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Specialist in Blood Banking Certificate Program
Applications for the 2025-2026 class are open.
Applications are due by March 1, 2025.
An online curriculum to propel your career and personal development.
The LifeSouth Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) certificate program is an independent educational program offering training in all aspects of blood banking and transfusion medicine including: blood collection, product manufacturing, transfusion medicine practice, immunohematology, specialized laboratory testing, quality systems, process control, education, and management. The curriculum and rotations are designed to improve your knowledge and technical abilities, preparing you to advance your career and successfully pass the ASCP SBB accreditation exam.
About the Program
The comprehensive lectures and materials are provided by skilled faculty members and regularly reviewed for quality and accuracy. The program is designed to be completed remotely. Students may complete the required clinical experience and rotations through LifeSouth or at local, approved facilities.
Students who successfully complete the LifeSouth SBB program with a grade average of at least 80% may be eligible for course credit in the University of Texas Medical Branch Master of Science in Transfusion Medicine program. Visit www.utmb.edu for more information.
The LifeSouth Specialist in Blood Banking Certificate Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Committee on Accreditation of Specialist in Blood Bank Technology and Transfusion Medicine.
LifeSouth Program Outcomes
|
Program Year |
Number of Graduates | Number of Graduates taking accreditation exam to date | Passing Rate |
| 2020-2021 | 4 | 4 | 75% |
| 2021-2022 | 3 | 2 | 100% |
| 2022-2023 | 1 | 1 | 100% |
FAQs
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Who is eligible for this program?
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university including biological science, chemistry and mathematics courses; or a master’s or doctorate degree in chemistry, biology, immunology, immunohematology, allied health or an appropriately related field. Refer to ASCP website for additional information on requirements at ASCP.ORG
- At least 2 years of post-baccalaureate full-time transfusion service or blood bank reference laboratory experience. OR 3 years of part time experience transfusion service or blood bank reference laboratory
- Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0 preferred. Lower GPA scores will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
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What is the length of the program?
12 months, starting in June.
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Are there any requirements for clinical rotations?
LifeSouth SBB students must complete clinical, technical, and administrative rotations as assigned. LifeSouth can arrange rotations at sites in Florida and Georgia, or the student may arrange rotations at local sites with approval.
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What is the criteria for completion and graduation?
Students must:
- Maintain an average of >75% on all module exams and >75% on the midterm and final exams.
- Complete clinical, technical and administrative rotations as assigned.
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How much does the program cost?
The cost of the program is $6,000 per year, paid in two installments.
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Is there a student handbook?
Please download the LifeSouth Student Handbook here.
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How do I apply for the program?
Submit your application by clicking the Apply Now link below. For any questions, email education@lifesouth.org.
Curriculum
| Course No. | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CLLS 5260 | Blood Bank Laboratory Operations | Lab operations, quality management, regulations, education, validation, Patient Blood Management |
| CLLS 5261 | Human Blood Groups I | Immunology, genetics, ABO, Lewis, P, Ii, MNSs blood groups |
| CLLS 5262 | Human Blood Groups II | Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, Lutheran, Knops, and miscellaneous blood groups, including high and low incidence antigens |
| CLLS 5263 | Advanced Immunohematology I | Serological techniques, problem solving, pre-transfusion testing, rare donors, special transfusion situations, intraoperative salvage, blood administration, blood component therapy, transfusion reactions |
| CLLS 5264 | Advanced Immunohematology II | Donor recruitment, collection, testing, processing, transfusion transmitted diseases |
| CLLS 5360 | Advanced Transfusion Medicine Principles | Circulation, RBC/WBC/platelet disorders, anemias, abnormal hemoglobins, Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemias, HLA system, transplantation, Graft vs Host Disease |
Clinical Rotations
The clinical rotations add real world experience to the didactic lessons to solidify your understanding of the content.
Apheresis Collections
Blood product collections and therapeutic procedures performed with apheresis technology.
Blood Product Distribution
Movement of blood products throughout the distribution system.
Coagulation
Use of coagulation testing to diagnose patient conditions as well as determine the optimal blood product for transfusion.
Component Manufacturing
Production of blood products, component modification, product QC, and product testing methodologies.
Donor Collection
Donor eligibility, collection, and adverse reactions.
Donor Testing
Required tests and methodologies for ensuring blood is safe to transfuse.
HLA/Histocompatibility
Testing and use HLA data in transfusion medicine and transplantation.
Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells (HPCs)
Donation, processing, storage, and use of HPCs.
Intraoperative Salvage
Techniques and procedures for blood salvage during surgery.
Management
Duties and strategies for supervision of employees in the laboratory.
Medical Director
Duties and functions of the Medical Director, and role in transfusion therapy decisions.
Mobile Collections (optional)
Collection of blood products outside of a blood center.
Molecular Testing
Isolation of DNA and use in transfusion medicine.
Product Quality Control
Testing and monitoring required for the production of blood products.
Quality Assurance
Functions of the Quality Assurance department and overview of the regulations surrounding blood banking.
Recruitment
Recruitment and retention of donors at the blood center.
Reference Laboratory
Advanced techniques in immunohematology.
Minimum Qualifications/Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university including biological science, chemistry and mathematics courses; or a master’s or doctorate degree in chemistry, biology, immunology, immunohematology, allied health or an appropriately related field. Refer to ASCP website for additional information on requirements at ASCP.ORG
- At least 2 years of post-baccalaureate full-time transfusion service or blood bank reference laboratory experience. OR 3 years of part time experience transfusion service or blood bank reference laboratory.
- Undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0 preferred. Lower GPA scores will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Admissions Information
Application Deadline
Applications for the 2025-2026 class are OPEN! Applications are due by March 1, 2025.
Applicants must submit the following:
- LifeSouth SBB Program Application
- Three SBB Applicant Reference Forms from professional references.
- Copy of all undergraduate and graduate college transcripts and MT/MLS training (if applicable).
- College transcripts submitted for initial review may be unofficial copies or photocopies when possible. You must have a minimum of a Bachelor of Science degree.
- Current CV or resume listing all previous experience and education.
- Personal Statement (1-2 pages) including discussion of:
- Career goals
- Professional strengths
- Experiences or qualities that will help the applicant succeed in a distance learning program
- How this program will affect your professional life
- List of any honors, awards, and activities that may be applicable (such as organization memberships, publications, and presentations at seminars or meetings
- SBB Applicant Experience Documentation form.
- Agreement for SBB Student Mentoring form with mentor’s CV or resume showing experience and education.
- Facility Information form to show where you currently work and/or plan to gain clinical experiences.
- Rotation Planning Form to indicate where you intend to complete Program Rotations.
- Proof of eligibility to work in the US.
Student Selection Criteria
LifeSouth provides equal opportunity to all persons, regardless of race, religion, age, gender, transgender status, gender identification, disability, status as a protected veteran, national origin, color or any other classification in accordance with federal, state and local statues, regulations and ordinances.
Evaluation Process
The admissions process is designed to consider all aspects of an applicant’s academic record and personal experiences. The admissions review process tries to balance the subjective and objective components of the application. Admission officers can exercise flexibility and professional judgment in their reviews and decisions, but they also must apply consistent standards. Every evaluation retains a focus on academic achievement and the applicant’s overall potential for success during and after completion of the program.