Best Online Phlebotomy Training Courses 2024

A phlebotomist is an allied healthcare professional who collects blood samples from patients. Phlebotomy training courses prepare students for entry-level jobs as phlebotomists and typically take a year or less to complete.

Aspiring phlebotomists can receive education by completing a certificate or diploma program. Upon graduation, students may apply for certification through a professional organization. Although certification is not always mandatory for employment, some states and employers mandate that phlebotomists have certification before starting work.

The good news for those who want to start a medical career quickly is that phlebotomy training typically only requires a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

This article will cover the best online radiology programs across the country and share essential information you need to know about each program!

What Is a Phlebotomy Training Course? 

A phlebotomy training course prepares students for an entry-level phlebotomy career. Students obtain coursework in the following subjects:

• IV insertion
• Anatomy and physiology
• Point-of-care testing
• How to use equipment
• Documentation
• Hazardous materials management
• How to locate veins
• Phlebectomy scope of practice

Students must also complete in-person blood draws on human patients during their studies before they can go to work in a healthcare facility. This is important because some phlebotomy training courses are entirely online, except for required in-person clinical training.

Phlebotomy training courses prepare students to work in hospitals, medical centers, cath labs, dialysis centers, and other healthcare facilities.

The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) is one of the accrediting bodies that ensure that the content and quality of a phlebotomy program have met national standards. The benefit of attending an NPA-accredited program is that students can be assured that the appropriate educational coursework and skills are included in their program.

Other accreditation and certification organizations include:

• American Medical Certification Association (AMCA)
• National Association for Phlebotomy Technician Professionals (NAPTP)
• The National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

Top 10 Online Phlebotomy Training Courses 

Choosing an online phlebotomy training course is a huge decision that requires careful consideration. The good news is that Nurse.org put a list together of some of the best online radiology programs in the country!

Our ranking system considers accreditation, certification pass rates, graduation rates, post-graduation employment rates, and student-faculty ratio.

1. Heart to Heart Healthcare Training

Heart to Heart Healthcare Training offers hybrid online and in-lab phlebotomy courses throughout the state of Michigan. All lectures occur through the school's online classroom, while all blood draws occur in a classroom setting. Students attend lab two days per week while simultaneously completing their online lecture portion of the coursework. 

The phlebotomy class is eight weeks. Labs occur twice weekly, and online lessons include lectures, quizzes, exams, PowerPoints, and homework every week.

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
• Tuition: $300 deposit and $775 due before starting the first lab
• Accreditation: NHA
• Contact Phone Number: (734) 890-9574
• Email Information: info@www.new.h2hhealth.com

2. Phlebotomy Career Training 

Phlebotomy Career Training offers an online phlebotomy technician certification school designed to work with busy schedules. The online coursework includes proper phlebotomy techniques, point-of-care testing, equipment maintenance and use, anatomy and physiology principles, and more. 

After completing the program, graduates must pass the online certification exam to receive their Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PTC). Courses are self-paced and accessible 24/7 and are completable in as little as four weeks to as long as six months. To graduate from this program, students must also attend in-person clinicals where they perform 30 supervised venipunctures as a part of the clinical core requirements. 

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
• Tuition: $600
• Accreditation: NHA
• Contact Phone Number: (734) 762-3220
• Email Information: info@phlebotomycareertraining.com

3.  Stepful

Stepful’s website states, “Get a healthcare job or your tuition is on us.” They offer a five-week phlebotomy training program that consists of four weeks of online training and one week of hands-on practice. Located in Manhattan, New York, the school offers morning or evening classes and job placement support.

Stepful’s website reports that they have an 80% completion rate. Also, 90% of students become certified phlebotomists in the 5th week of the program. 

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions (first come, first serve)
• Tuition: $699
• Accreditation: New York Department of Education partnership
• Contact Phone Number: Book a call page
• Email Information: https://www.stepful.com/phlebotomy

4. Heritage Health Career Center

Heritage Health Career Center provides an instructor-led course for students who wish to earn their phlebotomy certification in a 100% online learning environment. The course also includes a national certification exam upon completion of the program (for a $139 fee), proctored in the city where they live.

Per the program website, students can access lecture PowerPoints, assignments, videos, tests, and 24/7 helpdesk assistance.  Students must provide evidence of 100 successful blood draws during their clinical externship.

• Application Deadline: Contact the program for deadlines
• Tuition: $1200 (if paid in full)
• Accreditation: Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Committee (GNPEC)
• Contact Phone Number: (229) 496-1046
• Email Information: Contact Form

5. Saint Peter’s University

Saint Peter's University offers a 100% online course to train students to work as phlebotomy technicians and prepare them to sit for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician Specialist exam.  The program is self-paced and takes about six months to complete.

The university website states that students have six months to complete in-person clinical requirements upon earning provisional certification.

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
• Tuition:  $1,995
• Accreditation: NHA
• Contact Phone Number: (888) 772-9933
• Email Information: Request Information Page

6. Beacon Hills Career Training

Beacon Hills Career Training offers a 100% online video phlebotomy technician training program. Their website says this is ideal for medical assistants, licensed vocational nurses, registered nurses, RNs, and certified nursing assistants. Students may work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, blood banks, outpatient clinics, or other medical locations. Beacon Hill does not provide practice locations for students. 

This program includes comprehensive videos demonstrating how to draw blood via fingersticks and venipuncture. 

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
• Tuition: $550 if paid in full)
• Accreditation: NHA, NCCB, PTCB
• Contact Phone Number: (954) 743-5444
• Email Information: info@browardcna.com

7. U.S. Career Institute

U.S. Career Institute (USCI) offers a 100% online phlebotomy program that students can complete at their own pace. The school's website reports that their technician training prepares students to complete the Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam. In addition, tuition includes a CPT exam fee. 

USCI also provides a Career Coach program to give students one-on-one access to a career advisor. Each student must show evidence they have performed a minimum of 30 successful venipunctures and ten capillary or finger sticks on live patients. USCI does not provide this training.

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
• Tuition: $979 (if paid in full)
• Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
• Contact Phone Number: (866) 250-6851
• Email Information: Contact Form

8. Career Step

Career Step offers an online phlebotomy technician program for busy professionals that gives students 24/7 web access. According to their website, the program is complete in about 12 months of self-paced study. In total, students receive 325 hours of online coursework along with a 40-hour externship.

This program is longer than some other phlebotomy training programs; however, the school website reports that they also offer comprehensive training with mentor support and continuous career support.

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
• Tuition: $2,199
• Accreditation: Per their website: “CareerStep has intentionally moved down the certification process route instead of accreditation.”
• Contact Phone Number: (800) 411-7073
• Email Information: Contact Form

9. MedCerts

MedCerts offers a 12-week online phlebotomy training program to prepare students for the CPT exam. The MedCerts website states that they have dedicated student success advisors, tailored support based on performance and behavior, and 1-year post-program access to their career center and career coaches. 

The program website also reports that this program does not meet state licensing or regulatory requirements for phlebotomy techs in California or Washington. In addition, this program is not recognized by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC), so residents of the State of Georgia cannot enroll in this program.

• Application Deadline: 
• Tuition: $2,000
• Accreditation: NHA
• Contact Phone Number: (800) 734-1175
• Email Information: info@medcerts.com

10.  American National University

American National University offers an online phlebotomy and ECG diploma program. Candidates entering this diploma program must have either an associate degree in any academic major from an accredited university or a bachelor's degree in any major from an accredited university.  

The lecture and lab courses of the program at American National University are completed 100% online.  The university utilizes advanced electronic phlebotomy and ECG simulators. Students meet the clinical portion of their education in an externship through a local clinic or physician's office.

• Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
• Tuition:  $12,600
• Accreditation: 
  • DEAC
  • Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Contact Phone Number: (833) 388-1100
• Email Information: admissions@nu.edu

Types of Phlebotomy Training Courses

Online

Some phlebotomy training programs offer online lectures and coursework that students may complete remotely. However, all programs have clinical requirements that students must complete in person. 

In-person

Most phlebotomy programs offer in-person classes. However, many in-person programs have a “hybrid” component and offer some online coursework.

FAQs About Phlebotomy Training Courses

• What are the requirements to become a phlebotomist?

  • Requirements include a high school diploma or GED equivalent, a completed application, immunization records, and a background check. Some programs also require CPR certification.

• Who is the accrediting body for phlebotomy programs? 

  • The National Phlebotomy Association (NPA) is an accrediting body that ensures that the content and quality of a phlebotomy program have met national standards. 

• Are there phlebotomy programs available online?

  • Yes. There are many online phlebotomy training courses where students can complete their coursework online. However, phlebotomy programs also require that students complete a certain number of IV “sticks” on human patients, which require the student to attend in person.

• How much can you make as a phlebotomist?

  • The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual income for phlebotomists in 2022 was $38,530 or $18.53/hr.

•  What classes are in a phlebotomy training course?

  • Phlebotomy students obtain coursework in IV insertion, anatomy and physiology, point-of-care testing, equipment use, documentation, hazardous materials management, and how to locate veins. Students must also complete in-person blood draws on human patients during their studies before they can go to work in a healthcare facility.

• How do you pay for a phlebotomy training course?

  • Many programs allow students to pay for their courses in full before starting or through a payment program over time. Fortunately, phlebotomy programs are one of the least expensive medical programs. Most programs cost between $1000-$2000 or less to complete.

• How hard is a phlebotomy training program?

  • Phlebotomy training programs require dedication and many hours of study to complete. It is essential to understand what is required of you in advance to complete your program successfully. Although the schooling may feel stressful, phlebotomy training programs are also one of the fastest ways to start a career in the healthcare field.