Certificate III in Pathology

HLT37525

This page is updated when information changes, but it's always best to talk to your training provider to confirm course details before you enrol.

Overview

This qualification reflects the role of pathology collectors and assistants who receive, collect, dispatch specimens and perform routine pathology procedures, taking responsibility for their own work under general supervision.

They combine communication, customer service and technical skills, and use discretion and judgment to adapt and transfer their skills to different situations.

To achieve the HLT37525 Certificate III in Pathology (Pathology Collection), the candidate must have completed at least 35 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of units of competency.

The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with current Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards and industry codes of practice.

Foundation Skills Outcomes

The foundation skills outcomes implicit in this qualification are outlined in the below table.

Learning

Reading

Writing

Oral Communication

Numeracy

4

3

3

3

3

Digital literacy outcomes are included in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

There are 35 minimum work placement hours required for this unit.

  • Financial help

    • Government funding is available for this course. Check your eligibility for:

      • Career Start (general)
      • Career Start (traineeship)

      *To be eligible for this funding, you have to do a traineeship.

      Check your eligibility

  • Cost

    Course costs can vary by provider and location. Ask your training provider for a cost estimate.

    • VET Student Loans are not available
    • You may need to pay for equipment or materials.

    To see how government funding could help to reduce the cost of your course, check your eligibility for funding.

  • On-the-job training

    • Completing this course through a traineeship can help you to learn the skills you need.

    These traineeships are available:

    • Pathology Collector
    • Pathology Assistant

    This course has 35 mandatory work placement hours.

  • Entry requirements

    This course doesn't have any entry requirements. It could be a good starting point for your career.

  • Duration

    You complete this course when you’ve learned the skills, not after a set amount of time. The times shown are estimates.

    • Through traineeship:
      1 year
    • Qualification only:
      1–2 years

  • Delivery options

    You may be able to access this training in these ways:

    • Workplace-based
    • Some classroom learning
    • Part-time available
    • Partially online
    • Practical learning

Course content

This course is made up of units.

All courses have core units—these are mandatory for completing the course. Most courses also have elective units, which you can choose from to suit your needs and interests. Not all training providers offer every elective, so check with your provider to find out which electives they can offer you.

For more information about course content, talk to your training provider or visit the National Training Register.

Unit Unit type
Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control Core
Communicate and work in health or community services Core
Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately Core
Participate in workplace health and safety Core
Provide First Aid Core
Receive, prepare and dispatch pathology specimens Core
Use business software applications Core
Work with diverse people Core
Apply awareness of dangerous goods and hazardous materials requirements Elective
Collect pathology specimens other than blood Elective
Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing Elective
Contribute to the achievement of quality objectives Elective
Deliver a service to customers Elective
Engage respectfully with young people Elective
Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection Elective
Maintain the laboratory/field workplace fit for purpose Elective
Manage personal stressors in the work environment Elective
Measure spirometry Elective
Perform basic tests Elective
Perform biological procedures Elective
Perform calibration checks on equipment and assist with its maintenance Elective
Perform capillary blood collections Elective
Perform electrocardiography (ECG) Elective
Perform holter monitoring Elective
Perform microscopic examination Elective
Perform techniques that prevent cross-contamination Elective
Perform venous blood collection from children 0 to 5 years Elective
Perform venous blood collections Elective
Prepare culture media Elective
Prepare working solutions Elective
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety Elective
Recognise healthy body systems Elective
Record and present data Elective
Respond effectively to behaviours of concern Elective
Support health professional in the delivery of care Elective
Visit client residence Elective

Job prospects

The Certificate III in Pathology sets you up for roles like these, but the skills you learn could take you even further.

  • Pathology Collector

    ANZSCO 311216

    Pathology Collectors extract, collect, label and preserve blood and other specimens from patients for laboratory analysis.

    Recommended education level:
    Certificate III or IV

Training providers delivering Certificate III in Pathology

It's a good idea to research multiple training providers to make sure you're getting the right training for you.

This course has a mandatory work placement. Skills Assure Suppliers help you to arrange a work placement. This service may not be available through other training providers.

Showing: 27 providers

How to enrol in this course

To enrol, choose a training provider that offers this course. You can see provider details on this page.

When you find one that you think suits you, visit their website or contact them directly to confirm details like start dates, fees, funding, delivery locations and delivery options.

The provider will guide you through the enrolment process.

Delivery locations can change as students enrol. If you're doing any workplace-based training, like an apprenticeship, this will take place in a different location from your classroom training. Contact your training provider to confirm delivery locations.
Government funding may be available. Contact your training provider to confirm.
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