Phlebotomy Certification Requirements in California

Mandatory state certification. California law requires anyone who draws blood for clinical testing (other than exempt licensed professionals such as physicians, RNs, and clinical laboratory scientists) to hold a phlebotomy certificate issued by the California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services (LFS). Three certificate levels: Limited Phlebotomy Technician (LPT) — skin puncture only; Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) — skin puncture and venipuncture; Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPT II) — skin puncture, venipuncture, and arterial puncture.

Academic requirement: official transcript showing U.S. high school graduation, or passing GED/HiSET/CHSPE, or transcripts showing general-education college credit (official transcripts must be sent to LFS directly by the institution). Training requirement for CPT I depends on on-the-job experience: (a) less than 40 hours of experience — 40 hours of basic and advanced didactic instruction in a CDPH-approved phlebotomy program PLUS 40 hours of supervised clinical practice including at least 50 venipunctures, 10 skin punctures, and observation of arterial punctures (documented on the California Statement of Phlebotomy Practical Training signed by an MD, DO, PA, RN, CLB, CLS, or CPT); (b) 40 to 1,039 hours of experience in the past 5 years — 40 hours of didactic instruction plus at least 40 hours of clinical experience with the same 50-venipuncture / 10-skin-puncture minimums, documented in a Letter of Experience signed by an MD, DO, or CLB; (c) 1,040 or more hours of experience in the past 5 years — 20 hours of advanced didactic instruction plus documentation of 50 venipunctures, 10 skin punctures, and observation of arterial punctures signed by the CLIA laboratory director. All applicants must also pass a phlebotomy certification examination from a CDPH-approved national certifying organization, then apply online through the LFS system. Blood-bank phlebotomy experience does not count toward on-the-job experience; biotech, forensic, academic, veterinary, research, and student-lab experience does not count toward any clinical license.

Verification portal confirmed loading 2026-07-21 (HTTP 200): the LFS Personnel Licensing Search allows lookup by license/certificate number, last name, or full name, and shows status (active, inactive, delinquent, deceased) and expiration date; a printout of the search result may serve as a valid 90-day temporary authorization during hiring or renewal processing. Legal authority: California Business and Professions Code section 1246; California Code of Regulations Title 17, sections 1029 (official transcripts), 1030 (certification of phlebotomy technicians), and 1035.1 (phlebotomy training program requirements). Training must be completed in a CDPH-approved phlebotomy program. Applications are submitted online only; incomplete applications may be abandoned after 60 days, requiring a new fee. NHA, ASCP, AMT, NCCT, and other certifying-body marks are trademarks of their respective owners; CDPH certification is separate from (and in addition to) national certification.