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Phlebotomy

The Phlebotomy Technician Certificate of Achievement prepares students to become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT1). Students will learn the appropriate technique for venipuncture, arterial blood draw, and specimen collection in settings such as hospitals and out-patient clinics.

Upon completion, students are eligible to register and take the required National Phlebotomy Certification Examination. Students who complete this certificate and pass the required exam will then be credentialed as a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT1). This certificate provides students a way to join the workforce as a CPT1, suitable to work in hospitals, clinics, or home health environments. Cabrillo College's phlebotomy program is accredited by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Students who wish to earn the Phlebotomy Technician Certificate of Achievement must read the additional information available on this website.

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Male medical student taking a patient's blood pressure
students in the clinic
Male phlebotomist holding a test tube of blood

What is Needed to Become a California State Certified Phlebotomist:

Students who wish to become California State certified phlebotomists must complete MA130A, MA130AL, MA130B and a 120-hour externship. Students must also pass a national phlebotomy certification examination to become certified. Upon completion of the above, and approval by CDPH, a CPT1 is authorized to do skin puncture and venipuncture blood collection in outpatient and inpatient settings.

Phlebotomy Technician Certificate of Achievement (Total 9 units)

  • MA70 - Medical Terminology, 3 units

  • MA130A - Phlebotomy, 1.5 units

  • MA130AL - Phlebotomy Lab, 1 unit

  • MA130B - Phlebotomy-Advanced, 1.5 units

  • MA102 - Phlebotomy Externship, 2 units

Note: MA130A, MA130AL and MA130B are required for California State Licensing and must be taken within one year of MA102.

Spring Start

Semester 1 - spring (Total 3 units)

  • MA70 - Medical Terminology, 3 units

Semester 2 - fall (Total 4 units)

  • MA130A - Phlebotomy, 1.5 units

  • MA130AL - Phlebotomy Lab, 1 unit

  • MA130B - Phlebotomy-Advanced, 1.5 units

Semester 3 - spring or summer (Total 2 units)

  • MA102 - Phlebotomy Externship, 2 units

Fall Start

Semester 1 - fall (Total 3 units)

  • MA70 - Medical Terminology, 3 units

Semester 2 - spring (Total 4 units)

  • MA130A - Phlebotomy, 1.5 units

  • MA130AL - Phlebotomy Lab1

  • MA130B - Phlebotomy-Advanced, 1.5 units

Semester 3 - summer or fall (Total 2 units)

  • MA102 - Phlebotomy Externship, 2 units

Summer Start

Semester 1 - summer (Total 3 units)

  • MA70 - Medical Terminology, 3 units

Semester 2 - fall (Total 4 units)

  • MA130A - Phlebotomy, 1.5 units

  • MA130AL - Phlebotomy Lab, 1 unit

  • MA130B - Phlebotomy-Advanced, 1.5 units

Semester 3 - spring or summer (Total 2 units)

  • MA102 - Phlebotomy Externship, 2 units

Program Requirements

Students are required to take and pass with a "C" or above the Medical Terminology Course (MA70) at Cabrillo College or an approved 3-unit medical terminology course from another community college or university prior to being eligible to take the phlebotomy series MA130A, MA130B, and MA130AL. Registered students and students on the waitlist for the phlebotomy courses must submit the verification of Hepatitis B vaccinations 1 and 2.

There are 2 ways to submit the above-mentioned documentation currently:

  1. You can scan and e-mail the required papers to the Phlebotomy Course Instructor Kelly Strickling at kestrick@cabrillo.edu.

  2. You can drop off the papers in the drop-off box next to the entrance door (on the right) to building HW 2000 on the Cabrillo campus. If you choose to drop off the papers in the drop-off box please send an email to kestrick@cabrillo.edu, letting the instructor know the required paperwork is available

The required paperwork is to be submitted by the deadline date listed in the Schedule of Classes (approximately 2 weeks prior to the classes’ start date).

Please note that the required documentation (verification of MA 70 course and immunization records) will not be accepted from the registered and wait-listed students after the deadline.

Your To-Do List

NOTE: There's no application process for the Phlebotomy Program currently.

In order to get into the Program, you'll need to register for the following Phlebotomy Program classes: 130A,130AL, and 130B

Before registering for the classes:

  • Take MA 70 course. Following is the link to the Cabrillo Admissions & Records Enrollment page. It outlines the 7 enrollments steps, including how to register for classes and pay fees for both returning and new students.

  • Make sure you have the required Hep B series of shots (Hep B 1 and 2)

While registering for the classes:

  • Make sure to check the deadline for submitting the required documentation (Hep B 1& 2 immunization records)

  • Submit the above-mentioned documentation by the stated deadline via email to Kelly Strickling at kestrick@cabrillo.edu

Wait-listed Students

NOTE: There's no ongoing wait list for the Phlebotomy Program. The wait list gets formed every semester and once the classes start, it's no longer valid.

All wait-listed students must submit verification of Hepatitis B vaccinations 1 and 2 by the deadline date listed on WebAdvisor and in the Schedule of Classes (approximately 2 weeks prior to the classes start date). Please note that the required documentation will not be accepted after the deadline.

There will be absolutely no acceptance of the above mentioned required documentation on the 1st day of classes.

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