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NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) Certification Exam
The NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) certification exam is a 2-hour, 100-scored-item (plus 20 pretest) multiple-choice exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association for phlebotomy technician certification, delivered at affiliated schools, PSI test centers, or via live remote proctoring.
Official exam siteJump to prep options ↓
Questions100 scored items plus 20 pretest items (120 total)
Testing time2 hours
ScoringScaled passing score of 390 required to pass
Exam feeUSD 134 CPT exam application fee (per attempt; full price re-paid for each retake)
Prep options
Study resources for NHA CPT
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- NHA
- Category
- Phlebotomy
- Current version
- 2025 CPT Test Plan (detailed test plan based on the 2024 Job Analysis)
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 200–500 scaled score range
- Testing provider
- PSI (test centers and live remote proctoring); institution-based testing at affiliated schools
- Format
- Multiple choice, computer-based, proctored
- Availability
- Year-round scheduling after application approval: in-person at a PSI testing center, on-site at an affiliated school, or via live remote proctoring
- Results
- Preliminary score report immediately upon completion for institution-based exams; within 48 hours for PSI test-center and live remote proctored exams; official results posted to the NHA account
- Remote testing
- Available
Exam structure
100 scored multiple-choice items across five domains: Safety and Compliance (26), Patient Preparation (20), Routine Blood Collections (28), Special Collections (12), Processing (14); plus 20 unscored pretest items
Where rules vary
U.S. national certification exam; California requires training programs to be approved by California Laboratory Field Services for the NHA pathway, but the exam itself is uniform
Eligibility
High school diploma/GED (or earning one within 12 months) plus EITHER completion of a phlebotomy technician training/education program within the last 5 years OR 1 year of supervised phlebotomy work experience within the last 3 years (or 2 years within the last 5); both pathways require evidence of 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on live individuals
Retake policy
Up to 3 attempts with a minimum 30-day waiting period between attempts; after the third failed attempt, a 1-year wait applies; each retake requires re-registration and full exam fee