Phlebotomy classes in San Diego
3 phlebotomy training programs in San Diego, California. Compare program length, externship hours and certification prep before you contact anyone.
California licenses phlebotomists
California is one of only four states that license phlebotomists. You need a CDPH Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) certificate, which requires 40 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of practical training, including a documented 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures.
Confirm current requirements with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) before enrolling — requirements change and only the state agency is authoritative.
What phlebotomists earn in California
The median phlebotomist in California earns $56,040 a year ($26.94/hour), across about 13,520 people employed statewide. A state median blends its expensive metros with its rural counties, so San Diego wages may sit above or below it.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. See all 50 states compared.
Phlebotomy training in San Diego: common questions
How many phlebotomy schools are there in San Diego?
There are 3 phlebotomy training programs in San Diego, California listed on PhlebGuide.
Do San Diego phlebotomy programs include an externship?
1 of the 3 programs in San Diego include a clinical externship. That is supervised practice on real patients, and certification bodies require documented live draws — so it is the single most important thing to confirm before enrolling.
Do I need a licence to work as a phlebotomist in California?
California is one of only four states that license phlebotomists. You need a CDPH Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) certificate, which requires 40 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of practical training, including a documented 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures.
What do phlebotomists earn in California?
The median phlebotomist in California earns $56,040 a year ($26.94 an hour), across roughly 13,520 people employed in the state. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Get matched with San Diego programs
Tell us what you need and we'll come back with the programs in San Diego that fit — real tuition, real schedules, no cost.
Where this fits in
Choosing a program is one step of four. We cover the rest of it too — including how to pay, which changed in July 2026 when short programs became Pell-eligible for the first time.
- 1
Starting out
Work out whether the job suits you, what it pays, and what your state requires — before you spend anything.
- 2You are here
Choosing a school and paying for it
Compare real programs on the things that decide your outcome, then find the money. Short programs became Pell-eligible in July 2026.
- 3
Going to school
What the classroom and the externship are actually like, and passing your certification exam the first time.
- 4
Getting hired
Where phlebotomists actually work, what entry-level hiring looks like, and how to get past the experience catch-22.