Frequently Asked Questions

Phlebotomists or Phlebotomy Technicians take blood for sampling in a healthcare environment as part of a regular health screening, to donate blood or plasma, or to help determine diagnosis of various ailments. As a phlebotomist, you may also gather other samples aside from blood or plasma.

Phlebotomy Technicians work in a number of various environments including hospitals, doctors offices, laboratories, donation centers, dental offices and medical spas.

Our phlebotomy class is two days. Most students sit for the national exam within a week of finishing.

We welcome students of all ages, educational and professional backgrounds. However, we do require all students to be 18 or older to attend class.

Tuition starts at $775 for phlebotomy and $375 for IV — exact price for your city is on its class page. Tuition includes textbook and materials. The CPT exam is paid separately to the provider: about $100 (NRAHP) or $125 (NHA). Washington charges a $145 state licensing fee.

We offer Phlebotomy certification classes and IV Training courses at all of our locations nationwide. To learn more about every course in your area please visit our upcoming classes page.

Two days, hands-on, and you leave eligible for the national certification exam. Our students pass it at a 95% rate. Classes are small (10–15), most time is in the lab, and instructors are working healthcare professionals. Most other programs take 3–4 weeks and cost $1,200 or more; ours is $775.

We offer private training to doctors offices, hospitals, dental offices, medical spas and more. We require a minimum of 8 participants and we can tailor our training to meet the needs of your specific facility. Please visit our Group Trainings page for more information.

Our waitlist policy is first come first serve. We require everyone that would like to be waitlisted to be enrolled in a future class. If a spot becomes available, we will be in touch via phone or email and manually apply your deposit or tuition payment to the class you are waitlisted for.

Our office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm. If you have called or emailed outside of office hours we will do our best to respond within the next business day. If you have called during business hours please leave a brief message with your name, phone number, location and questions you have and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Emails will also be responded to within the business day during business hours.

We look forward to meeting you in class! Your seat has been reserved and we will take care of purchasing your class materials and textbook. You will receive a formal class confirmation email the week before we meet to go over all the details regarding the first day of class. This email will include the following:

What to Bring – A pen and a notebook. We will provide the rest!

What to Wear – Whatever you are most comfortable in. Scrubs are not required but if you have them feel free to wear them. Please wear closed toed shoes.

Parking Instructions & Directions to the Classroom

Instructions Regarding Tuition Balance Payment – If you have prepaid in full please disregard. Tuition balance can be paid via debit or credit card or cash. Checks are not acceptable.

Need a different date? See ‘Can I reschedule?

On the last day of class following your practical exam your instructor will go over all certification requirements and questions.

Within three to five business days upon course completion you will receive a certificate of completion from Northwest Phlebotomy School via email.

Healthcare is an amazing career move for many people. It’s a great career for those new and experienced working in healthcare and offers a wide variety of work environments and schedules.

We require a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent based on state and national regulations. We welcome students of all ages, education, and experience levels to join us in our classes.

Please visit our IV Training and EKG certification page to see course specific prerequisites.

We also welcome current healthcare providers to attend classes if you are in need of brushing up on your skills!

Northwest Phlebotomy School’s curriculum is based upon and prepares students to successfully pass a variety of national phlebotomy exams for national certification or to prepare you for state licensing.

This includes the National Registry of Allied Health Professionals (NRAHP), National Healthcareer Association (NHA), amongst others.

Please give us a call to discuss certification requirements in your state.

Because we are a training program we do not offer any college credit and therefore do not adhere to credit hours. Our goal is to get you certified and prepared to enter the workforce as a healthcare professional. By keeping our classes small, we ensure every student gets ample one on one instruction and coaching tailored to individual needs and experience levels.

Our classes are a combination of lab and lecture. Although preparing you for a national certification exam is a priority, we would rather spend a majority of our classroom time in the lab to get you acquainted and comfortable with various equipment and procedures.

Please see Our Upcoming Classes Page where we post all of our open enrollment dates for all of our locations. 

We require a non-refundable deposit for your initial signup and to reserve your seat. The deposit for phlebotomy is $150. The deposit for IV is $100. You can also elect to prepay your tuition in full.

Your non-refundable deposit prepares our classroom materials and purchase your textbook for you. On the first day of class, we handle the remaining balance in class unless you choose to prepay upon enrollment.

On day one we will draw from simulation arms to get our steps and safety considerations down. Day two we will begin doing live draws on one another under instructor supervision. Please note, we do not require mandatory participation as a “patient” in class. Ultimately this is up to you and if you prefer to not get poked please just let us know.

We will get acquainted with straight needles for antecubital draws (the crease of the elbow). Which is what most of us might have had in previous blood draw experiences.

We will use butterfly needles for antecubital and hand draws. Butterfly needles are substantially smaller and are commonly used for pediatrics, geriatrics and individuals with smaller, more fragile veins. We will also discuss using syringes.

Day one: anatomy, finding veins, tourniquets, venipuncture, safety, all on simulation arms.

Day two: special populations, butterfly and hand draws, syringes, bloodborne pathogens, live draws, one-on-one practical exam.

We offer small group environments to ensure everyone has ample one on one training with our instructors. Classes are usually 10 to 15 students.

Your tuition will include all your materials and your textbook which will be provided in class on the first day. We do not require students to purchase scrubs. However, if you already have them feel free to wear them in class.

IV or Intravenous Therapy is a method of delivering fluid or other medications directly through a vein. Our IV class is a four-hour hands-on class held the afternoon of the second phlebotomy day meant for students who have completed our Phlebotomy classes or for individuals who already work in a healthcare setting.

IV does not have a national certification component but you would receive a certificate of completion once you have completed the course.

Ultimately, it is up to the doctor you are working under/working with as IVs fall under their license. Common places IV placement is offered are emergency settings such as ambulatory care/transport, hospitals, medical spas or IV therapy services, dental offices and oral surgery offices.

Yes. The $150 phlebotomy deposit ($100 for IV) is part of tuition. If you pay the deposit at enrollment, the balance ($625 on a $775 class) is due the first day of class.

Yes. Call 206-900-9234 or email info@nwphlebotomyschool.com before class starts and we’ll move your deposit to any future date in any city, one time at no charge. Deposits are non-refundable; a no-show without notice forfeits the deposit.

No. Tuition covers the class, textbook and materials. The CPT exam fee is paid to the provider you choose: $100-$125 depending on exam.

A Northwest Phlebotomy School certificate of completion, emailed within 3–5 business days. It makes you eligible for the CPT exam; national certification comes from the exam provider when you pass.

Most states don’t license phlebotomists; employers rely on national certification, which our class prepares you for. Washington requires the MA-P credential, and our class qualifies you to apply.

Most classes are weekends, 10am–3pm both days, with IV 4–8pm on day two. Some cities offer weekday dates — check your city’s page.

Yes. We can invoice employers directly and offer group rates for 3 or more students from one organization. Email info@nwphlebotomyschool.com.

We don’t place students directly, but we have employer contacts in most cities and will point you to who’s hiring. Email info@nwphlebotomyschool.com or call 206-900-9234.

After class you register for the written Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam through NRAHP (about $100) or NHA (about $125). The fee is paid to the provider, not part of tuition. Once you pass, you’re nationally certified and can work in most states. Washington also requires a state credential. California, Nevada and Louisiana have their own state licensing programs.

1. Complete the 2-day class and pass the in-class practical.
2. Receive your certificate of completion by email in 3–5 business days.
3. Register for and pass the CPT exam (NRAHP ~$100 or NHA ~$125).
4. If your state requires a license, apply for it.

Washington state requires all phlebotomists to be Medical Assistant – Phlebotomist (MA-P) licensed through the Department of Health. Washington State requires each applicant must attest to the following competencies: completion of high school education or its equivalent, and the ability to read, write, and converse in the English language.

The Department of Health will complete the final review for approval after a credentialing specialist verifies that the application is fully complete. They will complete background checks and make sure applicants have submitted the required fees ($145).

Please note, neighboring states such as Oregon, Idaho, and Montana are states that require national certification. Our class meets the training requirement.

Yes. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects faster-than-average growth for phlebotomists, driven by lab testing, plasma collection and outpatient care. Many employers offer sign-on bonuses and train certified new hires on the job.

Phlebotomist employment opportunities include hospitals, donation centers, doctor’s offices, medical spas, dental offices and much more.

The national median is about $43,000 per year (BLS). Starting wages are typically $18–24 per hour, higher in large metros.