Promotional Flyer for Progressive Healthcare Academy FAQ section, featuring a smiling nurse with clipboard in a clinical setting, and icons for instruction, experience, support, certification, and career opportunities.

Your Questions, Answered

We’re here to help you take the next step toward your healthcare career.

Ready to Start Your Healthcare Career?

Learn more

  • The CPT100 program is 8 weeks long and includes 120 total hours of instruction — approximately 80 hours of classroom/lab and 40 hours of clinical externship at an affiliated healthcare site.

  • Upon passing your NPA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam, you will receive your national NPA certification. Our graduates are also eligible to sit for the ASCP PBT(ASCP) exam. You also receive a Progressive Healthcare Academy certificate of completion.

  • No prior healthcare experience is required. The only prerequisite is a high school diploma or GED. We welcome students from all backgrounds including career changers, recent graduates, and those returning to the workforce.

  • The NPA CPT exam is a nationally recognized certification exam administered by the National Phlebotomy Association. Your exam voucher is included in your tuition. We guide you through exam registration as part of NPA Exam Prep week. You may schedule at any NPA testing center or via remote proctoring.

  • Yes, the 40-hour clinical externship is a required component of the CPT100 program. We partner with hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs throughout the Southern Maryland area. Sites include doctor's offices, urgent care centers, and hospital outpatient labs. We do our best to place you at a site convenient to your location.

  • Classes alternate between didactic lecture and hands-on lab practice. In the first half of the program, you'll focus on theory, medical terminology, anatomy, and safety protocols. In the second half, you'll perform supervised venipuncture on mannequins and, later, peers — accumulating dozens of practice draws before your externship.

  • We are committed to providing:

    • Small class sizes

    • Experienced instructors

    • Hands-on clinical training

    • Modern learning environment

    • Certification preparation

    • Career-focused education

    • Student support from enrollment through graduation

  • Admissions requirements may include:

    • Government-issued photo ID

    • High school diploma or GED

    • Enrollment application

    • Any additional documentation required by the program