Become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

Earn your nationally recognized NPS CPT certification through on-demand online testing with remote proctoring.

Get your exam results within one hour and, after successfully completing all certification requirements, receive same-day certification and credential verification.

Free optional study modules, unlimited practice exams, and three certification exam attempts are included. Already prepared? Eligible candidates can proceed directly to the certification exam after application approval.

Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Certification

$225

Registration Includes:

  • National Certification Exam
  • Study Materials
  • Unlimited Practice Exams
  • Three Exam Attempts
  • On-demand Testing
Register Now

Training Prepares — NPS Certifies

NPS is not a school or training program. NPS is an examination provider and national certification agency.

BEFORE NATIONAL CERTIFICATION
1

Prepare

Receive education, training, or experience in the field.

Prepare
Independent of NPS
NPS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
2

Qualify

Meet the NPS eligibility requirements listed in the Candidate Handbook.

Qualify
NPS
3

Test

Take the secure proctored NPS certification exam.

Test
NPS
4

Certify

Receive your NPS national certification, with online verification available within one hour of passing the exam.

Certify
NPS

NPS CERTIFICATION COMPARISON

Compare CPT Certification Costs

See how NPS compares with other certification agencies on exam fees, optional preparation resources, and included exam attempts

Compare CPT Certification Costs: price comparison between NPS, NHA, NCCT, AMT
NPS NHA NCCT AMT
Credential CPT CPT NCPT RPT
Exam Fee $225 $134 $163 *with proctor fee $125
Study Materials Included $94 prep package $70 $150
Practice Exams Unlimited attempts 6 attempts included 3 Attempts
 $25 2 Attempts Included
Exam Attempts 3 Attempts 1 Attempt 1 Attempt 1 Attempt
Total With Prep $225 $228 $258 $275

Why candidates choose NPS

  • One Price
    No Surprise
    Add-On Costs

  • Optional Prep
    Included at
    No Extra Cost

  • Verifiable
    National
    Credential

  • Three Exam
    Attempts
    Included

  • 24/7
    On-Demand
    Testing

Ready to Get CPT Certified?

Register for CPT Certification

Prices shown are based on publicly available information as of 2026 and may change.
NPS study materials and practice exams are included as optional preparation resources only.

YOUR ELIGIBILITY PATH

NPS Eligibility Pathways

Meet the baseline requirements, then follow an eligibility pathway that applies to you.

How Do I Qualify?

START HERE

High school diploma or equivalent.

Under 18? An age waiver may be required.

QUALIFY
1 2 3

EDUCATION / PROGRAM

Completed relevant education or employer-based training

A qualifying education, employer, apprenticeship, or military training pathway may meet eligibility requirements.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Already working in the field?

Qualifying supervised work experience in the field may meet the experience pathway.

1 Yr In Last 3 Yrs

2 Yrs In Last 5 Yrs

FUTURE EXPERIENCE

Still completing required hands-on experience?

Where permitted by the applicable NPS pathway, required hands-on experience may be completed within the allowed 180-day window.

180-Day Window

What we offer

Obtaining a CPT certification demonstrates competency within the phlebotomy field. CPT credential holders have demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the content domains that encompass the tasks and knowledge requirements of phlebotomists, as determined by a job task analysis.

Earning your CPT through National Performance Specialists provides a national certification credential that employers, schools, and other organizations can verify through NPS Verify and demonstrates that you have met the applicable NPS certification requirements.

All NPS initial & renewal certification exams are remote proctored. NPS Remote Proctoring allows you to take your certification exam from the comfort of your home. Our advanced system provides you with 3 certification exam attempts and on-demand testing so you can test anytime without scheduling or going to a testing center.

Phlebotomy Technician Career Overview

Phlebotomy technicians work in hospitals, blood donation centers, mobile phlebotomy services, and diagnostic laboratories. Their work focuses on collecting and preparing patient specimens safely and accurately. Typical phlebotomy technician responsibilities include:

Drawing blood from patients.

Explaining blood collection procedures and answering patient questions.

Assessing patient ability to tolerate a blood collection procedure.

Performing basic point-of-care tests, such as blood glucose testing.

Preparing blood, urine, and other specimens for laboratory testing.

Verifying patient or donor identity before collection.

Cleaning and maintaining collection equipment and supplies, including needles, tubes, and collection vials.

As medical technology advances, more employers are requiring national certification in the phlebotomy field.

Phlebotomy Technician Salary and Job Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, phlebotomists earned a median annual wage of $45,230 in May 2025. Approximately 143,900 phlebotomists were employed nationwide in 2025, with employment projected to grow 7% through 2035.

The BLS projects an average of 18,000 job openings annually over that period, including opportunities created when workers change occupations or retire.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

About our Certified Phlebotomy Technician process

Become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician in 4 easy steps:

Student In Training Course Preparing To Become Certified
1 ​Register with NPS

Phlebotomy Technicians who have completed a phlebotomy training program or practical experience in the field and who have completed at least 10 capillary sticks and 30 venipunctures may register to sit for the CPT certification exam.

The first step you need to take in your online CPT certification is to register. Once you’ve completed your registration, you will receive access to your certification materials. Certification materials include complete comprehensive study materials, unlimited practice exams, and three attempts to take the certification exam.

Watch the video Certification Overview video below for an inside look at the certification process.

*Complete exam qualifications and requirements can be found in the NPS Candidate Handbook.

Asking Question Phlebotomy Training
2 Using our e-learning platform

Your NPS account guides you through identity verification and the Candidate Application. Once your application is approved, you can access the certification examination without first completing study modules or practice exams. Free optional study modules and unlimited practice exams are available if you want to prepare before testing. NPS advisors can assist throughout the certification process.

*NPS study materials and practice exams are included as optional preparation resources. Candidates are not required to access or complete them before taking the certification examination. After completing identity verification and receiving application approval, eligible candidates may proceed directly to the exam. Use of preparation resources does not guarantee a passing score or certification.

Revised Resume Doctor Reviews With Phlebotomist
3 Taking the exam

NPS offers on-demand online testing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once you're prepared and all exam requirements are met, you can test when you're ready.

The CPT certification exam has 100 multiple-choice questions with a 120-minute time limit. You may take the certification exam at any time, and you have a total of 3 attempts to pass the CPT exam without any retake fees.

Each time you take a practice exam or the certification exam, you will be provided with a domain proficiency report that will show you the areas of the study materials you need to focus on to improve your score.

Upon completion of your national certification exam, your results will be provided to you within 1 hour.

Gainfully Employed Medical Health Professionals
4 Receiving your certification

Once you pass, your digital certification is issued immediately and is instantly verifiable. Exam results are available within 1 hour, provided no proctoring violation is identified.

The cost for your initial two-year CPT certification period is $225.

Your competency-based study guide, unlimited practice exams, and three chances to take the CPT certification exam are all included in the cost of your initial certification, as well as unlimited medically-driven resume revisions and job placement assistance.

On average, these services would cost over $450, but with NPS they are all included for one low cost of $225.

NPS Certification Overview

Why Us

When you register for online testing you are able to complete the certification process online, at your own pace.

Immediate proof of certification

When you pass the certification exam, your NPS national certification is issued and becomes immediately verifiable through NPS Verify. Your digital certification and digital badge are available in your account, and the badge includes a QR code that allows employers, schools, and other organizations to quickly verify your certification status and credential details.

Proud members of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence

NPS remains a proud member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.). You may view our membership using our Credly Badge that is issued by I.C.E.

Preparation resources included

NPS includes optional study materials, unlimited practice exams, and three certification exam attempts with your registration, giving you flexible preparation resources without separate study-material or retake fees.

Setting high standards in the phlebotomy community

We expect NPS-​certified members to present themselves professionally. National Performance Specialists is a subdivision of ​t​he National Association for Psychometric Competency Testing (NAPCT). We reserve the right to revoke certifications at any time if an NPS​-​certified member does not conduct themselves as a moral and professional member of the allied health community.

Benefits

  • Phlebotomy certification materials

    Complete study materials and unlimited practice exams

  • National certification exam

    Three attempts to pass the exam without retake fees

  • Job placement assistance

    The largest network of phlebotomy recruiters & staffing agencies

  • Professional medically-driven resume

    Free professional resume builder available for all certified members

  • Digital national phlebotomy certification

    Provided immediately on our site.

  • Digital certification and verification

    Once you have passed the certification exam, your certification is able to be printed and verified.

Register For Your CPT Certification

Program Includes:
Study Materials  Unlimited Practice Exams  Three Exam Attempts
Program Includes:
  • Study Materials
  • Unlimited Practice Exams
  • Three Exam Attempts

See Why Thousands of People Choose Us

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Partners & Recognitions

NPS I.C.E. Member Badge

I.C.E. (Institute for Credentialing Excellence)

National Performance Specialists is a proud organizational member of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (I.C.E.), a leading professional organization dedicated to advancing quality, fairness, and best practices in certification. This membership connects NPS with the national credentialing community and provides access to professional standards, research, and resources that support our commitment to rigorous, credible certifications and the confidence employers, educational institutions, and healthcare professionals place in the credentials we issue.

Learn More
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Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency’s 2025–2030 Industry-Based Certification List for public school accountability identifies the NPS Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) as a Tier 2 certification, recognizing its value within Texas career and technical education programs that prepare students for allied health careers. Texas public schools may also qualify for state reimbursement of eligible NPS CPT certification examination costs, allowing schools to invest in industry-recognized credentials for their students while recovering qualifying examination expenses through the Texas Education Agency.

View the TEA Certification List
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CareerOneStop

All six NPS certification programs are listed in CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder. CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration and is a proud partner of the American Job Center network. This listing allows employers, workforce development boards, educators, and job seekers to independently review National Performance Specialists as a credential issuer, along with key information about each certification, making it easier for organizations to evaluate and accept NPS-certified candidates.

Learn More
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O*NET OnLine

O*NET OnLine, the leading occupational information resource sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, maintains separate credential entries identifying National Performance Specialists as the certifying organization for its Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certifications. These entries give employers, workforce professionals, and educators an independent, publicly accessible reference for reviewing NPS credentials and confirming how they align with real-world occupations when evaluating candidate qualifications and hiring decisions.

American Red Cross logo

American Red Cross

National Performance Specialists partners with the American Red Cross to provide job placement assistance to NPS-certified members and to help the American Red Cross recruit qualified allied health candidates across the United States. Through this partnership, NPS-certified professionals gain access to meaningful career opportunities, while the American Red Cross connects with credentialed candidates prepared to support its mission of serving communities, patients, and blood donors nationwide with skill, care, and professionalism.

Apply with the American Red Cross
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Health Professions Network (HPN)

National Performance Specialists is a member of the Health Professions Network (HPN), a national community connecting allied health professional associations, educators, and credentialing organizations. This membership supports NPS’s engagement with the broader allied health community and its commitment to advancing workforce development, professional certification, and career opportunities. Through HPN, NPS collaborates with peers across the allied health field to share knowledge, strengthen workforce quality, and support the professionals who serve patients every day.

Learn More