Phlebotomy

A Phlebotomist is an important member of a healthcare team. In addition to sanitizing equipment, verifying patients' identities, performing blood draws, and organizing supplies, they must connect with people, ease anxieties, and explain procedures to patients.

At Oakton, you can study and prepare to become a certified phlebotomist in as little as one semester. You will be eligible for positions in settings such as:

  • Hospitals
  • Laboratories
  • Community health centers
  • Assisted living facilities
  • Blood donation centers

Graduates of the phlebotomy certificate program are eligible to apply for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Phlebotomy Certification Exam. This certificate is a valuable credential for healthcare professionals, including nurses, medical assistants and physician assistants.

Certificate Information

The goal of the Phlebotomy Certificate program is to train individuals to perform phlebotomy procedures, the collection of blood for diagnostic testing. The curriculum at Oakton is in compliance with standardized educational curricula and accepted routes for national certification, in preparation for qualification by national and state agencies. This certificate is of value to health care professionals, including nurses.

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Job Outlook

The employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 22 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 19,500 openings for phlebotomists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $36,320 in May 2020.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Important Information

Our phlebotomy certificate program is a limited enrollment program with specific admission requirements.

  • High school graduation or High School Equivalency certificate.
    • Foreign high school graduates or students with foreign college credits need to send English-translated copies of their transcripts to Educational Perspectives. Students with foreign college credits should request a catalog match.
  • Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • Satisfactory interview with MLT faculty.

Those admitted will be required to submit a current and complete physical examination record, clear criminal background check and drug screen before registering in MLT 204.

Current and returning Oakton students should apply through the applicant dashboard (found in the New Student Information section) on the home page of their myOakton account.

  1. New students should apply online at oakton.edu/apply. Current Oakton students should apply through their myOakton account.
  2. View your Admission Checklist. Your New Student Portal includes Admission Checklist and next steps.
  3. Submit admission documents, including transcripts (high school, college, AP, military) and proof of residency.
  4. Complete the minimum requirements for admission.
  5. Complete an interview. The application process must be completed prior to an interview.

Clinical placements require a health assessment, certain immunizations, yearly flu vaccine, substance abuse testing, criminal background check, specific skill certification (i.e., CPR) and health insurance. These requirements represent an additional cost to the student.

All Oakton College Health Career students in nursing, physical therapist assistant, medical laboratory technology, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, health information technology, cancer registry management, and medical assistant programs must have "clear" criminal background checks and drug screens in order to participate in any and all clinical components of any health career program courses. See the career programs pages for further details.

To comply with state statutes and clinical affiliation agreements, and to provide a safe environment for students, employees, and patients cared for by students, those accepted into Oakton's health career programs will be required to complete a criminal background check and drug screening through a company contracted by the College. Health Career students will be charged a fee for this service.

Timelines for completing criminal background checks and drug screens may vary among the various programs. Deadline dates for each program will be provided by the individual department chairs at the time of a student's acceptance into a health career program.

Students without a clear criminal background check and/or clear drug screen will not be allowed to enroll in clinical practicum courses or attend clinical programs. This would further necessitate that the student withdraw from the health career program at that time.

Students who refuse a criminal background check and/or drug screen will not be considered "clear" and will not be authorized to participate in the clinical component of the health career program, necessitating withdrawal from the program at that time.

Individual results of student background checks and drug screens are considered confidential.

Determination of whether or not a student can participate in the clinical component of a particular health career program will be communicated to the respective department chairs by the Background Check/Drug Screen vendor. Students may view their personal results on the vendor's website.Clinical placements require a health assessment, certain immunizations, yearly flu vaccine, substance abuse testing, criminal background check, specific skill certification (i.e., CPR) and health insurance. These requirements represent an additional cost to the student.

All Oakton College Health Career students in nursing, physical therapist assistant, medical laboratory technology, pharmacy technician, phlebotomy, health information technology, cancer registry management, and medical assistant programs must have "clear" criminal background checks and drug screens in order to participate in any and all clinical components of any health career program courses. See the career programs pages for further details.

To comply with state statutes and clinical affiliation agreements, and to provide a safe environment for students, employees, and patients cared for by students, those accepted into Oakton's health career programs will be required to complete a criminal background check and drug screening through a company contracted by the College. Health Career students will be charged a fee for this service.

Timelines for completing criminal background checks and drug screens may vary among the various programs. Deadline dates for each program will be provided by the individual department chairs at the time of a student's acceptance into a health career program.

Students without a clear criminal background check and/or clear drug screen will not be allowed to enroll in clinical practicum courses or attend clinical programs. This would further necessitate that the student withdraw from the health career program at that time.

Students who refuse a criminal background check and/or drug screen will not be considered "clear" and will not be authorized to participate in the clinical component of the health career program, necessitating withdrawal from the program at that time.

Individual results of student background checks and drug screens are considered confidential.

Determination of whether or not a student can participate in the clinical component of a particular health career program will be communicated to the respective department chairs by the Background Check/Drug Screen vendor. Students may view their personal results on the vendor's website.

As a phlebotomy student, you will need to perform each of the following essential skills.

  • VISION: You are able to identify sizes and shapes and discriminate colors or shades.
  • COMMUNICATION: You are able to communicate fluently in English by oral means. This includes the ability to successfully receive and transmit information. You must also be able to read and follow instructions.
  • MOVEMENT: You need the ability to freely maneuver around the assigned laboratory work areas and patient care settings.
  • MOTOR SKILLS: You need to be able to safely and accurately perform blood drawing procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, lifting, operating instruments, and doing phlebotomy.
  • EMOTIONAL STABILITY: You will need to accurately perform duties in a stressful environment. This includes, but is not limited to identifying and responding to emergency and non-routine situations.

Each state and territory has different licensure and certification requirements.  Oakton has researched and/or contacted state licensing authorities to confirm that the program meets the educational requirements leading to professional licensure.  Other licensure requirements may include professional certification exams, background checks, years of work experience, fingerprinting, etc.

Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. Licensure information is reviewed and updated on this site in June of each year. As of July 1, 2020, we have determined that individuals that successfully complete Phlebotomy Certificate Program curriculum:

Meets the education requirements leading to licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: Illinois

Does NOT meet the education requirements For licensure/certification in these states and U.S. Territories: 

We have not made a determination if the program curriculum meets the requirements for licensure/certification in these states and US Territories: Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada,New Hampshire, New Jersey,New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

If you intend to practice in any state other than Illinois, you should contact the appropriate licensing agency to independently verify whether Oakton’s program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in a particular state before beginning Oakton’s program. Be aware that state licensure requirements may change from time-to-time and that states may have conditions for licensure in addition to educational requirements.

This information is provided to meet the Disclosure Requirements for Academic Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification.

Meet Your Faculty and Experts

Kyung Jung
Lecturer
847-635-1684
A100 Skokie
kjung@oakton.edu

Penny Salgado-Panagiota
Clinical Coordinator
847-635-1684
100 Lee Ctr. Des Plaines
psalgado@oakton.edu

Sandy Abermann
Laboratory Director
NorthShore University HealthSystem
Highland Park Hospital

Isabella Burnett
Phlebotomy Manager, Lab Services
Northshore University HealthSystems

Merle Essex
Illinois Education Coordinator
ACL Laboratories

Tyrie Gardner
MLS Program Director
Northshore University Health System

Ruth Kreyer
Education Coordinator
Microbiology Manager/Instructor
Mercy Hospital

Margaret Langguth
Director, Lab Services
Northshore University HealthSystems

Claudia Miller
Professor, Health Studies
National Louis University
Illinois North Shore Campus

Ignacio Bustamante Murcia
Laboratory Manager
St. Francis Hospital

Ramoncito A. Reyes
Director of Manufacturing
LifeSource Blood Services

Melissa Rho
Blood Bank Supervisor
North Shore University Health Systems

Sue Saccommano
Phlebotomy Supervisor
Resurrection Medical Center

Maria Saez-Buenaobra
Laboratory Manager
NICL

Larry Steinberg
Blood Bank Laboratory Clinical Instructor
Swedish Covenant Hospital

Deepika Zafar
Education Coordinator/Clinical Instructor

Ruth Williams
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dean of Curriculum and Instruction

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