As an aspiring phlebotomist, it is critical to attend an approved phlebotomy school in California. When receiving medical training, any instruction should be advised by the state’s department of public health. In California, all phlebotomy schools must be approved by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE).
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
The purpose of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is to protect and enhance the health of Californians. Public health is the field that addresses potential health hazards and ways to improve population health, particularly in vulnerable communities. The CDPH, as well as other state public health departments, focus on research, disease prevention, community outreach and education, disaster response, health promotion, and behavior change.
CDPH Responsibilities
The CDPH’s primary responsibility is to analyze and improve the health and well-being of Californians. The main objective of the public health field is to seek new opportunities to advance community health, whether it be conducting research or overseeing COVID-19 regulations and testing. The CDPH also implements local and statewide programs and educational outreach campaigns to improve community health. For instance, two of the CDPH’s most successful programs are providing low-income families and individuals’ nutritional support and educating the general population about the dangers of smoking or viral diseases.
There are administrative responsibilities to the CDPH as well. For instance, they hold every Californian’s birth, marriage, and death certificates on file. The CDPH also plays a significant role in approving medical institutions, such as hospitals and urgent care centers, and medical schools, such as phlebotomy programs.
What is the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE)
The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) oversees the quality of California’s postsecondary institutions. Like the Better Business Bureau, the BPPE regulates the institutions that Californians occupy. Instead of focusing on consumer trust in the marketplace, the BPPE focuses on student trust in private education by standardizing education quality in private post-secondary education facilities.
BPPE History and Purpose
In the late 1980s, the regulation of postsecondary education was over sought by the California State Department of Education. Within the Department of Education, a Council was formed to assess the credibility of private education. Simultaneously, the Maxine Waters School Reform and Student Protection Act was adopted in 1989 to protect students. In January 2007, private postsecondary education was no longer regulated in California. In 2009, the California Private Postsecondary Education Act was enacted, creating the BPPE.
Since 2009, the BPPE has been driven to protect students from fraud, poor quality education, and loss of financial aid by regulating private postsecondary schools’ accreditation.
How to Know if a Phlebotomy School is Approved by CDPH and BPPE
Accreditation is a certification stating that a school meets the minimum standards for a phlebotomy education. Within California, the CDPH and BPPE provide these accreditations to phlebotomy schools. All officially accredited CDPH phlebotomy schools are listed on their approved phlebotomy school list. All approved BPPE institutions are required to post their updated BPPE Annual Report on their website for prospective and current students. If you come across phlebotomy schools that do not fulfill these criteria during your school search, they are likely non-accredited. Avoid applying to such schools.
Why is Choosing an Approved Phlebotomy School So Important
Choosing an approved phlebotomy school in California ensures that students receive the quality education they are paying for. Institutions that are authorized to operate by the CDPH and BPPE’s guidelines offer:
- CDPH-approved course content
- Student support
- Academic support
- Graduation preparation
- Knowledgeable faculty
Completing your education at an accredited phlebotomy school shows the rigorous content you faced to receive your degree. If you attend a not accredited school, future employers will not have a basis of your knowledge level and often disregard the certificate or degree. Furthermore, students do not receive state or federal financial aid packages because of the school’s lack of state approval to operate.
PhlebotomyU Accreditation
PhlebotomyU is approved to operate by the CDPH and BPPE. Per BPPE requirements, we have our annual reports posted on the PhlebotomyU home page.
PhlebotomyU CPT-1 Course
The PhlebotomyU CPT1 course is composed of four components:
- 40 hours of basic and advanced didactic phlebotomy training
- 40-60 hours of hands-on classroom experience
- 40-120 hours of an externship with a local hospital or clinic
- Successful completion of the NCCT exam
To learn more about our accredited program, please contact PhlebotomyU.
