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Is the NHA phlebotomy exam (CPT) hard?

Most candidates pass, but not all. In 2024, 75.96% of the 57,457 CPT exams NHA gave ended in a pass, so about 1 attempt in 4 did not. You get 120 questions in 2 hours, and a new version of the exam launched on January 7, 2026.

Updated October 2026
76%
CPT exams passed in 202475.96% of 57,457 exams, NHA data
About 1 in 4 attempts did not pass
120questions
2 hrstime limit
390to pass, on 200–500

CPT exam at a glance

Questions
120 (100 scored, 20 pretest)
Time
2 hours
Passing score
390 on 200–500
2024 pass rate
75.96% of 57,457 exams
2023 pass rate
76.33% of 52,571 exams
Current version
Launched January 7, 2026 (2024 job analysis)
Fee
$134 (NHA store, October 2026)
NHA pass rates count exams, not people.

Where candidates lose points

  • Routine blood collections is the biggest domain: 28 of 100 scored items. Order of draw, site selection and technique are tested in detail.
  • Safety and compliance is a close second: 26 items.
  • Special collections: 12 items on the less routine procedures, where hands-on practice is thinner.
  • One question every minute for two hours, with 20 hidden pretest items.

The 2025 test plan

DomainScored items
Routine Blood Collections28
Safety and Compliance26
Patient Preparation20
Processing14
Special Collections12

NHA says the January 2026 version has minimal content impact, but prep material written for the 2016 or 2017 plans is out of date. Full breakdown in what's on the NHA phlebotomy exam.

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If you fail

You wait 30 days and pay the full fee again; you get three attempts at least 30 days apart, then a one year wait after the third failure.

CPT FAQ

What is the NHA phlebotomy pass rate?

75.96% of 57,457 CPT exams in 2024 and 76.33% of 52,571 in 2023, per NHA.

How many questions are on the NHA phlebotomy exam?

120: 100 scored and 20 pretest, in 2 hours.

Did the NHA phlebotomy exam change?

Yes. A new version based on a 2024 job analysis launched January 7, 2026.

Free Phlebotomy practice questions

More CPT guides

Sources
  1. NHA annual pass rates 2024
  2. NHA annual pass rates 2023
  3. NHA CPT Test Plan (2025, job analysis 2024)
  4. NHA: New CPT exam launching January 7, 2026
  5. NHA Candidate Handbook (updated 10/05/2026)
  6. NHA Store: CPT exam application

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PassPulse is an independent exam preparation tool. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). Exam, credential and product names mentioned on this page are trademarks of their respective owners and are used only to identify the exams and materials described.

This page is for general information only. It is not official guidance from any certifying body, state agency or employer, and it is not legal, medical, career or financial advice. The information on this page may contain errors or omissions, or may be out of date: fees, policies, exam content and state rules change. Practice questions, answers and explanations on PassPulse may also contain errors. Always confirm current requirements and facts directly with the certifying body, your state, your employer or the manufacturer's instructions before you register, apply or act on them. Pass rates and statistics describe past candidates and do not predict your result.
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