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Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Blood Banking for Medical Laboratory Science

Keep blood safe for transfusions.

The George Washington University’s (GW) online Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Blood Banking for Medical Laboratory Science is designed to teach you the ins and outs of testing, storing, and transporting blood for transfusions.

You’ll learn how to test blood for viruses, identify blood types and antibodies, and separate blood into its component parts such as red and white blood cells, and plasma. When you complete the program, you’ll be equipped for success as a medical technologist, blood bank technologist, and more.

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Quick Facts

16

total credits

ASCP BB

Qualify for the Blood Banking (BB) exam

1 year

average duration

Accreditation and Rankings

  • Fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
  • #62 Best National University*

* The U.S. News & World Report – 2023 Rankings

Program Highlights

  • 100% online coursework, no visits to campus required
  • Accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
  • Qualify to sit for the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Technologist in Blood Banking (BB) exam
  • The certificate consists of 16 credit hours and can be completed in one year
  • Applicants with clinical laboratory experience may be eligible to waive individual clinical practicum requirements

Curriculum

This five-course certificate program includes an introduction to the immune system, the major blood group systems, the technologies used in molecular diagnostics, skills essential to laboratory management, and more. You’ll explore the principles of blood banking and gain the credentials for success as a medical technologist, or blood bank specialist.

The certificate will be completed with a practicum in a real-world blood bank near your geographic location. Applicants with clinical laboratory experience may be eligible to waive individual clinical practicum requirements.

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Program Outcomes

When you complete this certificate program, you’ll be able to:

  • Apply principles of blood banking procedures to perform diagnostic analyses
  • Correlate laboratory data and quality control data to assess patient test results
  • Apply knowledge of laboratory science principles as they relate to human disease diagnosis
  • Maintain a safe work environment as a blood bank specialist or medical technologist
  • Comply with laboratory safety regulations and regulatory policies
  • Apply ethical decision-making to issues related to clinical laboratory practice

Who Is the Ideal Student for This Program?

This certificate program is best for those who have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree, typically in a science such as biology, chemistry, or microbiology, and want to pursue the laboratory science profession without completing another bachelor’s degree.

Blood bank specialists and medical technologists are good problem-solvers and pay close attention to detail, as small differences can be crucial to a diagnosis.

Blood bank technologists can take charge when it comes to supervising the collection, separation, delivery, and storage of blood components. They also have exceptional communication skills when working with physicians during blood transfusion therapies and investigating harmful transfusion responses.

Since each state may have different requirements for licensure, each student is encouraged to contact their state’s regulating agency and review these requirements prior to beginning any degree program. States requiring licensure may require an extended duration of practicum experiences, additional academic courses (outside the student’s program of study), etc. These additional requirements may require you to take a course or courses outside of GW.

In particular, New York and California have additional requirements for state licensure. Both NY and CA require extended times for practicum rotations. Please also be aware that the fully online post-baccalaureate certificate programs do not meet the student lab requirement for NY state licensure. Also, for those applying to the fully online post-baccalaureate categorical certificates in hematology, microbiology, blood banking, and chemistry, the state of New York does not provide licensure for categorical certification (e.g., Technologist in Microbiology, Technologist in Blood Banking, etc.). We recommend that students who live in New York or California or plan to relocate to New York or California do research to determine the NY and CA licensure requirements.

Career Outlook

As a blood bank technologist, blood bank specialist, or medical technologist, you can work in a variety of laboratory settings:

  • Community blood centers
  • Private hospital blood banks
  • University-affiliated blood banks
  • Transfusion services and independent laboratories

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an increase in the aging population will lead to a greater need for medical laboratory and blood bank technologists to diagnose medical conditions, such as cancer or type 2 diabetes.

Overall employment of medical technologists is expected to grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations, with a median salary of $54,180 per year.1

Admission Requirements

To be accepted to this program, you must have:

  • Completed application
  • Cumulative and Science GPA of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale
  • A bachelor’s degree
  • Resume/CV
  • Personal statement
  • One letter of recommendation
See All Requirements

Tuition Details

The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Blood Banking for Medical Laboratory Science program at GW consists of 16 credit hours. Please find the cost per credit hour and total estimated program costs here.

Note: Tuition rates are subject to change and additional fees may vary by program. Please call at (844) 386-7323 for more information.

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Meet the Program Director

Cliff Cymrot, MLS(ASCP), MT(AAB), MT(AMT), MHA

Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) Program Director

Cliff Cymrot is the current Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) program director and has over 10 years of experience in combined teaching and clinical laboratory practice.

In addition to his program director duties, Cliff Cymrot teaches a range of courses within the MLS program, both online and face-to-face, such as Hematology I and II, Clinical Microbiology I and II lab, Immunohematology lab, Clinical Biochemistry I and II lab, and Molecular Diagnostics lab.

Prior to his arrival at George Washington University (GW), Cliff Cymrot worked as a medical laboratory technician at a medium-sized, 200-bed hospital in upstate NY. In 2008, Cliff Cymrot worked for Advance Magazine for Laboratory Professionals providing storylines for the comic strip “Lab out Loud” that he worked on with his brother-in-law. He has also been a contributor for several chapters in the Textbook of Diagnostic Microbiology by Mahon, Lehman, and Manuselis.

He is also a member of the D.C. chapter for the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, American Medical Technologists (AMT), and the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB). He also holds certifications in ASCP, AMT, and AAB in medical laboratory science.

In 2010, he earned his BS in Medical Technology from the University of Cincinnati. He was then promoted to medical technologist and soon after began working as an adjunct instructor for SUNY Orange teaching Microbiology for Health Professionals, Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, and Certification Preparation.

In 2014, he earned a master’s degree in Health Administration. After graduation, he received an offer to facilitate an online graduate-level course in health systems management at the University of Cincinnati.

In 2015, he was offered a position at GW to teach all of the laboratory courses in the newly created BSHS in MLS blended/hybrid program. After three years, he was then offered the position as program director for the undergraduate courses for the MLS program here at GW.

Frequently Asked Questions

As you explore an online program at the George Washington University, our dedicated staff is here to support you. If you have a question we don’t cover here, request more information or call 844-386-7323.

Visit our FAQ page

Source and Disclaimers:

  1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021 September 8). Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved February 18, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/clinical-laboratory-technologists-and-technicians.htm.

*Since each state may have different requirements for licensure, each student is encouraged to contact their state’s regulating agency and review these requirements prior to beginning any degree program. States requiring licensure may require extended duration of practicum experiences, additional academic courses (outside the student’s program of study), etc. These additional requirements may require you to take a course or courses outside of GW. Each student is encouraged to contact their state’s regulating agency and review these requirements prior to beginning any degree program. In particular, New York and California have additional requirements for state licensure. Both NY and CA require extended times for practicum rotations.

Please also be aware that the fully online post-baccalaureate certificate programs do not meet the student lab requirement for NY state licensure. Also, for those applying to the fully online post-baccalaureate categorical certificates in hematology, microbiology, blood banking, and chemistry, the state of New York does not provide licensure for categorical certification (e.g., Technologist in Microbiology, Technologist in Blood Banking, etc.). We recommend that students who live in New York or California plan to relocate to New York or California do research to determine the NY and CA licensure requirements.

National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
5600 N River Road, Suite 720
Rosemont, IL 60018-5119