Online Phlebotomy Technician Certification Training

What is a phlebotomy technician? What does a phlebotomy technician do?

Phlebotomy technicians are responsible for drawing blood needed for tests, donations, transfusions and research; conducting patient interviews; checking patients’ vital signs; and transporting blood samples to the laboratory for testing. They are trained in techniques for safely and hygienically collecting samples, ensuring patient comfort, and maintaining the integrity of the specimen for accurate testing.

Where do certified phlebotomy technicians work?

Whether you choose to work in a hospital, medical lab, blood donation center or doctor’s office, phlebotomy technicians perform an essential function of our healthcare system by working directly with patients as well as doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

How do I become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician or CPT?

Your path to becoming a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) begins with having a high school diploma or equivalent and completing a formal CPT program, such as this training program offered by St. Edward’s. Next, you’ll be required to pass the CPT exam offered by the National Healthcare Association (NHA). Finally, within 90 days of passing the CPT exam, you must successfully complete a minimum of 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on a live person. 

Can I earn college credits with this phlebotomy technician training?

Please note that our Certified Phlebotomy Technician program is noncredit-bearing. It is designed to prepare you to enter the workforce quickly.

Course Objectives

Our Certified Phlebotomy Technician program prepares you to play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. As a phlebotomist, you’ll collect blood and non-blood specimens for laboratory testing that help determine accurate patient care. Upon successful completion of this course, you’ll have the skills to:

• Summarize the role and the responsibilities of a phlebotomy technician.
• Describe basic anatomy as it applies to blood and function.
• Apply quality and safety measures as they relate to phlebotomy.
• Prepare for blood collection.
• Perform sample collections.
• Execute post-collection procedures.
• Choose ethical behavior that upholds the rights and dignity of patients.
• Get ready to sit for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), with a voucher available upon eligibility.

NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician Exam

To sit for the NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent. It is recommended that you have this before enrolling in this program. In addition, for NHA certification, you must successfully complete the required number of venipunctures and dermal punctures. Certification exams offered by NHA are only available online to candidates located in the U.S.

Funding Disclaimer: For Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded students, please consult with your funding source representative before taking advantage of this course's test-out feature. Different funding programs may have specific requirements and/or restrictions. If you attempt the test-out feature(s) in the Medical Terminology course without getting approval, your funding benefits may be jeopardized.

Clinical Experience Requirements 

To qualify for the clinical experience application process, students must successfully complete the online course and ensure their account balances are current (at a minimum). It is important to note that St. Edward’s and ed2go cannot guarantee placement at any clinical site, and students must take full responsibility for fulfilling their clinical requirements. However, our affiliated partnerships can increase the likelihood of finding a site that matches students’ needs. Students can begin researching the steps of the application process two weeks before completing courses.