility. If the student is denied access, the student will not be allowed to complete the program. Completion of clinical experiences is required for the satisfactory completion of the program. More information will be provided upon acceptance into the program.

NOTE: All information should be accurate to the best of the applicant’s knowledge. Giving false information or withholding necessary information to the college/program may result in dismissal from the college/program. Questionable situations shall be discussed with the Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy Coordinator, the Department Chairperson of Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy and Health Promotions and the Dean of Health and Human Services.

Major Courses

The Practicum

THE PRACTICUM 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 and may be any of the following sets of hours: 

06:30 a.m. - 02:30 p.m.
07:00 a.m. - 03:30 p.m.
08:00 a.m. - 05:00 p.m.
08:30 a.m. - 05:30 p.m.
11:00 a.m. - 07:30 p.m.
02:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
03:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. 

NOTE: In order to participate in the Practicum of the Phlebotomy Program, students must pass PBT 100  and must be willing to work any of the internship assignment hours listed. There is no guarantee of “preferred” hours.

The semester sequence for the program will consist of a ten (10) week concentrated classroom experience followed by a six (6) week practicum experience. Upon successful completion of PBT 100 , PBT 101 , and PSY 150 , the student will be awarded the Phlebotomy Technician Certificate.

Due to the limited number of practicum facilities, the student rotations through clinical facilities may be divided. The internship rotation may consist of two (2) sections, based on need.

If there are more students than practicum sites available at the end of the ten (10) week classroom experience, the group will be divided into two (2) sections as listed below:

Students assigned to Section A will complete their Phlebotomy Practicum immediately following the ten (10) week 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 an practicum facility for the first rotation (immediately following the ten (10) week 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.