A.S.P.T. Phlebotomy Program Approval

INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING FOR A.S.P.T. PHLEBOTOMY PROGRAM APPROVAL

Carefully read information below; then:
click here to view and print application for Program Approval or
click here to view and print application for Instructor Approval.
Send the completed application with the non-refundable fee of $75.00 and the first year's membership dues of $125.00 to the A.S.P.T.'s National Office.

Submit the completed application with the following documents: ONLY COMPLETE PACKAGES WILL BE REVIEWED. If an incomplete package is submitted, no review will be done, and there may be additional charges incurred by the facility. Use the enclosed check-off list/application below to be sure you are enclosing the required materials. Lack of these documents will result in approval delays and additional charges.

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

A list of instructors, along with their resume, a copy of any of their licensure and credentials for teaching this program. The instructor must be a Health Care Professional already in the field. All Program Directors and the Instructors MUST be A.S.P.T. Approved Instructors.

A brochure or school catalog showing program..

A course breakdown. This must show total hours of the program, and a breakdown of the hours spent on each part of the program. Example: Heart - 6 hours, Vital Signs - 6 hours, etc.

The Program Outline. Each part must include exactly what is taught in each portion of the program. The following competencies are to be included.

Lessons plans by the week, showing where required competencies are taught each day.

List and description of clinical sites

List of all equipment

Suggested use of an entrance exam covering grammar, comprehension composition, and possibly math. An A.S.P.T. approved exam can be supplied upon request.

PROOF OF THE FOLLOWING MUST ALSO BE SUBMITTED WITH COMPLETED APPLICATION:

A. Malpractice insurance

B. Record of student progress and attendance, including documentation of venipunctures and skin punctures

C. Certificate of Completion; upon receipt of student's names and complete addresses, A.S.P.T. will award an A.S.P.T. certificate to each student stating they have completed an A.S.P.T. approved program.

D. Certificate of Health is recommended for students registering for the Phlebotomy Program. Each student must have proof of Hepatitis B vaccination or declination of the HBV vaccination.

E. Student Handbook with:
      a. Objectives of the program
      b. Admission requirements
      c. Professional appearance
      d. Attendance
      e. Withdrawal and refund policy in compliance with state laws

F. Clinical rotation evaluation, objectives, hours, and rules; must be co-signed by student and instructor.

G. Written agreement between schools and clinical site should be entered into stating specific provisions, indicating the school's responsibilities and the agency's responsibilities.

SPECIFICATIONS OF AN A.S.P.T. APPROVED PROGRAM

1. Program length of no less than 200 hours of combined lecture and clinical time.

2. Suggested course breakdown :
      a. Lecture (approximately)   90 hours
      b. Simulated Lab   30 hours
      c. Clinical Externship   90 hours

3. Suggested use of the A.S.P.T. "Phlebotomy Training Manual/Guide to Practical Phlebotomy"

4. A.S.P.T. recommends one (1) instructor to fifteen (15) students

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED IN PROGRAM CONTENT

1. Basic laboratory terminology and abbreviations

2. Anatomy and Physiology
        Suggested System
          a. Circulation
          b. Heart
          c. Lymph
          d. Respiratory
          e. Urinary
          f. Cells and Blood
          g. Muscular-Skeletal

3. Blood Composition

4. Venipuncture procedures:
       A. Vacutainer
       B. Syringe
       C. Butterfly

5. Blood Culture collection

6. Blood smears

7. Skin punctures

8. Responsibility of the Phlebotomist

9. Professionalism

10. Legal issues

11. Safety in the Laboratory

12. Infection Control

13. Isolation procedures

14. Quality control

15. Timed Laboratory procedures

16. Indwelling lines

17. Hospital/Laboratory Departments

18. Processing laboratory specimen

19. Significance of laboratory tests

20. Physical problems that occur in field

21. Patient problems and complications

22. Diseases that could effect laboratory personnel; AIDS, Hepatitis

23. Computer skills if need has been established in the community, the skills should be integrated in the curriculum

24. CPR certification

Other suggestions for Phlebotomy Programs include:
      Field trips to hospitals or laboratories
      Drug Seminars
      Stress Seminars

Upon receipt of all documentation listed above, review committee will review the submitted program. The decision of committee is final. Upon approval, and A.S.P.T. Certificate of Program Approval will be awarded for a period of one (1) year. The pass/fail rate for the National Certification Examination will be monitored for the first year, a 80% rate must be show.

The Certificate of Approval expires December 31 of each year.

A.S.P.T. has the option of inspecting the training facility during the first year of approval.

As of January, 1994, only approved programs may test their students directly upon graduation. For all other programs, the students must have a minimum of six (6) months full-time, or one (1) year part-time experience.