Phlebotomist – Patient Service Technician Apprenticeship

Kickstart Your Career as a Patient Service Technician!

No experience? No problem! Our Patient Service Tech (PST) Apprenticeship provides you the opportunity to start a rewarding career in phlebotomy from day one. You’ll gain hands-on training in everything from patient registration to drawing blood and processing specimens — all while getting paid!

Cape Cod Healthcare is proud to offer this opportunity for entry-level PSTs in our Laboratory Services Department. Tuition is fully covered through the SEIU Training and Upgrading Fund (TUF), so you can focus on learning without worrying about out-of-pocket costs.

Learn on the job, earn a paycheck, and grow your career within Cape Cod Healthcare’s award-winning organization — your future in healthcare starts here!

How it Works

• PST Apprenticeship offers full-time flex positions (30–40 hours/week, Monday–Friday, start times 8:00, 8:30, or 9:00 AM) at Cape Cod Healthcare (CCH) or CLAB 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
• Hands-on and classroom training: Didactic/classroom instruction provided in-person by CLAB leadership alongside an accredited phlebotomy program
• Mentorship: Each apprentice is assigned a CLAB mentor to guide learning and skill development
• Guaranteed PST role after completion: Apprentices move into a regular PST position (extensions to the training period possible with management approval)
• Career placement: Apprentices work with CLAB supervisors to select the best PST position and schedule upon completion
• Early placement possible: PST 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 PST role
• Certification: Upon program completion, apprentices are eligible to become ASCP certified

Training Outline

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

• Classroom learning through an accredited phlebotomy program (in-person)
• Hands-on skills: Registration, Data Entry, Phlebotomy, and Specimen Processing
• Medical Terminology taught alongside on-the-job training
• Practical experience: minimum of 100 successful blood draws and 120 clinical hours
• Full funding for 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 CLAB mentor
• Timeline: approximately 12 weeks (may vary per apprentice)
• Outcome: earn a National Phlebotomy Certification upon completion

Earn While You Learn

• The PST Apprenticeship position starts as a CLAB Grade 5, Step 5 
  • Appendix F: Wage Scales of the Parties’ Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Job Code: 912)
• Upon completion of the PST Apprenticeship, our team members will transfer into a higher-level PST (Phlebotomist) CLAB Pay Grade 6, Step 5.
  • Section 4.6 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. (Job Code: 911)

Who Qualifies

• Ability to read, write, and communicate in English.
• High school diploma or equivalent education.
• Valid U.S. Driver’s License upon hire. 
• Acceptable driving record in accordance with the Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) criteria (will be obtained as a precondition to begin employment).
• Complete CCHC Laboratories’ Driver Safety Training Program (and every 2 years thereafter).
• (Preferred) Knowledge of medical terminology.
• (Preferred) Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and basic keyboarding skills.

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)

A 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.