Phlebotomy
Program Summary
A program that prepares individuals, under the supervision of physicians and other health care professionals, to draw blood samples from patients using a variety of intrusive procedures. Includes instruction in basic vascular anatomy and physiology, blood physiology, skin puncture techniques, venipuncture, venous specimen collection and handling, safety and sanitation procedures, and applicable standards and regulations.
Discover More About a Degree in Phlebotomy

Recent Questions
What is Phlebotomy?
Phlebotomy is used to withdraw blood for testing, donation, sampling or research. Individuals working in this field will be responsible for extracting small quantities of blood from a variety of patients on a daily basis. As blood can be hazardous, individuals are trained to follow safety precaution and perform the procedure with as little invasiveness as possible. Additionally, an understanding of human physiology is required, allowing the phlebotomist to find arteries or veins that will most easily allow drawing of blood on a case by case basis.
Educational Requirements and Certification
A phlebotomy program can take between six months and two years to complete depending on the program and level of education required by the state for licensing/certification. An education in phlebotomy will teach students how blood flows through the body and which areas are best and least suited for drawing blood. Students will become acquainted with the various methods and tools used during the process, and how to maintain safety standards while conducting the procedure.
Certification in phlebotomy may also obtained by other healthcare professionals, such as medical assistants, who wish to increase the responsibilities and duties they may perform as part of their daily work routine. Certification courses are generally short, between six weeks and three months depending on the program, allowing the student to perform phlebotomy related duties upon completion. Some programs are offered through hospitals and given at a low cost to hospital employees while others are taken at career schools or community colleges with allied healthcare facilities.
Throughout the course of study phlebotomists will learn to:
- Draw blood
- Identify Veins and Arteries
- Patient Care
- Safety Procedures
- Handle Hazardous Material
Employment Opportunities, Licensure and Advice
Those seeking a career in phlebotomy should be able to find work easily as it is a rapidly growing field with more jobs available than actual phlebotomists. This is due to the nature of phlebotomy, and that some allied health professions include phlebotomy as part of their coursework. The demand for individuals with the skills necessary to perform phlebotomy related tasks is expected to rise as the population gets older and the need for blood to be drawn and tested increases.
An associate's degree or program certification along with internship hours are typically required and vary by state. State boards of occupational licensing and one's school of choice should be able to provide a student with state registration or licensing requirements. Phlebotomy programs are either accredited by the National Accrediting Agency of Clinical Laboratory Sciences or the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Those wishing to pursue a career in phlebotomy must have/be able to:
- Steady Hands
- Good Hand-Eye Coordination
- Perform Repetitive Actions
- Stand on Their Feet for Long Periods
As phlebotomy requires the drawing of blood through a puncture made by a needle, individuals who are squeamish or prone to fainting may not be the best candidates for phlebotomy training. Additionally, because blood is being drawn and catalogued, certain safety precautions must be maintained at all times. Standard safety precautions are part of a phlebotomy curriculum, though clinics and hospitals may have their own additional regulations that must be adapted to and followed.
Job Growth, Salary and Related Fields
Phlebotomy is a limited growth field, allowing for little advancement due to its nature, and coupled with the increased training of this skill by healthcare professionals. As a result the need for dedicated phlebotomists will decrease even as the demand for individuals who can perform phlebotomy related functions continues to increase.
The average salary of a phlebotomist is approximately $29,000 per year, with a starting salary of about $22,000 per year, the low growth in scale regarding salary reflects the lack of career mobility associated with phlebotomy.
If you are considering phlebotomy as a career you may also want to consider becoming a Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Laboratory Technician or a Physical Therapist Assistant.
Top Schools That Offer a Phlebotomy Degree or Program
4-Year Colleges and Universities
| Bellevue Community College | |
- Bellevue, WA
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| Brookline College-Phoenix | |
- Phoenix, AZ
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| Cabarrus College of Health Sciences | |
- Concord, NC
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| Columbia Basin College | |
- Pasco, WA
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| Davenport University | |
- Grand Rapids, MI
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| Dixie State College of Utah | |
- Saint George, UT
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| Duluth Business University | |
- Dultuh, MN
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| Edison State Community College | |
- Piqua, OH
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| Ferris State University | |
- Big Rapids, MI
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| Goodwin College | |
- East Hartford, CT
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| Madison Area Technical College | |
- Madison, WI
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| Mountain State University | |
- Beckley, WV
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| National College - Salem | |
- Salem, VA
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| Olympic College | |
- Bremerton, WA
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| Pima Medical Institute-Tucson | |
- Tucson, AZ
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| Stratford University | |
- Falls Church, VA
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| Turtle Mountain Community College | |
- Belcourt, ND
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| University of Alaska Anchorage | |
- Anchorage, AK
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Community Colleges
| Aims Community College | |
- Greeley, CO
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| Arapahoe Community College | |
- Littleton, CO
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| Arkansas State University - Newport | |
- Newport, AR
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| Asheville - Buncombe Technical Community College | |
- Asheville, NC
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| Bates Technical College | |
- Tacoma, WA
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| Bucks County Community College | |
- Newtown, PA
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| Central New Mexico Community College | |
- Albuquerque, NM
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| City Colleges of Chicago - Harry S Truman College | |
- Chicago, IL
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| City Colleges of Chicago - Malcolm X College | |
- Chicago, IL
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| City Colleges of Chicago - Wilbur Wright College | |
- Chicago, IL
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| Clark College | |
- Vancouver, WA
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| College of Lake County | |
- Grayslake, IL
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| Columbus Technical College | |
- Columbus, GA
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| Community College of Allegheny County | |
- Pittsburgh, PA
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| Community College of Rhode Island | |
- Warwick, RI
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| Cuyahoga Community College District | |
- Cleveland, OH
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| Davidson County Community College | |
- Thomasville, NC
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| Davis Applied Technology College | |
- Kaysville, UT
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| De Anza College | |
- Cupertino, CA
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| Des Moines Area Community College | |
- Ankeny, IA
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| Front Range Community College | |
- Westminster, CO
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| Hagerstown Community College | |
- Hagerstown, MD
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| Harper College | |
- Palatine, IL
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| Harrisburg Area Community College - Harrisburg | |
- Harrisburg, PA
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| Illinois Valley Community College | |
- Oglesby, IL
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| Lanier Technical College | |
- Oakwood, GA
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| Lansing Community College | |
- Lansing, MI
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| Mid - State Technical College | |
- Wisconsin Rapids, WI
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| Moraine Valley Community College | |
- Palos Hills, IL
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| North Seattle Community College | |
- Seattle, WA
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| Northern Essex Community College | |
- Haverhill, MA
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| Ogeechee Technical College | |
- Statesboro, GA
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| Okefenokee Technical College | |
- Waycross, GA
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| Olney Central College - Illinois Eastern Community Colleges | |
- Olney, IL
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| Phoenix College | |
- Phoenix, AZ
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| Pikes Peak Community College | |
- Colorado Springs, CO
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| Renton Technical College | |
- Renton, WA
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| Savannah Technical College | |
- Savannah, GA
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| Schoolcraft College | |
- Livonia, MI
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| Sinclair Community College | |
- Dayton, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| Southeast Arkansas College | |
- Pine Bluff, AR
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| Southern Crescent Technical College | |
- Griffin, GA
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| Southern State Community College | |
- Hillsboro, OH
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| Wake Technical Community College | |
- Raleigh, NC
| Tuition and Fees
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| Waubonsee Community College | |
- Sugar Grove, IL
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| West Georgia Technical College | |
- Waco, GA
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| Wiregrass Georgia Technical College | |
- Valdosta, GA
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Technical Colleges
| Mercer County Technical Education Center | |
- Princeton, WV
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| Ogden - Weber Applied Technology College | |
- Ogden, UT
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| Tennessee Technology Center at Nashville | |
- Nashville, TN
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Career Colleges
| Abdill Career College Inc | |
- Medford, OR
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| Alaska Career College | |
- Anchorage, AK
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| Allied Health Institute | |
- North Lauderdale, FL
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| American Institute of Medical Sciences & Education | |
- Piscatway, NJ
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| Anamarc College-El Paso | |
- El Paso, TX
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| Anamarc College-Santa Teresa | |
- Santa Teresa, NM
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| Angeles College | |
- Los Angeles, CA
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| Arizona College of Allied Health | |
- Glendale, AZ
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| Ashland County - West Holmes Career Center | |
- Ashland, OH
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| Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus | |
- Jefferson, OH
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| Ata College | |
- Louisville, KY
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| Baptist Health System School of Health Professions | |
- San Antonio, TX
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| Brookline College-Tempe | |
- Tempe, AZ
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| Brookline College-Tucson | |
- Tucson, AZ
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| California Nurses Educational Institute | |
- Palm Springs, CA
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| Cambridge Institute of Allied Health & Technology | |
- Altamonte Springs, FL
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| Cameron College | |
- New Orleans, LA
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| Career Colleges of America | |
- South Gate, CA
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| Career Training Solutions | |
- Fredericksburg, VA
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| Chisholm Trail Technology Center | |
- Omega, OK
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| Choffin Career and Technical Center | |
- Youngstown, OH
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| College of Business and Technology - Cutler Bay | |
- Cutler Bay, FL
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| College of Business and Technology - Flagler Campus | |
- Miami, FL
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| College of Business and Technology-Kendall | |
- Miami, FL
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| Columbiana County Career and Technical Center | |
- Lisbon, OH
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| Compass Career College | |
- Hammond, LA
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| Compu - Med Vocational Careers Corp | |
- Hialeah, FL
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| Delta School of Business and Technology | |
- Lake Charles, LA
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| East Valley Institute of Technology | |
- Mesa, AZ
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| Forrest College | |
- Anderson, SC
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| Fortis Institute-Forty Fort | |
- Forty Fort, PA
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| Fortis Institute-Scranton | |
- Scranton, PA
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| Great Lakes Institute of Technology | |
- Erie, PA
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| Heald College - Concord | |
- Concord, CA
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| High Plains Technology Center | |
- Woodward, OK
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| Institute of Medical Education | |
- San Jose, CA
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| Institute of Technology - Salem | |
- Salem, OR
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| Kaplan Career Institute - San Antonio Campus | |
- San Antonio, TX
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| Madison Adult Career Center | |
- Mansfield, OH
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| Mahoning County Career and Technical Center | |
- Canfield, OH
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| Manhattan Institute (The) | |
- New York, NY
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| Maricopa Skill Center | |
- Phoenix, AZ
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| Medical Professional Institute | |
- Malden, MA
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| Miller-Motte College | |
- Jacksonville, NC
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| Miller-Motte Technical College | |
- Roanoke, VA
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| Mt Diablo Adult Education | |
- Concord, CA
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| Mti College | |
- Sacramento, CA
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| National College - Youngstown | |
- Youngstown, OH
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| National College of Business and Technology - Nashville | |
- Nashville, TN
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| National College-Stow | |
- Stow, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| New York Medical Career Training Center | |
- Flushing, NY
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| Newbridge College - Long Beach | |
- Long Beach, CA
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| Newbridge College-Santa Ana | |
- Santa Ana, CA
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| Northwest Health Careers | |
- Las Vegas, NV
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| Northwestern College | |
- Chicago, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Northwestern College - Southwestern Campus | |
- Bridgeview, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Northwestern Institute of Health and Technology | |
- Chicago, IL
| Tuition and Fees
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| Ohio Medical Career Center | |
- Dayton, OH
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| Opportunities Industrialization Center - North Central West Virginia | |
- Fairmont, WV
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| Penn Commercial Business - Technical School | |
- Washington, PA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Pike County Joint Vocational School District | |
- Piketon, OH
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| Pima Medical Institute-East Valley | |
- Mesa, AZ
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| Pima Medical Institute-Las Vegas | |
- Las Vegas, NV
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| Pima Medical Institute-Mesa | |
- Mesa, AZ
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| Pima Medical Institute-Renton | |
- Renton, WA
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| Pima Medical Institute-Seattle | |
- Seattle, WA
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| Progressive Training Centers | |
- Pompano Beach, FL
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| Putnam Career and Technical Center | |
- Eleanor, WV
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| Rose Training Institute | |
- Winter Haven, FL
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| Salter School of Nursing & Allied Health | |
- Manchester, NH
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| Seattle Vocational Institute | |
- Seattle, WA
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| Southwest Skill Center - Campus of Estrella Mountain Community College | |
- Avondale, AZ
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| Spencerian College | |
- Louisville, KY
| Tuition and Fees
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| Spencerian College - Lexington | |
- Lexington, KY
| Tuition and Fees
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| St Luke's College | |
- Sioux City, IA
| Tuition and Fees
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| Stautzenberger College - Livonia | |
- Allen Park, MI
| Tuition and Fees
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| Stautzenberger College-Maumee | |
- Maumee, OH
| Tuition and Fees
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| Superior Career Institute | |
- Lauderdale Lakes, FL
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| Technical Learning Centers Inc | |
- Washington, DC
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| The College of Office Technology | |
- Chicago, IL
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| Tri - County Adult Career Center | |
- Nelsonville, OH
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| Ultimate Medical Academy | |
- Clearwater, FL
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| Ultimate Medical Academy - Tampa | |
- Tampa, FL
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| Vantage Career Center | |
- Van Wert, OH
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| West Tennessee Business College | |
- Jackson, TN
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| Yorktowne Business Institute | |
- York, PA
| Tuition and Fees
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