Whether you are preparing for a career in phlebotomy or if you are interested in earning your certificate or continuing on to an advanced degree, COD offers:

• Dedicated instructors with years of professional experience.
• Instruction in top-notch facilities and on cutting-edge equipment.
• Affordable courses to help you achieve success without creating overwhelming debt or draining your savings account.
• Small class sizes to ensure you receive personalized attention.

Phlebotomy

Upon successful completion of the Phlebotomy certificate program, students will earn a certificate through COD and are eligible to apply for the Phlebotomy Technician exam (PBT) through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) to become a Certified Phlebotomist.

Students are expected to provide proof of a Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan prior to the start of the program or clinical start. The insurance plan must cover you throughout the length of your clinical experience, which in most cases, consists of the entire length of the program. If you are in need of Health Insurance, please note the following important dates and visit cod.studentbenefitplans.com.

Important Dates

• Open Enrollment: Typically opens November through mid-January
  If you will need health insurance ANYTIME within the next year, you must apply during the current open enrollment period.

If you miss open enrollment, but have a qualifying life event, you can still apply during a Special Enrollment Period.

While we cannot guarantee your official acceptance into the program, you need to be aware that there is short timeframe of when you are able to purchase a Health Insurance plan. The purpose of this step is to make you aware and that the time to research and purchase is NOW. Purchasing health insurance outside of this timeframe will take months and may prohibit your admittance into the Program. NOTE: Obtaining Health Insurance is NOT an application requirement but it is a requirement to be in the program.

• Clinical Requirements Packet - Learn more about health requirements you may need to complete prior to registration or after program admission.
• Social Security Number (SSN) Requirements - While the College may not require an SSN for admission to all healthcare programs, students should be aware that the absence of an SSN may limit or prevent their ability to participate in certain clinical experiences, obtain required licensure or certification or secure employment upon graduation. Many healthcare employers, clinical education sites, licensing agencies and credentialing organizations require a valid SSN for employment, criminal background checks, payroll processing and/or professional licensure or certification. Students are strongly encouraged to verify SSN requirements with the applicable licensing board, certifying agency and prospective employers before enrolling in a healthcare program.

The Phlebotomy program provides students with didactic, laboratory practice, and a clinical component in preparation for a profession as a Phlebotomy Technician.

Upon completion, the student will function as an integral member of the health care team with competence and confidence.

To participate in the Phlebotomy program, students must possess additional non-academic skills. These skills are consistent with the duties of the entry-level technician in a professional position. These skills, which protect the health and well-being of patients, may include but are not limited to the ability to:

• Move, adjust and maintain equipment while performing phlebotomy and EKG procedures.
• Position patients for procedures.
• Respond appropriately to sounds such as the patient’s voice and movements at a normal conversational volume.
• Demonstrate visual acuity to assess the equipment (needle) and to differentiate the colors of the blood collection tubes.
• Manipulate the appropriate equipment for blood collection including computers.
• Perform for a prolonged period on your feet without breaks in a typical shift of eight hours.
• Communicate orally and in writing in the English language with patients, doctors and other personnel clearly and effectively.
• Follow verbal and written direction in the English language.

If you are uncertain of your ability to perform these essential functions or feel you need reasonable accommodations to perform them, please consult with Access & Accommodations.

Students will be assigned a clinical site that offers adequate mentoring in an appropriate learning environment.

Students must commit a minimum of three eight-hour days per week (Monday to Friday) to the phlebotomy clinical assignment. Evening hours are not available or weekends.

The following clinical sites are subject to change: 

• Central DuPage Hospital (CDH), Winfield
• Edward Hospital, Naperville
• Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Elmhurst
• Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove
• ICC Northwestern, various locations
• Quest Diagnostics, various locations
• Silver Cross Hospital, New Lenox
• UChicago Medicine, various locations

Phlebotomy program graduates will:

• Exhibit professional standards and compassionate care for the skill set of phlebotomy.
• Apply critical thinking skills during the performing of phlebotomy.
• Demonstrate competency in appropriate methods of patient approach and identification.

A phlebotomist is a health care professional who is trained to withdraw blood for the purpose of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. Many health care facilities also require the phlebotomist to perform electrocardiography (EKG) tests that measure and monitor the electrical activity in the heart.

Using venipuncture and microcollection techniques, phlebotomists play an important role on the clinical laboratory team by collecting laboratory specimens prior to testing.

Other responsibilities might include inputting key patient data into computers using correct medical terminology, understanding chain-of-custody forms and drug screening procedures, using aseptic techniques and standard precautions, handling biohazard waste properly, and maintaining patient confidence and confidentiality.

Recognizing the importance of specimen collection in the overall patient care system, phlebotomists must be able to monitor quality control within predetermined limits while demonstrating professional conduct, stress management and communication skills with patients, peers and other health care personnel as well as with the public.

A career as a phlebotomist offers flexible hours, nice working conditions and a chance to perform an integral, respected job in the health care profession with minimal post-secondary education required.

In addition, a certificate in phlebotomy can serve as a stepping stone to other health professions involving clinical, administrative and patient care. In general, phlebotomists work directly with patients – from newborns to the elderly – in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, physician offices, convenient/urgent care companies and home health care facilities.