Diagnostic Technician Apprenticeship - (Phlebotomist & EKG)

Kickstart Your Career as a Diagnostic Technician!

If you are ready to launch a meaningful career in healthcare, our Diagnostic Technician Apprenticeship offers a hands-on opportunity to build in-demand skills while making a real impact from day one. You’ll receive comprehensive, on-the-job training in patient registration, blood collection, specimen processing, and EKG testing — all while earning a paycheck.

Cape Cod Healthcare is proud to offer this entry-level Diagnostic Technician Apprenticeship within our Cape Cod Hospital (CCH) Specimen Procurement Department. Tuition is fully covered through the SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund (TUF), allowing you to focus on learning, growing, and gaining confidence without the worry of out-of-pocket costs.

Jumpstart your future, gain valuable experience, and grow your career within Cape Cod Healthcare’s award-winning organization — where your journey in healthcare truly begins.

How it Works

• You will work 32/40 Flex hours per week, Rotating Days & Evenings, 8a-4p, 7a-3p, 9a-5p, Saturdays 6:45a-12:30p at CCHC facilities. This program is designed for entry-level candidates—no prior experience or medical background required!
• Paid employee status: Apprentices are regular employees in a probationary period during training and all hours are paid!
• Hands-on and classroom training: Didactic (classroom-based) instruction provided in-person by CCHC leadership alongside an accredited phlebotomy and EKG Diagnostic Technician program.
• Mentorship: Each apprentice is assigned a mentor to guide learning and skill development
• Guaranteed Diagnostic Technician role after completion: Apprentices move into a regular  Diagnostic Technician position
  Extensions to the training period are possible with management approval
• Career placement: Apprentices work with Supervisors to select the best Diagnostic Technician position and schedule upon completion
• Early placement possible: Diagnostic Technician positions may be awarded prior to the standard 12 weeks, based on readiness
• Transfer rules: Employees may not transfer from their current position until completing the apprenticeship and serving 12 months in a regular Diagnostic Technician role
• Certification: Upon program completion, apprentices are eligible to become ASCP certified and obtain their EKG certification.

Training Outline

The Lab Services Educator will guide you through on-the-job in-person training, including:

• Classroom learning through an accredited phlebotomy and EKG program
• Hands-on skills in Registration, Data Entry, Phlebotomy, Specimen Processing and EKG training
• Medical Terminology taught alongside on-the-job training
• Practical experience will be a minimum of 100 successful blood draws and 120 clinical hours. EKG portion is scheduled with the (TUF) program by the instructor for 20 hours of class time.
• Full funding or classroom training, books, supplies, and the National Phlebotomy Certification test through the Training Fund (TUF) and Coastal Career Academy
• One-on-one mentorship from an assigned mentor
• Timeline: approximately 12 weeks (may vary per apprentice)
• Outcome will be you earning a National Phlebotomy and EKG Certification upon completion

Margaret, DT Apprentice & Heather, LST (Preceptor)

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Earn While You Learn

• The CCH Diagnostic Teach Apprenticeship position is a Grade S7A (Job Code: 8288)
• Apprentices who successfully complete this apprenticeship program will be moved into one of the following regular CCH Diagnostic Tech positions:
  • Diagnostic Technician I (Job Code: 7053, Grade S8)
    • Eligible for the following Certifications: ASCP or PBT (ASCP)
  • Diagnostic Technician II (Job Code: 7054, Grade S8A
    • Must have (PBT) – Phlebotomy or (EKG) Certification
  • Diagnostic Technician III (Job Code: 7133, Grade S9)
    • Must have (PBT) – Phlebotomy and (EKG) Certification

Who Qualifies

• Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.
• High school diploma or equivalent education.
• Good organizational and multi-tasking skills. 
• Ability to work independently and to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Complete CCHC Laboratories’ Driver Safety Training Program (and every 2 years thereafter).
• (BLS) - Basic Life Support certification (obtained by Apprentice Program completion, offered within)
• (Preferred) – Acute care hospital experience.

Future Opportunities From this Apprenticeship

Donor Services I & II (CCH)

A Donor Care Specialist I provides essential support in donor services by performing phlebotomy, assisting supervisors and pathologists with quality control, instrument calibration, and program development, and recommending workflow improvements to enhance efficiency and quality. This role requires prior phlebotomy experience, with national certification or completion of an accredited phlebotomy program preferred, and a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification obtained within 90 days of hire. The specialist also maintains professional growth through ongoing education and professional affiliations and is proficient in using computers to support daily operations.

Laboratory Support Technician (CCH)

A Laboratory Support Technician plays a vital role in ensuring accurate and efficient laboratory operations by performing pre-analytic and post-analytic specimen processing—including aliquoting, centrifuging, labeling, prioritizing, archiving, and disposing of specimens—while also inoculating and processing culture samples and completing general lab cleaning. The LST collects data for quality assurance projects, provides limited supervisory coverage when needed, and helps train new team members. This role requires strong computer skills; successful completion of a medical terminology course or exam; and either recent phlebotomy experience or related clinical/lab support experience, with passage of the CCH LST Qualifying Exam. The LST must also obtain and maintain Shipping of Dangerous Goods/IATA certification within 30 days of hire.

Medical Laboratory Technician-MLT (CCH)

 Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) performs a wide range of clinical testing across multiple laboratory disciplines—including Blood Bank, Chemistry, Microbiology, Hematology, Urinalysis, and more—while maintaining proficiency in all assigned areas. The MLT prepares reagents and media, troubleshoots instruments, performs scheduled maintenance, and accurately documents and reports test results. They support quality control programs by reviewing QC data, verifying methods, resolving rule failures, and compiling statistical reports, and they also participate in test validations, instrument interfaces, and updates to procedure manuals. In addition to core testing duties, the MLT assists with specimen processing, prepares and ships samples, manages inventory, educates new team members and students, and collects blood specimens from patients of all ages, ensuring efficient and high-quality laboratory operations.