When you click on a sponsoring school or program advertised on our site, or fill out a form to request information from a sponsoring school, we may earn a commission. View our advertising disclosure for more details.
Despite centuries of medical breakthroughs, there is still no artificial substitute for human blood. However, one blood donor can save three lives by giving one hour of time and one pint or 16 ounces of blood. Donors and blood banks provide literal lifelines to patients who need life-saving vital fluids. But before donor blood enters the national supply, it needs to be tested by a blood bank specialist. These professionals ensure the blood supply is free of disease and label the blood type to be used in transfusions.
Individuals who wish to advance their blood banking careers can opt for an online program and earn a specialist in blood banking or SBB title. In these programs, they learn how to test blood for diseases and antigens, as well as about blood transfusions and the storage of blood. In addition, SBBs can specialize in areas such as immunology, genetics, blood groups, transfusions, donor processing, and administration.
Blood bank technology programs lead to professional certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) to earn the SBB(ASCP) credential. To qualify for this and other exams, students must graduate from a program accredited by an organization such as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Upon completion of the certificate course, students can work as laboratory administrators, quality managers, technical advisors, and also teachers in blood banking. Most online SBB programs require approximately 12 months to complete by taking didactic coursework online and completing in-person clinicals at a pre-determined blood banking laboratory.
The following article covers a sample of online certificate programs in blood banking at colleges, universities, and blood centers.
Featured Online Certificates in Blood Banking
The Medical Lab Technician (MLT) to Medical Lab Scientist (MLS) Clinical Lab program at the University of West Florida offers the opportunity to earn a bachelor of science degree online. While not specifically for blood banking, it does include coursework in hematology; molecular diagnosis; hemostasis and thrombosis; clinical chemistry; diagnostic microbiology; and similar topics.
Applicants should have an AS or AA as a medical laboratory technology from an accredited institution; a minimum GPA of 2.5; two years of full-time work as a MLT; and have certification as a MLT. Graduates are prepared to take the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) national exam.
Students become skilled in a full range of clinical laboratory tests, which include blood banking, as well as testing and interpreting body fluids; blood cell counts and other hematology parameters; and platelets. They learn the principles and procedures of blood bank and transfusion services; identification of parasites and fungi; and bacteria associated with infectious diseases.
- Location: Pensacola, Florida
- Duration: 24 months
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
LifeSouth Community Blood Centers
Based in Florida, LifeSouth Community Blood Centers offers an online specialist in blood banking (SBB) certificate, which covers a full range of blood banking and transfusion medicine skills. This program can be completed in one year and prepares graduates to sit for the ASCP SBB exam.
To apply, students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, including coursework in biology and chemistry, three years of full-time clinical experience in a CLIA-accredited laboratory, and current certification as a medical technologist in immunohematology. In addition, external applicants must have a minimum of three years of full-time clinical experience in blood banking in an accredited laboratory. Internal applicants must have at least two years experience in a LifeSouth clinical setting.
Once accepted, students complete online coursework and in-person clinical rotations at sites in Florida, Georgia, or local sites that meet program requirements. To pass this program, students must maintain a minimum of 75 percent on module exams and 80 percent on the midterm and final exams.
Courses include human blood groups, advanced immunohematology, and advanced transfusion medicine principles. In addition, clinical rotations must cover a range of topics such as apheresis collections, coagulation, donor collection, mobile collections, and molecular testing.
- Location: Gainesville, FL
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
The American Red Cross has several chapters across the United States and offers an online specialist in blood bank technology and transfusion medicine program. This graduate-level program can be completed in one year and prepares graduates for work in advanced blood transfusion procedures.
To be considered for admission, applicants must be current American Red Cross employees and staff with a bachelor’s degree, blood banking certification, resume, a personal statement addressing why the applicant is interested, and undergo a criminal background and drug screening check. Applicants are notified of selection in August.
Graduates from this program boast a 88 percent pass rate on the ASCP SBB certification exam. The American Red Cross pays for tuition fees, and students are responsible for travel and other expenses related to their studies.
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
George Washington (GW) University offers an online post-baccalaureate certificate in blood banking for medical laboratory science. The program provides students with in-depth knowledge of blood transfusions. It is available 100 percent online with no campus visits required.
Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a grade point average of 2.5 or more, one letter of recommendation, and TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS scores for international students.
The program comprises 16 credits. Some courses are immunohematology, molecular diagnostics, laboratory management, and a blood bank practicum. In addition, students learn how to perform diagnostic analyses and comply with lab safety regulations.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the Technologist in Blood Banking, or BB(ASCP) exam. They can work in several settings, including hospital blood banks, independent laboratories, community blood centers, and university-affiliated blood banks.
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
Rush University offers a fully online blood bank technology certificate. Students can perform and supervise specialized tests in blood centers and transfusion services through the program. The program is ideal for experienced medical laboratory scientists who wish to further their knowledge of immunohematology.
To apply for the program, students must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university in medical laboratory science, biology, or a related field; a minimum grade point average of 3.0; ASCP or NCA certification as an MT or MLS; and full-time immunohematology experience, among other requirements.
Made up of 17 credits, the program prepares students for the specialist in blood bank (SBB) technology certification examination offered by the American Society for Clinical Pathology. The coursework includes human blood groups & antibody identification, clinical immunohematology & transfusion, blood procurement, and blood product manufacturing, blood bank and transfusion service operations, an SBB comprehensive review, and an SBB project and clinical practicum.
Students learn how to apply theoretical principles to the practice of blood bank and transfusion services, develop and evaluate blood banking protocols and procedures, and apply basic finance and accounting principles.
At the end of the program, graduates are well-equipped to perform processes such as blood collection and processing, supporting physicians in transfusion therapy, investigating abnormalities, testing for blood group antigens, supervising, and teaching.
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
The University Medical Center in New Orleans offers an online specialist in blood bank (SBB) technology program. While the coursework is offered online, students can complete the clinical rotations at facilities of students’ choice.
Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in a science-related field, a minimum grade point average of 3.0, MLS(ASCP)/BB(ASCP) certification or equivalent, a minimum of two years of full-time experience, citizenship or legal residency in the United States, and a qualified mentor providing guidance and assistance.
This 12-month online program explores red cell physiology, immunology, transplantation, transfusion practices, molecular testing, transfusion services, coagulation, and hematology. In addition, students are prepared for the SBB examination offered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification. At the end of the program, graduates can take up roles such as entry-level supervisors, reference laboratory technologists, managers, and educators in all transfusion medicine and research areas.
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
University of Texas Medical Branch
The University of Texas Medical Branch offers a post-graduate certificate program for specialists in blood banking. All instruction in this program is provided online, and students can complete clinical rotations at a facility of their choosing. While this is an online program, students have the opportunity to interact with program directors via email, phone, and discussion boards.
Applicants to the program must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university in medical laboratory science, biology, or a related science, a minimum of two full years post-baccalaureate work experience, and be currently employed in some aspect of blood banking. In addition, they must submit official transcripts from all institutions attended, have a minimum grade point average of 2.75, and have a mentor willing to assist monitor student progress through the SBB training.
The program consists of 19 credits. The courses include an introduction to research in transfusion medicine, blood bank laboratory operations, human blood group systems, advanced immunohematology, advanced transfusion medicine principles, and an applied immunohematology practicum. Successful completion of the program qualifies students to sit for the certifying examination for specialists in blood bank technology (SBB) given by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Graduates of the program can look forward to employment in hospitals and private clinical laboratories, blood centers, research laboratories, state and public health laboratories, or crime labs.
- Location: Galveston, TX
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
Carolinas College of Health Sciences
Carolinas College of Health Sciences offers an online blood bank specialist technology program. All courses and examinations in this program can be completed online, while students must complete clinical rotations at approved locations of students’ choice.
Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree from a US institution with a minimum grade point average of 2.5; current ASCP certification; current employment in a blood center, transfusion service, or blood bank-related field; a minimum of two years of full-time blood bank-related experience; and a qualified mentor to provide assistance and guidance.
This non-credit program includes two courses: specialist in blood bank technology/transfusion medicine I and specialist in blood bank technology/transfusion medicine II. The first course explores blood products, laboratory mathematics, immunology, physiology, pathophysiology, and laboratory operations. The second course delves into blood group systems, transfusion practice, transplantation, and adverse effects.
The program prepares students to take up advanced roles as technical specialists in blood banking and take the SBB national exam administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Graduates of the program can take up roles as technical supervisors, laboratory administrators, quality regulatory assessors, educators, or researchers.
- Location: Charlotte, NC
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
BioBridge Global offers an online specialist in blood bank technology (SBB) program. While students can complete the coursework online, they must complete the clinical work at program-approved locations. The program provides students with a complete overview of immunology, transfusion medicine, histocompatibility, molecular biology, and hematology.
Application requirements include a baccalaureate degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field; two years of full-time work experience in clinical blood banking or transfusion; and a current ASCP certification.
This non-credit program includes courses such as blood group systems, immunology, laboratory operations, serology, transfusion practice, blood product, physiology, and pathophysiology. Graduates are awarded a certificate of completion at the end of the program.
Students will have the option to pursue the specialists in blood banking (SBB) national exam administered by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
The Loyola University Chicago clinical certificate in blood banking program is a subset of the university’s MS in medical laboratory science program. It can be stacked with the clinical certificate in hematology or with the certificate in microbiology to enhance employment opportunities for graduates, or applied toward the MS degree.
Applicants must already have completed at least 30 semester hours of biological science or chemistry with laboratory; and three semester hours of mathematics. They must submit official transcripts and have maintained a GPA of at least 3.0; two letters of recommendation; and a statement of purpose.
Coursework is presented in a hybrid format. The curriculum includes laboratory fundamentals; clinical immunology; immunohematology; and clinical practice in immunohematology. Students learn such skills as how to determine blood types; identify blood antibodies; and how to provide compatible products for transfusions. Graduates are prepared to sit for the ASCP/BOC exam.
- Location: Maywood, Illinois
- Duration: Two to four semesters
- Accreditation: National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science (NAACLS)
The online post-baccalaureate blood banking certificate program at Weber State University prepares graduates to sit for the technologist in blood banking BB/ASCP certification exam. The coursework encompasses four classes: fundamentals of immunohematology; advanced immunohematology and transfusion medicine; technologist in microbiology: applied laboratory mathematics and operations; and clinical rotation in immunohematology.
Students learn about blood banking in a clinical setting; collaboration and teamwork; critical and creative thinking; and customer service.
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a major in biological science or chemistry; or a baccalaureate degree with a combination of 30 semester hours in biology and chemistry; a minimum 3.0 GPA; and a statement of support for the clinicals. Note that Weber does not assist with clinical placement. The program is available only to students within the United States, with the exception of students residing in New York or California. Students from those two states are not eligible.
- Location: Ogden, Utah
- Duration: Two semesters
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU); Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
