Phlebotomy Technician - Prince George's Community College

Begin a rewarding career in health care by training to become a phlebotomy technician.

Career Information

Phlebotomy technicians are critical health care team members in hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, and blood donor centers. With new types of blood tests in development and laboratory tech positions growing, now is an excellent time to begin a new career in this thriving field.

Phlebotomy technicians draw blood from patients and donors, assess patients' ability to withstand the procedure, and help them feel at ease. They explain the blood-drawing procedure to patients and answer questions, perform basic point-of-care testing such as reading blood glucose levels, and prepare blood, urine, and other specimens for testing. Technicians also analyze information and make appropriate recommendations.

National Healthcareer Association

The National Healthcareer Association partners with educators and employers nationally to educate, train, and certify phlebotomy technicians. Visit their website to learn more.

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Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of phlebotomists is projected to grow 10 percent from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average growth rate for all occupations. The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $37,380 in May 2021.

About 21,500 openings for phlebotomists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Prerequisites and Entrance Requirements

Hold a high school diploma or GED equivalency

Have access to the internet

Complete CPR-307 CPR for the Health Professional

Meet reading comprehension requirements prior to the start of the course via Castlebranch

Complete background check and drug screening requirements.

Set up your account.

Reading Comprehension Requirement

You must meet one of the following:

Successfully complete the Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Placement Test with a score of 234 or higher

Provide proof of college credits

Show a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (applies to graduates of U.S. high schools)

Provide transfer credit from other institutions

Submit recent high-placement tests from other institutions

Alternative qualifications: Students may submit SAT, ACT, or GED scores if they are less than five years old.

The Testing Center also accepts other measures that grant exemptions to the placement test. Learn more about placement testing.

Background Check and Drug Screening

Create a CastleBranch account.

Submit your background check and drug test via the CastleBranch portal before the start of class.

The criminal background, Medical Document Manager, and drug screen are ordered through CastleBranch.

Set up your account.

CastleBranch Information

You will be prompted to create a CastleBranch myCB account. In myCB, you will be able to view order results, management requirements, complete tasks, upload documents, and place additional orders.
Please review the CastleBranch Requirements Rubric.
CastleBranch's FAQ library covers various topics designed to answer students' most frequently asked questions, such as obtaining package codes and placing orders.
For additional support, contact CastleBranch's help desk via email or call their help line at 1-888-666-7788.