Frequently Asked Questions
Get the answers to your most commonly asked questions.
Who is eligible to take the training?
California resident applicants: The online Phlebotomy program is designed for those individuals who have experience with venipuncture. The state of California and most approved National Certification examinations require 50 successful venipunctures, 10 successful skin punctures and at least 40 hours of clinical training on live patients in order to become certified (contact the National Certification organization of choice for specific requirements). For those with no experience, you will not be allowed to obtain certification via this online phlebotomy program. Applicants who live in California with less than 6 months experience must take the both Comprehensive Basic and Advanced online Phlebotomy Programs. Applicants with more than 6 months experience need only take the Advanced Phlebotomy online program.
Non-California resident applicants: The online Phlebotomy program is designed for those individuals who have experience with venipuncture. Most approved National Certification examinations require 50 successful venipunctures, 10 successful skin punctures and at least 40 hours of clinical training on live patients in order to become certified (contact the National Certification organization of choice for specific requirements). For those with no experience, you will be required to find your own, pre-approved by Contra Costa Medical Career College, clinical training externship. Contra Costa Medical Career College only approves the site for you; we WILL NOT place you in an externship if you take this online course. Applicants with less than 6 months experience must take the both Comprehensive Basic and Advanced online Phlebotomy Programs. Applicants with more than 6 months experience need only take the Advanced Phlebotomy online program.
- Medical Assistants
- RN
- LPN/LVN
- Phlebotomist Relocating to California who needs certification from the state to practice.
- Military Personnel
- Laboratory Personnel
- EMT
- Paramedic
- Physician/Physician Assistant
- Medical Intern
- Nursing/Medical Student
Why should I choose Contra Costa Medical Career College’s Online Phlebotomy Program?
This program was developed by highly trained and experienced Registered nurses and Phlebotomists. Upon successful completion of this course you will be eligible to sit for an approved National Certification Exam that is required by the State of California. This course will fully prepare you for an approved and accredited National Certification exam.
What are the methods of payment?
Major credit cards and Pay-pal are accepted online. You may also pay by check or money order through the U.S. mail service. Click on contact us/ about us link for mailing address. We also accept vouchers, grants, company checks, purchase orders, bank transfer etc.
Do you offer financial assistance?
No. We do not offer financial assistance. However you may check with your employer or contact agencies in your area that pay for training or offer vouchers.
What will I receive at the end of class to show proof of training? Will I be a certified Phlebotomist?
Upon successful completion of the online courses, you will receive a certificate of completion. You will then qualify to sit for a National Certification examination. Once you successfully complete that exam, you will be Nationally Certified. In California you must go one step further by applying to the state CDPH-LFS . You may not work as a phlebotomist in California without certification from the CDPH-LFS. This course offers you the opportunity to reach your career goals online.
How do I know if there is a National Exam testing Center in my area?
To find the nearest PSI testing center in your area, Click here link and enter the state in which you reside. A list of testing centers that are located in your state will appear. Contact the National examination organization you choose for more information.
What is the minimum education requirement?
California Residents You must have proof of High School completion (unopened, sealed transcripts) or GED (unopened, sealed transcripts). High School completion earned in a foreign country must be translated by AACRO for US equivalency prior to submitting an application to the CDPH-LFS. Transcripts must be sent directly to CDPH-LFS.
Non-California Residents You must be a high school graduate or have a GED. This may be required for National Certification. Contact the National Certification Organization of choice for specific requirements.
Will I receive my classroom materials in the mail?
No. You will need to follow the link on the Contra Costa Medical Career College online website to purchase your required text book. The fee for the textbook is not included in the tuition. You are encouraged to take notes while taking the online courses.
Can I fail the online program?
You are required to pass a test at the end of the online courses. You will be able to take the test twice. If you fail the exam on the second attempt, you will be required to repeat the course.
If you should fail any the courses, you may retake the course for a discounted price
Can I get a job as a Phlebotomist?
Contra Costa Medical Career College online Phlebotomy program provides a didactic learning opportunity and a certificate of completion. We do not provide jobs, guarantee jobs, or provide placement into a job for our online Phlebotomy students. Our targeted group is medical professionals who have experience drawing blood.
Can I order a duplicate copy of my certificate?
Your certificate will be available immediately upon successful completion of the final exam. Therefore the certificate is available to you on your computer instantly. We do not send certificates by US Postal Mail.
I am a medical assistant and I draw blood in my office. The Doctor that I work for is willing to sign a letter verifying my experience. Do I have to take both Comprehensive Basic and Advanced Phlebotomy?
Yes, if you have less than 6 months experience you must take both the Basic and the Advanced Phlebotomy courses to qualify to sit for a national exam. In California, if you have more than 6 months experience you need only take the Advanced Phlebotomy course to qualify to sit for the national exam.
Do you offer clinical externships?
No, we do not offer a clinical experience for our online Phlebotomy students. If you take this online course, you must have “on the job” experience if you live in California. If you live in a state other than California you must be able to provide your own clinical experience. You will need to contact Contra Costa Medical Career College prior to beginning your externship so that we can approve the site. There are specific requirements for externship sites and it MUST be approved prior to your attendance.
Where do I get the "Letter of experience" document that my employer is required to complete?
You will need to send a request to onlineCourses@ccmcc.org Please include your contact information, and most importantly, your employers contact information. This includes: Employer’s name, address, telephone number, e-mail address and fax number. Contra Costa Medical Career College will contact your employer to verify your experience. It is recommended that you do this prior to enrollment.
California residents: This is an important step and will prevent major issues when it comes to applying to the State of California CDPH-LFS for certification once everything has been completed.
I have found my own training site where I plan on getting my clinical experience. What do I do now?
California residents: This is not allowed. You must have “on the job” experience prior to taking this online course.
Non-California residents: You must contact Contra Costa Medical Career College (onlineCourses@ccmcc.org) and provide us with your name and contact info, the name of the facility, address, telephone number, supervisor’s name and email address and a description of the facility. Upon approval, a phlebotomy training document will then be provided for documentation of your clinical training. An MD, RN, PA, MT or CPT must sign the document. This document is used specifically for externship training and is different than the "Experience" document used by those who have "on-the-job" experience. The school will provide the site with time sheets, puncture sheets, and sheets for progress documentation. Once completed, these documents must be submitted to Contra Costa Medical Career College.
