American Harbor College is the best phlebotomy training school to go to. This post is a long overdue since I received my diploma back in February 2021. I took the lecture portion back in summer 2020 over zoom and completed my in person training after I passed my NHA exam. After that I was sent out to complete my 40 hour externship to apply for my CPT-I license. I am so grateful to be able to meet Brian, Linn, and Mr. Castro. Not only did I learned so much phlebotomy skills, I also receive so much advice for school and career. They are the most kindest advisors and instructor that I know and I appreciate their help so much. They were patient and took their time with me and all my student peers. I was able to take a huge step into my medical journey all thanks to them. Til this day, all the tips that Mr. Castro taught me I still use for successful venipunctures. I am now currently working at an Urgent Care as a phlebotomist (and MA)! read more

See all

I enrolled in this phlebotomy program and it has been one of the most unprofessional and unsafe experiences I've ever had. The curriculum is scattered, the instructor is constantly distracted with her midwife job and checking her phone during class, and at one point she didn't even realize she hadn't shared the venipuncture video before sending us into lab. On October 1st, she didn't show up at all, and another person, Linnea, "taught" us by reading directly off a slideshow, giving unclear or incorrect answers, and providing no real guidance in lab. In lab, I personally witnessed unsafe practices: being told to draw from a swollen site after already being instructed not to, the instructor palpating after the site had already been cleaned, lack of proper tourniquet disinfection, improper PPE use, and students reusing contaminated equipment. Even the parking lot felt unsafe. A woman filmed me while I was arriving. Linnea herself has admitted she feels unsafe at this location, told us to park in a better-lit area, and even said she's afraid of someone "popping out of the bushes." When I told her about the incident of being filmed, she grabbed her keys and asked me to point out where the person went. I told her where but said it wasn't worth my energy or safety to confront the individual. Her response was "it's worth my time" and she quickly went upstairs. I stayed downstairs because I was not comfortable or safe confronting someone who had just been recording me in my car. After three days, I decided to withdraw. I sent a formal email requesting a refund (which the school's own staff confirmed I am entitled to within the time frame). Instead of addressing my email, Linnea left me a voicemail saying she found out I dropped "through the internet," which is unprofessional. She obviously received a notification that they got a one-star Yelp review, and the level of unprofessionalism is only being exacerbated by her response. This program is not safe, not professional, and not a place where students can truly learn. I cannot recommend it to anyone. read more

I am not sure of the "great" experience everyone in these reviews got. However, I know what I went through at this school. The teacher was a nice man but he wasn't much of a teacher. He kind of just threw you into it and read off the slides that were given to him by the couple running the school. Brian and Lin were not much help with resume building and job placement. Every time I asked for help they referred me to websites that make resumes for you. Not helpful. I think they only have one connection for externships that is all the way in Mission Viejo. If you are going to do a program, I suggest you go to a school that actually cares about their students and outcome after the program is finished. I felt like time and time again they gave me the run around and were not actually helpful at all. I wish I would have done my research better. This program might have been great at one point in time, but it definitely fell off. My cousin went to a school in Santa Ana, AUMT Institute that definitely cared for their students and wanted to see them succeed. I am not trying to be mean, I am being honest about my experience, find another school. read more

Had a great time in the class. Mr Castro was fantastic. Great teacher, very personable and funny. Definitely recommend!

Got my first Phlebotomy job as a certified mobile phlebotomy technician one week after getting my license through American Harbor College. Very exciting. read more

I have completed the Phlebotomy program here at American Harbor College and can say that it was one of the best decisions I have made for my Pre-PA career. Not only did the class prepare me well for the certification exam and hands-on phlebotomy experience, but the staff was nothing less than exceptional. Brian and Linn go above and beyond for their students and Mr. Castro provided me with the confidence and reassurance I needed during hands-on practice. Brian and Linn have been amazing throughout the entire process and always having my best interest in mind, helping me achieve all the goals I desired. I know I have made long-term connections here and recommend anyone thinking about phlebotomy programs to come to AHC. read more

I would give it zero stars if I could. Going to this school was one of the worst decisions of my life. I feel traumatized by my whole experience with them. They threatened to sue me for leaving a bad review. Look them up on BBB before spending your money. Do your research, and feel free to contact me on yelp if you have had a bad experience with this school also. AHC, stay away from me. read more

I'm so glad I decided to take their phlebotomy class, I just finished the course on May 13. I had an excellent teacher Ms.Andrea, she's very knowledgeable, and she will make sure your confident about drawing blood (thank you so much, Ms. Andrea, you are such a dedicated teacher and I can tell you love what you do). It's a fast pace course, but as long as you study and do the homework you will have no problem passing the course. Brian and Linn- your to go persons for any questions you have in regards to the program, they will explain every process of the course and all they want is your success. Thank you both for helping me out and understanding my situation. Now in regards to a few of the negative reviews: they are completely out of context. How dare after 2-3 years of being a student you dare to post a review ( WHY ARE YOU RECENTLY POSTING A REVIEW? )How is it the school's fault if you haven't been able to find a job? Maybe your resume needs improvement or maybe you really don't want to work- don't find people to blame for your laziness. YOU GOT YOUR STATE LICENSE RIGHT!!!! I don't understand why some people are addressing their concerns 2-3 years after they took the class and got their license. Second: Why are you complaining about patients only speaking Spanish... how stupid are you ??? I think you haven't realized you live in a multicultural state. My suggestion to you is the following: MOVE A TO A STATE THAT SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE ONLY and the medical field might not be for you, as you will get different ethnicities and NOT ALL OF THEM speak English. Lastly- for those of you stating that Brian and Linn don't respond to your calls or emails, etc, etc, please take into consideration that you are not the only one. They are assisting other students into getting their license, don't be selfish and expect them to stop everything just for you; instead, be patience as part of your job as a phlebotomist and in life, in general, is having patience. read more

If you want to be a phlebotomist, AHC is the place to be. The school itself is incredible; I thoroughly enjoyed my 40 hours of didactic class here. I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet Brian, Linn, and Mr. Casato. They are the most helpful advisors and instructors I have ever met, and I am grateful for their assistance. They were kind and patient with me and the other students. I adore AHC and am overjoyed that I attended this establishment! read more

Linnea, Brian, and Mr. Castro... THANK YOU! These amazing human beings go above and beyond to help. Mr. Castro is a great teacher, he simplifies lectures to assist with learning. Brian and Linnea, where do I start? They do so much more than just help you get started and get through the course. I started the nursing program short after completing this phlebotomy course and I was still contacted by Brian to see how school was going and if I needed assistance finding work. It was really a great feeling knowing I wasn't just another number to them. If you are interested in getting your phlebotomy certification, THIS IS THE PLACE!!! read more

Amazing school, teachers and the best team available to help with your needs and concerns. I'm so happy I found this school and definitely worth the commute. I didn't want to go anywhere in Los Angeles and when I found out about American Harbor College it was definitely worth the drive to get the best education. read more

If you guys want to be a certified phlebotomist this is the best school for you. I went here last march 2019 and i am now currently working as a mobile phleb and a clinical research assistant. Ms. Andrea is the best instructor for this field. All the techniques and skills that you need will be provided in this school. Once Again thank you AHC for everything you guys Rock!!! read more

American Harbor College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Orange, California

I would highly recommended going to American Harbor College to anyone who would like to get into the medical field. Ms. Linnea and Brain are very awesome and knowledgeable about phlebotomy and will help you along the way. Mr. Castro is an excellent instructor and is very hands on with his instruction to the students. I really enjoyed being a student here at American Harbor College. read more

1 is too many. I attended this school in hopes of transitioning into a better job. This place sucked so much one of their instructors managed to flirt with one female student while harassing another to the point she dropped. The instructor literally called me pleasantly plump (which you know I am pretty thiccc ;), but not the point) They did swap out the instructors BUT the transition was so disjointed it left some students academically behind. After passing their final, my degree was non existent and for whatever reason they SUDDENLY stopped answering my phone calls. (If you read other reviews they state the same experience) As of now, I lost over $1,000 and wasted my time. To give them credit, i did hear that 2 out of 13 people in my class received their license. If these are your odds going in, I would bail :) read more

So much good to say about this professional college! I The pride And care and knowledge you will get out of your personal experience speaks loudly! I assure you they won't let you down ! If you are truly thinking of this journey,think no further and start it today ! Sincerely Tina waage read more

I got preferred to AHC by one of my friend. Through her great experience, I decided to applied for phlebotomy course. AHC provides a flexible schedule, especially if you're a full time college student. Needless to say, Brian, Linn, and Ms.Andrea were wonderful. Ms.Andrea really take her time and explain steps carefully to the students. She also give us great advice. AHC really help me get through the course even after I've finished and get my diploma. After a year focusing on school, I decided to apply for phlebotomist job to gain more experience. Brian even help me find my job and continuously send me job leads. My experience at AHC amazing. I would recommend AHC to whoever decided to take phlebotomy class. They are the best. read more

This review is long overdue. I received my diploma and my license back in August 2021. I started this course back in January 2021 and the basic didactic training was online. I will be honest in saying that it did take a lot longer to get everything processed due to COVID. COVID has made things very challenging and difficult for everyone - school was no exception. But Linnea, Brian, and Mr. Castro were available if we had any questions, through phone calls, Zoom, or email. In-person training felt very safe (they only allowed 6 people in at a time, temperatures were checked) and AHC was doing everything they could in their scope to make me feel at ease. I scheduled as many labs as I could so that I could keep building my confidence. After I received my diploma and license, I asked Linnea and Brian if I could still sign up for labs so that I could keep up with my training. They could have easily said, "No, we don't allow that, you are already done with the program." They said yes and I am so grateful that they did! Not a lot of schools will do that for you and to me, them saying yes shows that they care and they want you to succeed. All in all, I would recommend AHC for anyone who wants to be a phlebotomist, a nurse, a PA, or anyone who wants to work in the clinical healthcare scope. read more

My experience here was great. Linnea and Brian were great. Lin stayed in close contact with me after the classes and worked hard getting me fit into externship working around my work schedule. Believe me she had fun with that chore. I would recommend anyone attend here that is interested in Phlebotomy. Great teachers. Great administration staff. Linnea, Thank You for all you hard work to get me through this training. read more

05/07/2020: AHC reported my last review (hilarious), so here it is again with some differences that DO fit Yelp's guidelines. Here again reminding prospective students that they're crooks through and through. They don't care about your licensing if you try to stand up to them whatsoever regarding any problems you have. The moment you bring up anything 'negative', they will stop responding to emails, stop calling you back, and just flat-out IGNORE you after collecting your tuition. There's a reason so many people complain about the SAME EXACT issues. Low star reviews are REAL; businesses can't fake or entirely silence those. Pay attention and do your research. If, like me, you like the idea that they're an accredited school, research what that actually means for trade schools. In AHC's case, they pay the fee to the accreditation group (which is a business itself, not a group that ensures quality education), submit photos of the classroom, a representative visits the classroom ONCE, and then approves it. This means NOTHING other than they were approved once and then can forever say they're accredited. The classroom is full of outdated equipment, and they often didn't have tubes or specific needles to practice other forms of blood draws. If it is there, a lot of it is expired, ignored, and used anyway. I WILL continue to warn others of this scam of a school until something is done. - 11/10/19: There are a TON of retroactively dated 5 star reviews suddenly. Convenient! read more

Choosing American Harbor college, was the best decision I have ever made. Before doing so, I talked to so many different schools that offered the same program but AHC really stand out. They genuinely care about educating, helping students become the best version of themselves, and preparing them for their phlebotomy career. American Harbor College was more than a path toward getting my license, they were more like family, a very supportive one. Unlike other institutions they help students with their resume and specially finding a career after they are licensed. Their hospitality, is one of a kind and it's beyond what words can express. The instructors specially Mr. Castro are amazing!!!! Their techniques are very unique! Don't even hesitate to begin your journey with them! You will not regret it!! read more

Linn and Brian, you guys are awesome!! Reasonable price, great customer service... Thank uuuuuu read more

American Harbor College - Colleges & Universities Near Me - Orange, California

American Harbor College is a great school! Call now and see for yourself! They have awesome staff members! Experience: Cool and fun class! School: Absolutely Recommended! Process: Very consistent and easy Note: If you work hard and studied well, it will pay off! Thank very much for Lin and Brian! You guys are the best! It was a pleasure having you guys around! read more

Fourth update: Given the experience I've had I think it's fair to put 4 stars. Andrea the instructor is amazing. If you do decide to attend here ask for her classes. I picked up my diploma yesterday after completing all the requirements in externship in order for me to apply for my license. Happy to say that everything was submitted yesterday and my license is just a mail delivery away. The North Hollywood site was very busy on the weekends that I went, the staff was friendly and helpful and made sure I got all my required sticks in. The MAs there are hilarious. If you don't speak Spanish don't worry, you don't need to say much to your patients and it doesn't hurt to learn a few phrases (make a fist, hello how are you, open your hand, did it hurt, are you ok etc) I learned everything I needed to learn at this site and excited to learn more in the field. Third update. Finally got sent to externship. So I'm bumping my one star rating to 3 stars. Mostly for me finally getting to go and because the staff at the clinic was super friendly and they were super helpful in making sure I got as many sticks as possible. The north Hollywood site might be far but it's a great clinic. read more

I've been skeptical about looking into technical schools and something about ahc really stood out to me. While it is a short program, they give you all the tools needed to succeed. read more

Worst "school" I've ever attended. People are inconsiderate and waste your time. They never answer the phone, emails, texts or just anything. Do not come here!! read more

I took CPT 1 aka Phlebotomy at American Harbor College and had a really good experience. I feel properly prepared for the state exam, because of the thorough knowledge of the staff and the content of the class. In addition, I feel very confident I can use my new skills to help many people in the health care industry. Thank you Brian, Mr. Castro, and Manny for your instruction and assistance. read more

If you want to be a phlebotomist, you definitely should choose AHC. I have never regretted taking this course at AHC, I truly enjoyed 40 hours of didactic class here. All of the staffs indeed care for students. Mr Castro is a rockstar when teaching lecture. With his knowledgeable when teaching, both lecture and practical, make it easy like a cake for student, I will never forget his tips when drawing blood for patient. Mrs Linnea and Mr Brian and Ms Rachelle willing to go extra miles just to make sure student are strongly prepared for finding a job. They even help to improve students' resume. Again, if you want to be a phlebotomist, must choose American Harbor College. read more

If I had the option to give this school zero stars I would. I would give my instructor Ms. Andrea 5 stars!! She is awesome at teaching & helping the students learn phlebotomy. This school is a fraud & they will take your money & not respond to calls or emails. I'm going on 5 months post class & passing my State exam. I did my externship hours, but did not get the required amount of needle sticks to finish the program. I've sent multiple emails & made a couple phone calls. I still have received no response from anyone at the school. The extern site (North Hollywood) is not the best either. There is no one in charge of the externs, it is not organized at all & if you don't speak Spanish good luck. It is very hard to try to communicate with the patients & employees as they mostly are Spanish speaking. I'm very disappointed with AHC. SAVE YOUR TIME & MONEY!!! DON'T IT!!! read more

Wow. I can honestly say I am NOT surprised at the number of complaints since my horrible experience with this school. They should not be in business. ALL they do is sweet talk and convince someone desperately trying to improve the quality of their lives that they will provide all they need to have just that for the very low price of, what is it now? $1,700? I know November 2016 it was $1,000. Were you told they had convenient externship locations? DON'T GIVE THEM A PENNY! They will take your money, give you "awesome" instructors and then make it difficult to complete far enough to obtain your state license...... but you just might pass the NHA exam. For what? You two will have a USELESS certificate!!!! FILE A COMPLAINT. SUE THESE CROOKS. PUT THEM OUT OF BUSINESS!!!!!!!!!! read more

If I could give them 10 stars, I would. The staff goes above and beyond for their students in so many different ways. They gave me resources for TEAS prep, helped me find job listings, revised my resume before applying to jobs, as well as wrote me letters of recommendation for nursing programs, just to name a few ways they've helped. From the beginning, everyone was so helpful and patient, which made learning this new skill so exciting. If I could go to AHC again and take the class all over again, I would in a heartbeat. Special thanks to Brian, Lin, and Mr. Castro for being such great supporters and teachers. Attending AHC has opened so many doors for me and I recommend this school to anyone interested in simply testing the waters in the medical field. :) read more

American Harbor College is the school to attend for phlebotomy school. Linnea and Brian are so accessible and make the process of becoming a licensed phlebotomist as easy as possible. The school itself is amazing, I learned so much from the didactic portion despite my education being online due to COVID-19. The in-person laboratory is where I really learned how to perform venipunctures, and the instructors were so helpful. I was able to become confident in my skills before completing my externship, which allowed the externship to go by smoothly. I also was able to pass my NHA exam the first time with ease because my education from AHC fully prepared me! I have been a licensed phlebotomist for about 1 year now, and I am still able to contact Linn and Brian for help with documents and with grad. school! I love AHC and am so happy I attended this establishment! Thanks again! read more

I'm in the last night of my 2 week course here. I am SO glad I found this program. Not only are they very reasonably priced, but Brian and Lynn are so friendly and accommodating. When one of the students was struggling to find a vein, Lynn came into the class and let her practice on her! If this doesn't show you that the staff is dedicated to the success of their students, I don't know what does. Mr. Castro is an awesome professor. I feel very prepared and the lectures were interesting with a lot of laughs. The class size is small and we all got to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. I would highly recommend this program. Also - they will let you come back to sit for lecture and practice venipuncture even after the class is over if you're not yet comfortable. I'm very impressed. read more

Phlebotomy is a career that requires a lot of precision and attention to detail. The new professor from this location does an amazing job at teaching all there is to know: from pointers for getting hired to figuring out solutions when things go wrong. She is such a caring professor and makes sure you are comfortable with every little detail there is to master. She has such a great ability to explain things and to make you feel comfortable with messing up and learning from them along the way. The president of this program, Linnea was a lifesaver and made sure I had the necessary tools to find a job and get my career started. We are still in contact although I graduated from the program 3 months ago and she's always a call away to answer any questions or if you need any help. A great program overall that I truly believe sets you up for success. TIP: call and annoy Linnea with any questions/ concerns. She's extremely helpful and will go out of her way to assist you with anything. read more

This review is over due, I took the Phlebotomy course in 09/2020. I received my phlebotomy license in January 2021. Before choosing this school i did alot of research. I am so glad with my decision of choosing this school. Due to covid it was difficult to get a facility for externship but Lynn went above and beyond to get me into a facility to complete my externship, Mr. Castro was amazing at teaching the class it was alot of fun and Brian always helped with any questions i had. They are amazing, they help you every step of the way. Also provide you with facilities to apply for a job after graduation. I highly recommend them. read more

AHC give me so much insight on the job and the career I wanted to go into. The process of getting my CPT license was smooth and quick. They were there every step of the way even helping me with find a job. Thank you so much to everyone at AHC! read more

American Harbor College helped me through every step of obtaining my phlebotomy license. Lin and Brian worked with me closely to fit me into a great externship. Learning alongside great students and being taught by Andrea was one of the greatest experiences I've had as a student so far. Everyone in American Harbor will work with you to fit you into the best program and get you everything necessary to go into whatever path you want to. read more

The accelerated Phlebotomy course is FULL of education. The instructors are super nice and knowledgeable. The staff are VERY friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The Externship site in North Hollywood was SO worth the drive! Everyone at the site was SO nice and helpful, staff and patients. And it's a busy clinic so didn't take long to get all the draws needed. Brian and Lin are so great and actually care about their students and students' success. They make it so easy to complete the entire certification & licensing process. I highly recommend this school!! read more

I was and sort of still am a student here at AHS. To say this accredited school was great in all aspects is an understatement. Both Brian and Lin have been the most helpful and insightful team to work with. When I started I was apart of the online learning during the ends of Covid and although that was a hard time for many students, AHS made it very interactive and accommodating to learn, alongside the teachings of Mr. Castro. I felt very supported in my learning process and very well prepared for when I took my licensing test as well as when I got to be apart of my externship. Time was a big factor in my process in proceeding with obtaining a job in the phlebotomy field for personal reasons, but when it was in the works of me finding a job and being given the opportunity, I felt more than comfortable reaching back out to Lin and Brian for help in preparing. With their assistance and attention to detail in helping me make my resume tailored for the job, with interview questions we went over, I felt more than equipped with the tools they gave me. I am now working for Hoag Memorial Presbyterian, and couldn't be more happy with all the support and help AHS has provided me. Thank you Lin and Brian! read more

I decided to take a Phlebotomy Tech class. I had been searching for a good minute, and really hadn't found one I liked. That all changed with American Harbor College. The Class was small and intimate, which is awesome so you don't feel lost in the crowd. The class was intense, but made much easier with the help of a VERY experienced, knowledgeable Instructor. Very helpful and fun class! I defiantly recommend American Harbor College read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my Phlebotomy program at American Harbor College! Miss Andrea and Mr Castro are great instructors, and do a great job at making sure every student really understands the lessons. Miss Andrea is a SUPER experienced Phlebotomist and even owns a Phlebotomy company that travels to customers on request - how awesome is that?! That lets you know that you're in the BEST hands :-) 10 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more