How to Become a Phlebotomist in 2026: Training to Certified
The full route to working as a phlebotomist, in order: program, NHA CPT exam, state licence and renewal, with timings and what each step costs you.
- $45,230Median pay
- +7%Job growth
- Usually less than 1 year (BLS)Training
- NHA CPTExam
- $134Exam fee
Table of Contents
The route, start to finish
Becoming a phlebotomist is a fixed sequence: an approved program, the NHA CPT exam, then whatever your state requires on top. Here is every stop in order, with realistic timings.
- 1
Finish high school or a GED
PrerequisiteNHA requires a high school diploma or equivalent for full certification before you can sit for the CPT.
- 2
Complete a phlebotomy training program
Usually under 1 year (BLS)Enroll in a phlebotomy certificate program at a community college, vocational or technical school covering anatomy, medical terminology, and collection technique. In California it must be a CDPH-approved program with 40 hours of didactic training.
- 3
Log your live sticks
During the clinical portion of trainingDocument at least 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live individuals for NHA. California CPT I applicants need at least 50 venipunctures, 10 skin punctures, and observed arterial punctures across 40 clinical hours.
- 4
Apply and schedule the NHA CPT exam
Create an NHA account, register ($134 individual list price), then test at your school, a PSI center, or by live remote proctoring.
- 5
Pass the exam
2-hour examAnswer 120 questions (100 scored) in 2 hours and reach a scaled score of 390 on the 200-500 scale. If you fail, you can retake after 30 days.
- 6
Get your state credential if required
California, Nevada, Louisiana, and Washington regulate phlebotomy workers. In California, for example, you submit your NHA certification to CDPH Laboratory Field Services to apply for the CPT I state certificate.
- 7
Renew every two years
Every 2 yearsComplete 10 NHA continuing education credits and pay the renewal fee ($195 every two years) to keep the CPT active.
Step one: the right program
The program is the one step you cannot shortcut. The exam body checks where you trained before it lets you sit, so an unaccredited course can cost you the whole route.
Accreditation: NHA does not name a single accreditor; the program must be offered by an accredited or state-recognized institution or provider. In California, the program must be approved by CDPH Laboratory Field Services.
Typical length: Usually less than 1 year (BLS)
Who is eligible to sit the exam
| Route | What you need |
|---|---|
| Training program | High school diploma or GED/equivalent, plus completion of a phlebotomy technician training or education program within the last 5 years (accredited or state-recognized program, registered apprenticeship, military medical training, or verified employer program), plus evidence of at least 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live individuals. |
| Work experience | High school diploma or GED/equivalent, plus 1 year of supervised phlebotomy work experience within the last 3 years or 2 years within the last 5 years, plus evidence of at least 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live individuals. |
The exam itself
This is the checkpoint the whole route builds towards. The essentials:
Questions: 120 (100 scored)
Time: 120 minutes
Where you test: At your school/training institution, at a PSI testing center, or via live remote proctoring (LRP)
Passing standard: Scaled score method; scaled scores range from 200 to 500 and a scaled score of 390 or higher is required to pass (NHA Candidate Handbook, updated 06/01/2026)
Fee: $134
We broke the exam down domain by domain, with the weight of each and what its questions ask, in the NHA CPT content outline.
Licensure: what your state adds
NHA certification is a national credential, not a license, and NHA states it is separate from state practice requirements. California requires a CDPH state certificate (LPT, CPT I or CPT II); NHA is one of six national certifying organizations whose exam CDPH accepts for it. Nevada requires phlebotomists to hold state certification as a Laboratory Assistant and work for a state-licensed lab, Louisiana licenses phlebotomists through the LSBME after an approved national exam, and Washington requires a Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist credential from the Department of Health.
| State | What it requires |
|---|---|
| CA | CDPH LFS: LPT (skin puncture only), CPT I (skin puncture + venipuncture), CPT II (+ arterial). CPT I with no/under-40-hr experience: 40 hr didactic + 40 hr clinical with at least 50 venipunctures, 10 skin punctures, observed arterial punctures. 1040+ hr experience in 5 yrs: 20 hr advanced didactic. Must pass an approved national exam (ACA, AMCA, AMT, ASCP, NCCT/MMCI, NHA). Change: renewals submitted from March 19, 2026 onward are ANNUAL with 3 CE contact hours within the past 12 months (was a two-year cycle). CDPH notes renewal of national certification is optional for the state certificate. |
| NV | Phlebotomists must be certified by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health as a Laboratory Assistant, work for a Nevada-licensed laboratory under a lab director; no independent scope. |
| LA | LSBME licenses phlebotomists; requires a board-approved national exam with score report sent directly from the exam agency; initial licensure fee $40. Whether NHA is on the LSBME approved exam list was not confirmed. |
| WA | Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist credential from DOH: high school or equivalent plus a phlebotomy training program (accredited postsecondary or supervising-practitioner attestation); renew every 2 years on birthday; no CE requirement for medical assistants. |
Pay and job outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics files phlebotomists under “Phlebotomists (SOC 31-9097)”. Median means half earn more and half less; pay moves a long way with state, setting and experience, so read this as a benchmark, not an offer.
Keeping the credential
Requirement: 10 continuing education credits per two-year cycle (2 hours of attendance = 1 CE credit). NHA allows a one-month grace period. Reinstatement within 1 year of expiration requires 15 CE credits. After 1 year, you must retake the exam.
Fee: $195 every two years (NHA advertises it as about $8 per month). Reinstatement costs $391.50 total ($292.50 renewal + $99 reinstatement fee).
The exam is the step most people underprepare for
ExamCert AI has 1,000 NHA CPT practice questions with explanations, built around the same outline this page walks through. Work them by domain, find the weak area, and fix it before test day.
Practise NHA CPT on ExamCert AINHA CPT Phlebotomy Exam Content Outline 2026FAQ
How long does it take to become a phlebotomist?
BLS says postsecondary phlebotomy programs usually take less than a year. After training, you schedule the 2-hour NHA exam and, in a regulated state, apply for the state credential.
How many successful sticks do you need for NHA CPT eligibility?
NHA requires evidence of at least 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live individuals, whether you qualify through a training program or through work experience. Since 2022, finger sticks count toward the 10-stick requirement.
Which states require a license or certificate to work as a phlebotomist?
California, Nevada, Louisiana, and Washington regulate phlebotomists. California issues LPT, CPT I, and CPT II certificates through CDPH; Nevada certifies phlebotomists as Laboratory Assistants; Louisiana licenses them through the LSBME; and Washington issues a Medical Assistant-Phlebotomist credential. Check the regulator in your state, because NHA certification alone does not replace a state credential.
How much do phlebotomists make?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $45,230 for phlebotomists in May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,000 openings a year.
Sources
Figures on this page come from NHA and the other primary sources below:
- NHA CPT Test Plan (2025, based on 2024 job analysis)
- NHA - Phlebotomy Technician certification page
- NHA - New CPT Certification Exam & Study Materials (Jan 7, 2026 launch)
- NHA - CPT Eligibility Update (finger sticks, Sept 2022)
- NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 06/01/2026)
- NHA Store - CPT Exam Application ($134)
- NHA - Renew/Reinstate Certification
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook - Phlebotomists
- California CDPH Laboratory Field Services - Phlebotomist
- California CDPH LFS - Personnel License Renewal
- Nevada DPBH - Medical Lab FAQ
- Louisiana LSBME - Initial Licensure, Clinical Laboratory Personnel
- Washington DOH - Medical Assistant credentialing requirements
Checked September 25, 2026. Fees, outlines and eligibility rules change — confirm with NHA before you book.