Laboratory Assisting

This award is not eligible for Financial Aid

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Laboratory Assisting program provides education and training for employment in various laboratories. Laboratory Assistants perform specimen processing, inventory management, conduct quality control and quality assurance activities, perform point-of-care testing, and use computers to assist in testing and document laboratory activities. Students in the Laboratory Assisting Program will be in contact with potentially infectious blood, tissues, and body fluids. This program contains the courses to satisfy the requirements for the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Phlebotomy, if applicable.

This is a Fast Track Certificate, which can be completed in two semesters or less.

Details

Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Laboratory Assisting (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5134N
Total credits required
7-18
Catalog Year
2022-2023
Effective Term
Spring 2020
Admissions criteria

High school diploma or GED.
Ability to participate fully in classroom, laboratory, or clinical setting program activities.
Proof of current immunization: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR), tuberculosis skin test (TB), varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, and Hepatitis B vaccine (HEB).
Submit current CPR card for Health Care Provider and maintain current status throughout the practicum(s).
Complete and submit the required proof of immunity and health declaration form signed by a licensed health care provider.
Submit to a drug screening and demonstrate negative results.

Background Check Requirements
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.

Formal application and admission to the program are required. Obtain an Application from the Program Director, a Health Professional Academic Advisor, or the Phoenix College Web site.

Notes

This program is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Apply safety and government standards and compliance to the laboratory setting.
  2. Demonstrate critical thinking, professional and ethical conduct in laboratory practices.
  3. Communicate sufficiently to serve the public, patient and members of the healthcare team.
  4. Implement quality assurance and quality control principles to specimen transport, specimen processing, and laboratory testing.
  5. Perform specimen testing using proper procedures, equipment, and techniques.
  6. Apply relevant methodologies and techniques including problem solving and troubleshooting for specimen processing and testing.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

$47,020

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2021.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
HCC130 or
(HCC130AA and
HCC130AB and
HCC130AC and
HCC130AD and
HCC130AE and
HCC130AF)
Fundamentals in Health Care Delivery or (Health Care Today and Workplace Behaviors in Health Care and Personal Wellness and Safety and Communication and Teamwork in Health Care Organizations and Legal Issues in Health Care and Decision Making in the Health Care Setting) Waived for students with two or more years of documented work experience as a licensed or certified health care provider. 
Waived for students who have completed an Associate of Applied Science degree or higher degree in a health science discipline from a regionally accredited institution of higher education recognized by the Maricopa Community College District.
0–3
HCC145AA Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals I Waived for students who have completed an Associate of Applied Science degree or higher degree in a health science discipline from a regionally accredited institution of higher education recognized by the Maricopa Community College District. 0–1

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
PLB109 Phlebotomy: Basic Skills Phlebotomy coursework may be waived by the Program Director for students who have one or more years as a health care professional with documented phlebotomy experience. 0–2
PLB111 Specimen Processing and Advanced Techniques in Phlebotomy Procedures Phlebotomy coursework may be waived by the Program Director for students who have one or more years as a health care professional with documented phlebotomy experience. 0–2
PLB122 Practicum: Phlebotomy and Specimen Processing Phlebotomy coursework may be waived by the Program Director for students who have one or more years as a health care professional with documented phlebotomy experience. 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Credits
LBA155 Laboratory Assisting: Principles and Procedures 5
LBA158 Laboratory Assisting Practicum 2
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

This certificate is not eligible for Title IV Federal Financial Aid.

View MCCCD’s curriculum website for the Certificate of Completion in Laboratory Assisting (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=139442).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.