About Phlebotomy Schools

You may find schools in your area by researching the following:

• Check with the various phlebotomy certification organizations listed on our site for information on phlebotomy schools they affiliate with that may be in your area.
• Check with your local community college or vocational school. They may offer a phlebotomy class.
• Contact the laboratory manager or the laboratory’s phlebotomy supervisor of your local hospital. These professionals often know of training opportunities in the community.

What to Look for in a Good Phlebotomy Program

Phlebotomy is a very unregulated profession. Outside of California, there are no standards or minimum requirements for phlebotomy schools. Therefore, in order for potential students to emerge with a marketable skill that will meet the needs of local employers, students must know the earmarks of a quality phlebotomy program. The following list contains suggested indicators of a quality phlebotomy program:

• A didactic (classroom) component of at least 40 hours and a clinical component (where students draws on actual patients in a healthcare setting);
• The didactic component is based on the standards of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI);
• The clinical component requires students perform at least 100 successful unaided blood specimen collections, including both venipunctures and capillary collections, in a CLIA regulated laboratory;
• Upon completing the program students are eligible to take a national certification examination administered by one of the following agencies:
  • American Medical Technologists (AMT)
  • American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
  • National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

(Note: While we believe these to be characteristics of a solid phlebotomy program, the Center for Phlebotomy Education makes no guarantee that programs with these attributes are reputable or that students who attend such programs will emerge with marketable skills.)