Phlebotomy Classes and Training Programs in Colorado

Community colleges and private career schools both train phlebotomists in Colorado, but they differ in length, price, and who arranges your clinical draws. Either way, training is a short certificate or diploma, typically 4 to 16 weeks, offered at community colleges and private career schools; hospital and blood-center programs are worth asking about directly.

Colorado has no state phlebotomy license. Many employers still expect a national certification, so the credential you earn matters more than the school's name. The licensing box below explains exactly what that means.

The real decision is how much clinical practice a program builds in, because that determines whether you can pass a national exam and get hired.

Best Phlebotomy Schools in Colorado, Ranked

Colorado phlebotomy certificates are short, but they are not interchangeable. One school teaches it in a single five-credit course, another runs 128 contact hours through a private career college, and several build a full clinical internship into the semester. Use the cards below to compare format, location and the approximate institution-wide net price before you start calling for cohort dates.

Rank	School	Location	Net price	Best for
#1	Front Range Community College	Westminster, CO	$10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)	North-metro commuters wanting multiple campus options
Front Range Community College runs its one-semester, 5-credit phlebotomy certificate at three campuses, so students across the north and north-metro Denver area usually have a site within commuting distance. The curriculum pairs hands-on blood-draw labs with specimen handling, quality control, infection control and lab computer systems, then adds clinical experience with real patients. Graduates are prepared for the NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam, and the college notes that scholarship funding may be available for eligible students. Phlebotomy Certificate — On-Campus One-semester certificate 5 total credit hours Offered at Boulder County, Larimer and Westminster campuses Prepares for the NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam Labs cover blood draws, specimen handling and quality control Scholarship funding may be available for eligible students Visit Website
#2	Red Rocks Community College	Lakewood, CO	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)	Hands-on learners wanting an extended clinical internship
Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood builds its phlebotomy certificate around a 135-hour clinical internship that runs during the final four weeks of a single semester. Coursework covers medical terminology, blood collection technique, specimen processing and patient safety, and graduates are eligible for the AMT Registered Phlebotomy Technician exam. Students arrange and pay for their own background check and health and drug screening, and immunizations including hepatitis B must be current before training or the internship. Phlebotomy, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus One-semester program, 10 credit hours across 3 courses 135 clinical hours, with the internship in the final 4 weeks Prepares students for the AMT Registered Phlebotomy Technician exam Must be 18 or older with a background check and BLS certification Medical terminology and patient safety coursework included Black scrubs required for clinical rotations Visit Website
#3	Aims Community College	Greeley, CO	~$11,000/yr (est.)	Greeley-area students continuing to an associate degree
Aims Community College offers an 8-credit phlebotomy certificate based at its Greeley Campus, spread over two semesters with lectures, labs and a one-semester clinical internship. The college publishes a $1,297 total program tuition figure and says graduates are ready for AMT or NCCT certification, with credits that also apply toward its Allied Health Professional associate degree. Instructors come from the field and class sizes are kept small. Phlebotomy Certificate — On-Campus $1,297 total program tuition 2-semester program, 8 credit hours One-semester clinical internship Prepares for AMT or NCCT certification exams Credits apply toward the Allied Health Professional associate degree Program cites a 90% licensure exam pass rate Visit Website
#4	Morgan Community College	Fort Morgan, CO	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
Morgan Community College in Fort Morgan offers a compact 5-credit phlebotomy certificate aimed at entry-level laboratory jobs. Coursework covers venipuncture, capillary punctures, specimen handling and infection control, with hands-on practice and small classes taught by experienced faculty. Evening sections may be available for students who work during the day. Phlebotomy, Certificate or Diploma — On-Campus 5 total credit hours Certificate in Phlebotomy Covers venipuncture, capillary puncture and specimen handling Prepares students for entry-level laboratory employment Evening classes may be available for working students Visit Website
#5	Community College of Aurora	Aurora, CO	~$9,000/yr (est.)
The Community College of Aurora's phlebotomy certificate combines lecture and lab work in venipuncture, capillary puncture and special collections with clinical practice on real specimen collection. Admission is unusually detailed: a physician clearance letter, a national criminal background check, a 10-panel drug screen including THC, a negative tuberculosis test and proof of vaccination all have to be in place before clinicals. The college notes the program is not eligible for financial aid, and graduates may qualify to sit for the ASCP national certification exam. Phlebotomy Cert — On-Campus Prepares for the ASCP national certification exam Lecture and lab coursework in venipuncture and capillary puncture Clinical practice on real specimen collection Physician clearance letter, background check and 10-panel drug screen required Immunization proof and a negative TB test needed before clinicals Program is not eligible for financial aid Visit Website
#6	Colorado Mountain College	Glenwood Springs, CO	$8,000/yr (est. net price)
Colorado Mountain College teaches its phlebotomy certificate at the Rifle and Vail Valley at Edwards campuses, mostly in person, with a real-world internship built in. Students cover venipuncture, special collection procedures, quality control, infection control and lab computer systems, then sit the National Phlebotomy Registry Examination. Admission requires a background check, a drug screen, CPR certification and immunizations, and the program is not eligible for federal financial aid. Phlebotomy Certificate — On-Campus Prepares for the National Phlebotomy Registry Examination Internship included Campus locations in Rifle and Vail Valley at Edwards Background check and drug screen required CPR certification and immunizations required Scrubs included in the course fee Not eligible for federal financial aid Visit Website
#7	Pikes Peak State College	Colorado Springs, CO	$5,000 – $10,000/yr (est.)
Pikes Peak State College runs its phlebotomy certificate at the CHES Campus in Colorado Springs with fall and spring start dates. Beyond blood collection, the curriculum adds urinalysis, point-of-care testing, medical law, ethics and terminology, and graduates are eligible for the National Registry Board Exam for Registered Phlebotomy Technician. Applicants need a college English prerequisite and at least one letter of recommendation. Phlebotomy Certificate — On-Campus Two start dates per year, fall and spring Hands-on training at the CHES Campus Prepares for the National Registry Board Exam for Registered Phlebotomy Technician College English prerequisite and one letter of recommendation Coursework includes medical law, ethics and point-of-care testing Visit Website
#8	Concorde Career College-Aurora	Aurora, CO	$17,000/yr (est. net price)
Concorde Career College's Aurora campus delivers an 8-week phlebotomy technician diploma in a blended format, pairing online coursework with on-campus hands-on training. The 128-contact-hour program covers venipuncture, capillary puncture, specimen collection and handling, and patient interaction, and graduates can sit for AMCA or NHA certification, with Concorde covering the first AMCA attempt fee. Credits also apply toward the campus's Medical Assistant diploma. The college's institution-wide graduation rate, roughly 64%, is the highest in this group, though that figure covers all of its programs rather than phlebotomy alone. Phlebotomy Technician Diploma Program — Hybrid 8-week blended program with online coursework and on-campus labs 128 contact hours of training Prepares for AMCA and NHA national certification exams First AMCA exam attempt fee covered Credits apply toward the Medical Assistant diploma, with a tuition discount Career settings include hospitals, labs and blood donation centers Visit Website
#9	Otero College	La Junta, CO	$10,000 – $15,000/yr (est.)
Otero College in La Junta offers a 5-credit phlebotomy technician certificate that blends classroom instruction with clinical experience. Students learn blood collection for testing, transfusions, donations and research, and the certificate sits within the college's Medical Laboratory Technician department, which gives graduates a route into further clinical laboratory study. Graduates typically move into hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories and blood banks. Phlebotomy, Certificate or Diploma — Hybrid 5 total credit hours Classroom instruction combined with clinical training Covers blood collection for testing, transfusions and donations Part of the college's Medical Laboratory Technician department Graduates work in hospitals, clinics and diagnostic labs Visit Website
#10	Arapahoe Community College	Littleton, CO	~$12,000/yr (est.)
Arapahoe Community College's 7-credit phlebotomy certificate runs 15 weeks with evening classes in both spring and fall, which suits students who work daytime hours. The clinical internship packs 120 hours into three consecutive weeks, Monday through Friday, eight hours a day, and there are no evening or weekend internship options. Students must be 18 to start the internship, and entry requires admission to ACC plus registration in the two required phlebotomy courses. Phlebotomy Certificate — On-Campus 15-week certificate, 7 credit hours Evening classes in spring and fall 120 clinical hours over 3 consecutive weeks, Monday to Friday Four lecture credits plus three clinical credits No evening or weekend internships available Must be 18 for the clinical internship Visit Website

Cheapest Phlebotomy Programs in Colorado

These Colorado phlebotomy programs post the lowest average net price in U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard, 2024), from $6,007 at Pikes Peak State College to $9,044 at Red Rocks Community College. Net price is an institution-wide average after grants and scholarships, not a phlebotomy-specific bill, so what you actually pay depends on your own aid eligibility. Certification exam fees, background checks, drug screens and supplies such as scrubs usually come on top of these figures, so budget for them separately. One exception on exam cost: Pickens Technical College's online program includes an NHA CPT exam voucher.

Community College, Private Training Center, or Hospital Training: Which Fits You?

The right provider depends on how much time you have, how much you want to spend, and whether you need the school to arrange your clinical draws. In Colorado the three routes differ most on those points.

Community College Certificates

Community College of Denver offers a credit-bearing Phlebotomy Certificate that runs roughly 15 to 16 weeks in a hybrid format, with a clinical internship in the second half. Total cost is listed at about $1,919, though other sources describe roughly $2,000 for the credits before fees, books, a background check, BLS and exam costs. Expect semester-based start dates rather than rolling enrollment. Because the courses carry college credit, federal aid may apply, but confirm eligibility with the financial aid office. Externship scheduling depends on the clinical site.

Private Training Centers

Private centers are faster and start more often. Oquirrh Mountain Phlebotomy School in Englewood runs 32 hours at $495 in tuition, with flexible weekday blocks. Phlebotomy Training Specialists and Phlebotomy USA in Colorado Springs each run 40 hours at about $1,095, and the Denver/Thornton location of Phlebotomy Training Specialists is listed at $1,025. APLMED Academy in Aurora takes 8 weeks, mostly on Saturdays, at $1,000 with an externship before graduation.

Check externship terms before you pay. Oquirrh Mountain does not include one, so graduates arrange their own clinical experience. Published policy for the Phlebotomy Training Specialists Colorado locations reportedly does not arrange an outside externship either. Pima Medical Institute in Denver, a private institution, lists a certificate of about three months with a supervised externship. Ask Pima directly about tuition and aid, since 2026 figures were not confirmed.

Hospital or Blood-Center Training

No Colorado hospital or blood-center phlebotomy program with current terms turned up in our research, so treat this route as something to investigate rather than count on. Call the education or lab departments at health systems and blood centers near you and ask whether they train new hires. Do not assume any such training is paid.

Who Each Option Suits

Community college fits recent high school graduates and anyone who wants credit and possible aid. Private centers suit career changers who need a quick, flexible start. People already working in healthcare may do best with a short private course plus an employer connection for clinical hours.

Related Articles

Do You Need a License to Be a Phlebotomist in Colorado?

How to Become a Phlebotomist in Colorado, Step by Step

Colorado has no state phlebotomy license, so there is no state application or licensing step on this path. Your credential comes from a national certifying body, and that is what Colorado employers check. Here is the order most new phlebotomists follow.

Where Colorado Phlebotomists Work

The phlebotomy job market in Colorado is anchored by a handful of large health systems, and the setting you get hired into shapes your day more than the job title does.

Who Hires in Colorado

Hospital systems account for a large share of openings: UCHealth (Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, and Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs), Denver Health, Children's Hospital Colorado, Intermountain Health, and Centura/CommonSpirit. As those names suggest, hospital-based work is not confined to the Denver core. Outside hospital walls, Labcorp and Quest Diagnostics staff patient service centers, Vitalant runs blood-donor centers and mobile collection operations, and commercial plasma centers hire their own collection staff. Clinics and physician practices round out the list.

How the Work Differs by Setting

• Hospital floors: inpatient phlebotomists start early, running morning draw rounds on admitted patients. The patient mix drives difficulty, and a pediatric facility such as Children's Colorado means pediatric draws.
• Patient service centers: outpatient draws at Labcorp and Quest sites move through the day on appointments and walk-ins, with more specimen handling and less bedside work.
• Donor collection: at Vitalant, staff screen donors, set up whole-blood or apheresis collections, and monitor donors throughout. Mobile blood drives add travel and setup to the shift.

Employer-Paid Training, Where It's Confirmed

A few Colorado employers do offer a paid way in. Vitalant advertised mobile-phlebotomist roles with paid training, Quest Diagnostics runs a paid trainee pathway, and Intermountain Health has a paid trainee track. Eligibility, duration, and whether certification fees are covered are set by each employer and vary by posting, so confirm the details with the recruiter. Health system education benefits are sometimes described as offsetting outside certificate coursework, but amounts and eligibility vary.

What Colorado Phlebotomists Earn Statewide

Federal wage data puts Colorado phlebotomist pay in a fairly tight band, so most certified graduates can expect earnings near the state median.

Phlebotomist Salary in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Other Colorado Metros

Colorado phlebotomists earn a statewide median of $47,180 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with 2,420 people employed in the role and the middle half of earners making between $44,660 and $49,520. BLS does not report a separate phlebotomist wage for Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction or nonmetro (rural) Colorado, so the statewide median is the best available answer to how much phlebotomists make in Denver, and it sits above the national median of $45,230. Compared with the short certificate programs covered earlier, that pay level means a graduate working full time can usually earn back the cost of training within a fairly short stretch on the job.

Find Phlebotomy Training in Your Colorado City

Colorado's programs cluster around the Front Range, so where you live and how far you can commute matter as much as the school itself. A city page narrows the field to schools within a realistic commute and the local employers who hire from them.

• Denver: The phlebotomy training in Denver page helps you compare schools in and around the metro and see which ones fit your commute.
• Colorado Springs: The phlebotomy classes in Colorado Springs page keeps the focus on programs in the southern Front Range, so you are not weighing a long drive north.
• Aurora, CO: The phlebotomy classes in Aurora page covers nearby options and local draw-site employers for east-metro students.
• Fort Collins and Grand Junction: Check for dedicated pages if you are in northern Colorado or on the Western Slope, where school options and employers differ from the Denver area.

Start with the city closest to you, then widen your search if you are willing to travel.

Phlebotomy Training Programs Accepting Students in Colorado

12 schools in the state offer this course through an education partner, with open enrollment and a national certification exam voucher. Request information to hear from the school directly.

Every Phlebotomy Training Program in Colorado

13 schools, grouped by city. Select a program to see its highlights, and use the Website link for the school's own program page.

Colorado Phlebotomy Training FAQ

These answers cover the questions Colorado students ask most before enrolling. Colorado does not license phlebotomists at the state level, so most of the decisions below come down to program quality, approval status, and what local employers want.