One phlebotomy program trains students within 50 miles of Big Sur, CA. The closest is Central Coast College in Salinas, 31 miles away: a certificate that takes 12 weeks with a 40-hour externship.
Phlebotomy Technician - Avocational Program
Central Coast College: dates, cost and how to apply: Phlebotomy Technician - Avocational Program
North San Jose Campus, San Jose, CA · #2 in California (83/100)
Lab Assistant, EKG Technician / Phlebotomist
Phlebotomy (PHLB 109A/B)
Cuesta College admission and start dates: Phlebotomy (PHLB 109A/B)
| School | Campus | Miles | Credential | Length | Externship | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Coast College | Salinas, CA | 31 | Certificate | 12 wk | 40 hr | |
| Institute for Business and Technology | San Jose, CA | 73 | Diploma | 39 wk | 160 hr | |
| Cuesta College | San Luis Obispo, CA | 87 | Certificate | 18 wk | Yes |
Phlebotomists in California earned a median of $56,040 a year ($27 an hour) in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 survey, $10,810 above the national median of $45,230. The middle half of California's 13,520 phlebotomists earned between $47,800 and $62,790.
Hospitals hire phlebotomists, and so do outpatient labs, blood banks and clinics. Medicare lists one hospital within 25 miles of Big Sur, CA:
California sets its own rule. California requires a state phlebotomy certificate from the Department of Public Health before you draw blood as a phlebotomist. There are three levels: Limited Phlebotomy Technician for skin punctures, CPT I for skin punctures and venipuncture, and CPT II, which adds arterial punctures. Phlebotomy license requirements by state
Sources: BLS OEWS, phlebotomists (SOC 31-9097), May 2025; CMS Hospital General Information (data.cms.gov), distances measured from ZIP centroids.
Central Coast College in Salinas, about 31 miles away. Phlebotomy Technician - Avocational Program takes 12 weeks and includes a 40-hour externship.
Central Coast College's Phlebotomy Technician - Avocational Program takes 12 weeks, the shortest stated length within 100 miles. Cuesta College (18 weeks) is next.
Yes. Institute for Business and Technology (San Jose, evening) and Cuesta College (San Luis Obispo, evening) run evening or weekend sessions.
One of the three programs listed here name a national exam on their own pages: Institute for Business and Technology (NCCT NCPT and California CPT I).
A median of $56,040 a year, or $27 an hour, in the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 survey of 13,520 phlebotomists in California. The national median was $45,230.
Every phlebotomy program in California, ranked · How to become a phlebotomist · Check your certification eligibility