What are the three phlebotomy certification exams?

The NHA CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) from the National Healthcareer Association, the ASCP PBT (Phlebotomy Technician) from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification, and the AMT RPT (Registered Phlebotomy Technician) from American Medical Technologists.

How many venipunctures do you need for phlebotomy certification?

NHA CPT: 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on live individuals. ASCP PBT: Route 2 requires 100 successful unaided venipunctures (other routes differ). AMT RPT: 50 successful venipunctures and 10 skin punctures.

Phlebotomy Exam Facts 2026

Three national certification exams lead to a phlebotomy credential in the United States: the NHA CPT, the ASCP PBT and the AMT RPT. This page lists every fact PhlebBot has checked about them, each with the certifying body's own document as its source.

Last verified October 6, 2026 against each certifying body's handbook, content outline or website. Fees are left out where we could not confirm them.

Passing scores

The NHA CPT passing score is 390 (scaled score from 200 to 500), the ASCP PBT passing score is 400 (scaled score, computer adaptive), and the AMT RPT passing score is 70 (scaled score from 0 to 100). All three are scaled scores, not the percentage of questions answered correctly.

Questions and time limits

NHA CPT: 120 questions: 100 scored and 20 unscored pretest items, 2 hours. ASCP PBT: 80 multiple-choice questions, 2 hours. AMT RPT: 200 scored questions (AMT exams may also include unscored pretest items), 2.5 hours.

Retakes

If you fail, the NHA CPT allows a retake 30 days after each attempt (3 attempts), the ASCP PBT 30 days after a failed attempt (5 attempts per eligibility route), and the AMT RPT 45 days after a failed attempt (4 attempts in total). Every retake costs another exam fee.

Renewal

NHA CPT: Every 2 years, with 10 continuing-education credits. ASCP PBT: Every 3 years through the Credential Maintenance Program: 9 points, including 1 in laboratory or patient safety. AMT RPT: 3-year Certification Continuation Program: 24 points per cycle and an annual fee.

NHA CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) facts

NHA CPT facts from the National Healthcareer Association. Last verified October 6, 2026.
Fact	Value	Official source	Last verified
Certifying body	National Healthcareer Association	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Credential	Certified Phlebotomy Technician	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Questions	120 questions: 100 scored and 20 unscored pretest items	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Time limit	2 hours	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Format	Fixed form (NHA rotates several equivalent forms; it is not adaptive)	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Score scale	Scaled score from 200 to 500	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Passing score	390	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
What the passing score means	390 is a scaled score, not a percentage or a count of correct answers.	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Wait before a retake	30 days after each attempt	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Attempts allowed	3 attempts	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
After the last attempt	After the third attempt, you must wait 1 year before each further attempt.	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Retake cost	Each retake costs the full exam price.	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Renewal	Every 2 years, with 10 continuing-education credits	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Hands-on collection requirement	30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on live individuals	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Published pass rate	Not published	NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026) NHA 2025 CPT Test Plan NHA Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026

ASCP PBT (Phlebotomy Technician) facts

ASCP PBT facts from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification. Last verified October 6, 2026.
Fact	Value	Official source	Last verified
Certifying body	American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Credential	Phlebotomy Technician	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Questions	80 multiple-choice questions	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Time limit	2 hours	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Format	Computer adaptive (CAT): question difficulty adjusts to your answers	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Score scale	Scaled score	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Passing score	400	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
What the passing score means	Because the exam is adaptive, the score reflects the difficulty of the questions you answered correctly, not a simple percentage.	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Wait before a retake	30 days after a failed attempt	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Attempts allowed	5 attempts per eligibility route	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
After the last attempt	After 5 unsuccessful attempts you must qualify under a different eligibility route.	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Retake cost	Each retake requires a new application and fee.	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Renewal	Every 3 years through the Credential Maintenance Program: 9 points, including 1 in laboratory or patient safety	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Hands-on collection requirement	Route 2 requires 100 successful unaided venipunctures (other routes differ)	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026
Published pass rate	Not published	ASCP BOC PBT Content Guideline (rev. Sept 25, 2025) ASCP BOC: About the Examination ASCP BOC: Application Policies	October 6, 2026

AMT RPT (Registered Phlebotomy Technician) facts

AMT RPT facts from the American Medical Technologists. Last verified October 6, 2026.
Fact	Value	Official source	Last verified
Certifying body	American Medical Technologists	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Credential	Registered Phlebotomy Technician	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Questions	200 scored questions (AMT exams may also include unscored pretest items)	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Time limit	2.5 hours	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Format	Computer-based at a Pearson VUE test center; everyone takes the full exam	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Score scale	Scaled score from 0 to 100	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Passing score	70	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
What the passing score means	70 is a scaled score, not 70% of questions correct.	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Wait before a retake	45 days after a failed attempt	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Attempts allowed	4 attempts in total	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
After the last attempt	AMT allows the first attempt plus 3 retakes per certification.	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Retake cost	A retesting fee applies to each retake.	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Renewal	3-year Certification Continuation Program: 24 points per cycle and an annual fee	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Hands-on collection requirement	50 successful venipunctures and 10 skin punctures	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026
Published pass rate	81% in 2025 (1,976 candidates), 81% in 2024, 83% in 2023	AMT Candidate Handbook (rev. April 2026) AMT RPT content outline AMT Phlebotomy Technician certification	October 6, 2026

Common questions

What are the three phlebotomy certification exams?: The NHA CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) from the National Healthcareer Association, the ASCP PBT (Phlebotomy Technician) from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification, and the AMT RPT (Registered Phlebotomy Technician) from American Medical Technologists.
What is the passing score for each phlebotomy exam?: The NHA CPT passing score is 390 (scaled score from 200 to 500), the ASCP PBT passing score is 400 (scaled score, computer adaptive), and the AMT RPT passing score is 70 (scaled score from 0 to 100). All three are scaled scores, not the percentage of questions answered correctly.
How long do you have to wait to retake a phlebotomy exam?: If you fail, the NHA CPT allows a retake 30 days after each attempt (3 attempts), the ASCP PBT 30 days after a failed attempt (5 attempts per eligibility route), and the AMT RPT 45 days after a failed attempt (4 attempts in total). Every retake costs another exam fee.
How many venipunctures do you need for phlebotomy certification?: NHA CPT: 30 successful venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on live individuals. ASCP PBT: Route 2 requires 100 successful unaided venipunctures (other routes differ). AMT RPT: 50 successful venipunctures and 10 skin punctures.
How often do you renew a phlebotomy certification?: NHA CPT: Every 2 years, with 10 continuing-education credits. ASCP PBT: Every 3 years through the Credential Maintenance Program: 9 points, including 1 in laboratory or patient safety. AMT RPT: 3-year Certification Continuation Program: 24 points per cycle and an annual fee.