CPT test plan by domain

The CPT exam follows NHA’s test plan from the 2024 job analysis: 5 domains, 68 tasks and 94 knowledge statements.

The plan sets how many of the 100 scored questions come from each domain. 23 of the knowledge statements are core knowledge that can appear in any domain. The plan has no subdomains: each domain is one block of tasks and knowledge. Domain names and question counts are facts about the exam; the wording of NHA’s documents is not reproduced here. Read the full test plan on NHA’s website.

Safety and Compliance · 26 questions (26%)

Patient Preparation · 20 questions (20%)

Routine Blood Collections · 28 questions (28%)

Special Collections · 12 questions (12%)

Processing · 14 questions (14%)

Facts checked on October 26, 2026 against NHA’s Candidate Handbook (updated June 1, 2026), the CPT test plan, the CPT exam FAQ and NHA’s CPT page; page numbers refer to the handbook. Rules can change: confirm with NHA before you register. Phlebotomy Tech Prep: CPT is an independent app, not made by or connected to NHA.

Read next

• CPT exam overview
• Eligibility and registration
• Exam-day rules
• Scoring, results and retakes
• Renewal and CE
• Phlebotomy study guide