Curriculum

Phlebotomy Technician Program Curriculum

Penn Foster’s curriculum is aligned to the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam, allowing learners to take the next steps toward becoming a fully certified phlebotomy technician.

Phlebotomy Technician

Career Diploma

12 months

As low as $69/mo

Full Program Overview

1-800-523-0577 (9AM - 9PM ET)

Phlebotomy Technician Program Online Curriculum

57.8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Estimated completion time:

12 months

Penn Foster’s programs are self-paced, allowing you to fit education into your life and not the other way around. In the Phlebotomy Technician Program, you have up to 12 months to complete your studies, including a 40-hour externship.

Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
In this course, you will explore content related to communication and customer service in a healthcare office

By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Identify the various types and styles of communication used in a healthcare office
- Summarize how verbal, non-verbal, and written communication skills contribute to patient experience and outcome in a healthcare office
- Describe professional communication techniques for a healthcare office, including interviewing techniques and use of medical terminology and patient-accessible language
- Explain modified communication for patients with special considerations
- Outline protocols for providing customer service for a healthcare office
In this course you'll study the basics of caring for patients, assisting practitioners with procedures, and general best practices when interacting with patients and their documentation.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Identify the five types of mensuration and recognize normal and abnormal ranges
- Outline the tasks required to prepare the examination room and the patient for examination
- Summarize the health professional's responsibilities in assisting the provider with examinations
- Identify the steps for responding to patient emergency situations in a general patient care facility
- Describe the tasks required to properly maintain medical records and documentation
This course discusses what causes infection and how to manage it. You'll study diagnostic methods, protective measures, and treatments for responding to infection.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Review the causes and diagnostic methods of various infectious and communicable diseases
- Explore the protective measures required to prevent infection
- Outline the treatments and protective measures required to manage and control the spread of infectious disease
- Identify procedures and protocols for responding to infection control
This course is an introduction to procedures used in the medical laboratory. It will cover content related to specimen collection and laboratory results. You'll also study the basic techniques and instruments used in all areas of medical laboratories.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Identify how specimens are collected and handled
- Explore procedures and processes used in obtaining blood and urine samples
- Outline the standard components of vision and hearing screening tests
- Review common techniques and processes frequently used in medical laboratories
This course discusses the role of the phlebotomist, the equipment, and procedures necessary to perform phlebotomy processes. You'll study how to collect, store, and process blood and other special specimens, as well as how to interact with patients.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the health care delivery system and medical terminology
- Demonstrate understanding of quality assurance and quality control in phlebotomy
- Communicate (verbally and nonverbally) effectively and appropriately in the workplace
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of body systems and anatomic terminology in order to relate major areas of the clinical laboratory to general pathologic conditions associated with the body systems
- Demonstrate knowledge of collection equipment, various types of additives used, special precautions necessary, and substances that can interfere in the clinical analysis of blood constituents
- Demonstrate understanding of the importance of sample collection and sample integrity in the delivery of patient care
- Follow standard operating procedures to collect samples
- Demonstrate understanding of requisitioning, sample transport, and sample processing
This course guides you in mastering basic injection, and phlebotomy skills. The course offers information on the theory and practice of phlebotomy and associated techniques. The course covers topics such as collecting various samples for the laboratory, donating blood, injecting local anesthetics, and much more. The course explains the art and science of phlebotomy and related skills. Most importantly, you'll have the opportunity to obtain hands-on practice using the Venipuncture Trainer and Kit before entering a clinical setting.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe the importance of taking a medical history before performing any invasive procedures
- Describe the importance of adhering to basic principles of sterility and asepsis
- Describe the basic principles of venipuncture
- Discuss various techniques for drawing venous, arterial, and capillary blood
- Discuss various types of injections
If you're considering a career in the health professions or if you're a consumer of professional health services, then you need to know what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) means for you. In this course, you'll study the rationale for HIPAA, both the rights it accords to healthcare consumers and the responsibilities it demands of healthcare providers.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Describe HIPAA basics
- Discuss the HIPAA Privacy Rule
- Discuss the HIPAA Security Rule
- Describe the HITECH Act
- Explain regulations for business associates
- Summarize HIPAA documentation and training
- Review applied HIPAA security for healthcare professionals
The purpose of this course is to provide you with career readiness skills necessary for both externship and career success. You'll explore a combination of interpersonal (people) skills, social skills, communication skills, emotional intelligence, and personality traits which will enable you to start your externship experience with a competitive advantage.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Develop effective time management skills
- Enhance your creative and critical thinking
- Integrate critical and creative thinking skills into your life
- Learn physical and emotional coping techniques to deal with stress
- Explore essential ingredients of the communication process
- Acquire methods to maximize verbal, nonverbal, and written communication
- Relate the importance of professional image to career success
- Learn strategies to write a powerful resume
- Identify key elements of successful interviews
- Relate the importance of good study habits to your personal success
- Identify traits related to self-motivation and self-esteem
- Incorporate a positive and professional attitude in dealing with others
- Understand that failures are important learning tools
The Phlebotomy Technician externship provides you with hands-on training in a primary care clinic, an urgent care clinic, or a medical practice. The goal of this externship is to provide you with the hands-on experience necessary for developing your skills as a phlebotomy technician. This externship consists of 40 hours of clinical experience.

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to do the following:
- Demonstrate the skills and abilities required of a phlebotomy technician through an externship experience

Note: We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.