BPSS Curriculum Guideline: Phlebotomy Technician

These Guidelines concern NYSED and/or BPSS expectations for curriculum review. Prior to submitting your new curriculum for review, please make sure to follow the instructions and advice below:

General Technicalities

  • When uploading curriculum material to my.ny.gov, always use the <Coursework Details> tab instead of <Other> or <Miscellaneous>.
  • For new curriculum, expect up to 90 days for review. Note that an approved curriculum may sometimes have to be revised/updated afterwards.
  • Curriculum title MUST be descriptive and clear, with NO advertising.

General Content

  • The BPSS entrance requirement for this specific curriculum is High School Diploma/GED/TASC or an Ability-to-Benefit test, best at the 8th/9th grade level, such as TABE, or Wonderlic Basic Skills Test scores verbal 248/quantitative 254.
  • Phlebotomy Technician MUST be a self-standing program. The standard length is between 60 to 100hrs, with a maximum of 200hrs. Note that Phlebotomy is also offered as a unit in the Medical Assistant curriculum.
  • The content description of each unit should be list-like. Units should be less than 100hrs, but not splintered into mini-units of a few hours either (at most 5 or 6 units for this curriculum). Each subject should be one single unit. If a unit has both theory and skills components, enter the hours separately on the system in “Coursework”.
  • The content of a Phlebotomy Technician curriculum should include these units, in the following order: Medical Terminology and Anatomy & Physiology; Infection Control & Universal Precautions; Theory of Phlebotomy; and Practice of venipunctures (regular, butterfly needles, and fingersticks). The curriculum should end with the Career Development module.
  • The Career Development (3-5hrs) module should cover what professional certifications exist, how to find a job in this field, and how to apply for a job (including résumé writing & interview techniques).
  • Note that Phlebotomy is currently NOT state-regulated training in NYS. Certifications are NOT legally required, but in practice employers do ask for third-party certifications. Your program should therefore permit the student to qualify for taking certification exams, once he/she has completed the program. Schools are encouraged to follow the curriculum suggested by Allied Health credentialiers. (Listed below on page 3 are BPSS-suggested third-parties***)
  • All clinical skills MUST be demonstrated LIVE during the training by the student. The correct procedure is to start on a mannequin/training arm, and then proceed to practicing on a fellow student or volunteer after the instructor deems the student ready to do so. The final skills demonstration for all 3 types of venipunctures MUST be 100% accurate, and should include the full sequence of tasks: properly identifying the patient, identifying the test requested on the requisition form and the correct tubes, preparing patients, practicing asepsis and universal precautions while performing the puncture, withdrawing blood into the correct containers or tubes, restoring hemostasis of the puncture site, instructing patients on post-puncture care, affixing tubes with electronically printed labels, and delivering specimens to a laboratory.

Textbooks and Instructional Aids

  • MUST use a standard published textbook, since you cannot use only handouts.

Equipment List

  • Divide List into “Classroom Equipment” and “Classroom Expendables” and “Student Kit”. Most listed items will require a definite number, but Expendables can be “As needed”.
  • Phlebotomists MUST have access to a sink with running COLD AND HOT water in the classroom. Equipment MUST include: phlebotomy training arm; phlebotomy chair; sharps container; disinfection equipment, generally an autoclave; and the general standard expendables for medical office labs.

Content Outline and Performance Objectives

  • Use (the former) 21a Content Outline guidelines to show how students progress through the curriculum and (the former) 21b Performance Objectives to explain how the teacher tests student mastery of the subject matter.
  • For Performance Objectives, you MUST describe what the student will do to show the instructor that he/she learned the subject matter. For the theory component, this will include quizzes, homework, and class answers; for the skills component, practical demonstrations.

Reapprovals/Amendments

  • Indicate any and all changes in a letter uploaded under <Coursework Details>. Upload the complete, previously approved, curriculum (including approval letter) in one PDF under <Coursework Details>. Then upload the revised/amended curriculum as a second PDF.

General Caveats

  • It is advised you use, as much as possible, standard curriculum/outlines from reputable organizations.
  • Note that Phlebotomists draw blood, but may NOT inject medicines. The Office of the Professions’ Scope of Practice MUST be adhered to.
  • Note that NO BPSS CURRICULUM APPROVAL, EVEN WHEN GIVEN IN ERROR, CAN OVERRIDE THE LAW! You MUST be familiar with the legal requirements in your offering.

*** Third-parties offering Phlebotomy certification exams:

National Healthcare Association
National Phlebotomy Association
American Medical Certification Association

Note that these associations are NOT endorsed by BPSS. These are just some but not all of the existing certifying entities. If using any others, please verify that they are reputable, best by checking with potential employers.

Any further questions, please contact bpsscurriculum@nysed.gov