PLEASE READ BEFORE ENROLLING -- MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH HEALTHSTAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE- My…read morehonest opinion I will advise any student NOT to attend this school it's a Scam!!!
I enrolled in HealthStaff Training Institute's Phlebotomy Technician program using my Workers' Compensation Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher (SJDV) because I was serious about starting a new career. Unfortunately, my experience was extremely stressful and disappointing.
My instructor, Courtney Mason, CPT 1, was involved in numerous issues I experienced during training. I was called "sensitive," told I was not a good fit for phlebotomy, and told that I could not draw blood and should repeat the course or consider another career. I strongly disagreed because I had successfully performed venipunctures.
I also experienced disputes over my clinical records. I reported completing numerous successful blood draws, but the school's records reportedly reflected substantially fewer. I believe my completed clinical work was not accurately credited.
During training, another student injured my arm while attempting a blood draw she missed my vein and was fishing in my arm with a needle causing excruciating pain. I felt the instructor was not adequately supervising what was happening, and I was subsequently told that I had caused the injury to my own arm. I was also told that I needed to bring my own blood-draw volunteers from outside the school because the school would not provide volunteers for me to complete my required draws.
I also had significant administrative issues involving Kavita Mathrani, Director of the Ontario Campus. My concerns about my status, training, completion requirements, and ability to graduate were handled through administration. What makes this especially confusing is that I was ultimately prevented from completing my original cohort, yet I was later told that I was not formally suspended, expelled, or dismissed.
My classmates graduated on May 29, 2026. I did not. I was held back from graduating with my cohort and ultimately placed on a Leave of Absence with additional training requirements scheduled for November 2026.
Then came an incident that I consider extremely serious from a health-and-safety standpoint.
On June 13, 2026, while at school, the classroom was extremely hot. The HVAC was not functioning properly, and there were missing ceiling panels. I asked the instructor to adjust the temperature before things got out of control never happened. While performing a blood draw, I became overheated, nauseated and lightheaded, passed out/lost awareness, and fell backward, injuring myself. I ultimately required ambulance transportation late on in the day and emergency medical treatment.
I also experienced difficulties obtaining school information needed for my EDD appeal, including documentation concerning the school's training-provider status the school had me email information concerning my appeal and did not respond to my request.
What makes this entire situation even more frustrating is that my training was being funded through a Workers' Compensation SJDV. I am now questioning whether the voucher funds were properly administered while I was unable to complete my original cohort.
I am pursuing complaints with the appropriate agencies because I believe these issues deserve independent review.
My advice to prospective students: PLEASE do your homework before enrolling. Ask exactly how clinical draws are documented, how many draws you must complete, who provides your blood-draw volunteers, what happens if you're injured, how medical restrictions are handled, what happens if you fall behind, and what happens if you're unable to graduate with your cohort. Get everything in writing.
HealthStaff advertises itself as providing practical, industry-focused training and says it assumes responsibility for helping students develop job-ready skills. My personal experience did not match what I expected when I enrolled.
This is my firsthand experience, and I am sharing it so prospective students can make an informed decision before investing their time, money, and career plans.