Question 1
Where is the tourniquet placed for a draw from the median cubital vein?
How hard is the phlebotomy exam?
NHA reports that 77.44% of the 66,002 CPT exams given in 2025 were passed. ASCP reports that 91% of first-time PBT candidates passed in 2024. Both exams turn your answers into a scaled score: 390 of 500 passes the CPT exam, 400 of 999 the PBT exam.
| CPT exams passed, 2025 | 77.44% of 66,002 exams given |
|---|---|
| PBT first-time pass rate, 2024 | 91% (1,277 of 1,397) |
| PBT repeat candidates, 2024 | 54% (22 of 41) |
| CPT passing score | 390 on a 200 to 500 scale |
| PBT passing score | 400 on a 100 to 999 scale |
What makes it hard
The detail. Most candidates can draw blood, but the exam asks about the exact order of draw, which tube suits which test, how long a specimen keeps and what to do when a patient faints, all in one sitting.
The pace. The CPT exam gives about a minute an item. The PBT exam gives about 90 seconds a question, and it adapts: each question depends on how you answered the ones before.
How the scores work
CPT: each exam form is scaled from 200 to 500, so the passing score of 390 means the same on every form.
PBT: the ASCP Board of Certification uses a scale of 100 to 999 with a minimum passing score of 400.
Making it easier
Find your weakest area first, then practice it on the clock. The free practice test does the first part in about 12 minutes, and the order-of-draw drill fixes the most common slip.
Try 3 questions
Question 2
Forty minutes into an oral glucose tolerance test, the patient vomits. What does the phlebotomist do?
Question 3
After centrifuging, a serum specimen for potassium is pink-red. Why is this a problem?
Next step
Questions people ask
What is the NHA CPT pass rate?
NHA reports that 77.44% of the 66,002 CPT exams given in 2025 were passed. That counts every exam given, including retakes.
What is the ASCP PBT pass rate?
In 2024, 91% of first-time candidates passed (1,277 of 1,397), and 90% of all candidates (1,299 of 1,438).
What score do you need to pass the NHA CPT exam?
A scaled score of 390 or higher, on a scale of 200 to 500.
What score do you need to pass the ASCP PBT exam?
400 or higher, on a scale of 100 to 999.
Do the CPT pretest items count?
No. The 20 pretest items are mixed in unmarked and do not affect your score.