Phlebotomy Technician

The Phlebotomy Technician Certificate prepares students to take their Phlebotomy Technician Certification (CPT)* through the National Healthcare Association (NHA).

The Phlebotomy Technician Certificate is a part of the Associate in Applied Science Medical Assisting degree program. This certificate provides graduates with the clinical and administrative skills necessary to be a successful allied health care professional. The Phlebotomy Technician Certificate prepares students to work at a hospital, diagnostic laboratory, blood donor center, or private medical offices. Students in this allied health program will learn how to perform CLIA- waived laboratory tests, collect and process specimens for lab testing, and maintain medical records.

The NHA certification exam is designed to evaluate the knowledge and skills associated with the performance of tasks required for entry-level practice. A passing grade must be earned on the NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam for successful completion of the certificate. Candidates who are successful in passing the certification examination will be awarded credentials indicating their certification status.

Program learning objectives.

• Verify patient/donor identity.
• Perform blood collection.
• Collect, store, and process blood, urine, and other specimens for laboratory testing.
• Perform CLIA-waived laboratory tests.
• Develop a confident and professional image to meet the changing needs of healthcare.

Eligible graduates of the Phlebotomy Technician Certificate program may qualify for full tuition reimbursement through a partnership between UPMC, Central Penn College, and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation. Students hired by UPMC, based on performance during coursework, externship, and successful completion of their certification exam, will receive monthly payments toward their program costs.

To be considered for admission into a degree or professional certificate program, students must be a high school graduate or have received a General Equivalency Diploma (GED), Pennsylvania Home School Diploma or other recognized equivalency diploma. High School Students applying with an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher may be considered for regular admission. Students applying with a GPA below a 2.0 in high school or from another college or university, if accepted, will be admitted conditionally. Please submit an application for admission and a copy of high school and/or college transcript(s). Some applicants may be required to attend a personal interview with the Admissions Office.

An admission essay may be deemed optional for all applicants whose GPA meets or exceeds the minimum for acceptance into the desired program. For certificates and degrees in the Schools of Humanities and Business, the minimum GPA for acceptance is 2.0. For most Health Sciences certificates and degrees, unless otherwise specified, the minimum GPA is 2.2.

Admission Requirements.

Applicants for the Phlebotomy Technician Certificate must have a minimum GPA of a 2.20 from the last school attended or have a passing GED score to be considered for acceptance. Applicants must have successfully completed two sciences (C or higher) and one math course (C or higher) in high school or college. Only Central Penn College Medical Assisting course credits may be transferred into the certification program if earned within one year of admission. In addition, applicants are required to submit two reference forms. Reference forms can be obtained through the Admissions Office. If the student does not meet these criteria, they are able to file an appeal for acceptance to the Program Director.

Offered in a hybrid evening format. ALH311 Phlebotomy Practicum is an optional 1-credit elective (40 hours at a healthcare site) taken concurrently with ALH310.

This program has Winter and Summer starts. Upcoming start dates: January 11, 2027, July 12, 2027, January 10, 2028.

Tuition and fees. Undergraduate tuition is $525 per credit for all majors. A Student/Technology Fee of $510 per term (5 or more credits) or $315 (4 or fewer credits) is required. A one-time $150 graduation fee applies.

Program fees. Phlebotomy Technician Certificate lab fee, per term $250; NHA Phlebotomy exam fee (one time) $130.

Certification and other costs not covered by tuition. A passing grade must be earned on the NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam for successful completion of the certificate; the NHA exam fee ($130) is billed by the College.

Books and other expenses. Variable expenses per term (estimates): textbooks $350–$450; course material fees approximately $50–$150 per course; personal $150–$250; transportation $150–$300. Uniforms (where required) are estimated at $100–$150.

Housing and meals. Campus housing per term: individual private bedroom $2,205, standard apartment bedroom $1,505, super suite bedroom $1,595, utilities $330. Meal plans per term range from $550 (Block 75) to $1,125 (14 Meal Plan); a $250 housing security deposit is required.

Financial aid. The catalog does not state whether this certificate is an eligible program for federal financial aid; contact the Financial Aid Office (financialaid@centralpenn.edu, 1-800-759-2727). To receive financial aid a student must be enrolled in an eligible degree or certificate program and be enrolled on at least a half-time basis (4 credits). Central Penn’s FAFSA school code is 004890.

Payment options. Tuition and expenses are paid each term approximately three weeks before the term starts. Central Penn has a short-term three-month payment plan through CASHNet that divides the balance of the tuition owed by three payments; there is a $35 non-refundable application fee paid with the first payment. An Employer Reimbursement Tuition Agreement Plan lets students who receive tuition reimbursement from their employer defer payment until the specified dates.

Military benefits. Military benefits accepted include the Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapters 30 and 1606), Veterans Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) and Yellow Ribbon Program, Dependents’ Education Assistance (Chapter 35) and Tuition Assistance.

Net price calculator. Use Central Penn’s Net Price Calculator at https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/centralpenn for an early estimate of your total annual cost.

Careers you can pursue. Certified Phlebotomy Technician, Certified Phlebotomist.

College-wide outcome. 89.2% of Central Penn graduates were employed in their chosen field or continuing their education within one year of graduation (graduates July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025; One-Year Graduate Follow-up Report published July 1, 2026).