Course Overview

The Phlebotomy Course of Study at Chattanooga State Community College is a 14-week, semester-long course that prepares students with the knowledge, technical skills, and professional behaviors necessary to perform safe and effective blood specimen collection in a variety of healthcare settings. The course combines classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and supervised clinical experiences to prepare students for entry-level employment as phlebotomy technicians.

Students develop competency in venipuncture, capillary blood collection, specimen handling, infection prevention, patient identification, quality assurance, and professional communication while adhering to current healthcare standards and ethical practices.

Course Mission

The mission of the Phlebotomy Course of Study is to provide high-quality education that prepares competent, compassionate, and ethical phlebotomy professionals who meet the healthcare needs of the communities served by Chattanooga State Community College.

Course Goals

The course strives to:

• Prepare students with the technical skills required for entry-level phlebotomy practice.
• Promote patient safety through adherence to established standards and best practices.
• Foster professionalism, ethical behavior, and effective communication.
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills in laboratory and clinical settings.
• Prepare students for national certification examinations, when applicable.
• Support lifelong learning and professional development.

Clinical Experience

Students complete supervised clinical training in affiliated healthcare facilities, where they apply classroom knowledge in real-world patient care environments. Clinical experiences provide opportunities to perform blood collections on diverse patient populations while working alongside experienced healthcare professionals.

Students are expected and financially responsible for completing all necessary clinical documentation for clinical experiences, including:

• Background Check
• Physical Exam
• Negative Drug Screen 12-panel
• Immunizations (record or proof of immunity)
  • Tdap Vaccine w/in 10 years
  • Varicella Zoster
  • MMR
  • Hepatitis B
  • Seasonal Flu (Or exemption letter)
• COVID-19 (Or declination)
• Negative PPD, Chest X-ray, or Tspot/QuantiFERON Gold
• N95 Fit Test
• Current AHA BLS with AED certification
• Liability Insurance

Career Opportunities

Graduates may find employment in a variety of healthcare settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Physician offices
• Clinical laboratories
• Outpatient clinics
• Diagnostic centers
• Blood donation centers
• Public health agencies
• Long-term care facilities

Professional Expectations

Students are expected to:

• Demonstrate professionalism and integrity.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.
• Practice safe specimen collection techniques.
• Follow infection control guidelines.
• Communicate respectfully with patients and healthcare team members.
• Arrive prepared and on time for all classes and clinical experiences.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, graduates may be eligible to sit for the Registered Phlebotomy Technician certification examination.