Phlebotomist

Education and Training: 4 weeks - 6 months: Combined classwork, labwork, externship and certification test
M:F Ratio: 12:88
Hours worked per week: 40
Median Salary: $37,150*
Lowest/Highest 10% Salary: $23,480/$53,520*
Growth: Average

*The above salary data is for all medical and laboratory technicians. Average phlebotomist salaries may be a bit lower than this.

Table of Contents

1. What does a phlebotomist do?
2. How do I become a phlebotomist?
3. What skills and abilities do I need?
4. What does the job market look like?
5. What's the pay like?
6. Where can I get more information?
7. More Healthcare Careers

What does a phlebotomist do?

Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, donations, and research.

Some phlebotomists also do basic technical jobs, like preparing blood samples for lab work.

They must follow hygiene and safety procedures, to prevent the spread of diseases like Hepatitis and HIV.

Phlebotomists work in hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics, laboratories, blood banks and blood donation centers. Most work 40 hours a week.

How do I become a phlebotomist?

Find out if your local adult education center, junior or community college has a phlebotomy program.

There are also several online phlebotomy education programs. These programs should involve real-world instruction as well, such as an externship or an in-person exam.

In these classes, you will practice drawing blood on a fake arm. At some point you may have to draw the blood of your teacher, your classmates, or someone else. You must learn different venipuncture methods and when to use them.

You will also learn proper safety procedures, which you must follow to prevent the spread of blood-borne diseases like HIV and Hepatitis.

Before you sign up for any classes, do your homework. Find out:

• When the course starts. Not all courses are offered every semester. If you're studying online, can you begin the program at any time––or do you have to wait to join a class?
• How long the course takes. Phlebotomy program lengths vary greatly. Some take as little as four weeks, others take three months or longer.
• When the classes meet. Some colleges offer evening, night and week-end classes. Online courses may require you to participate in a discussion at certain times. Find out beforehand if a class seriously conflicts with your schedule.
• What the prerequisites are. Many programs require you to get vaccinated, to have a CPR certification, to pass a background check, etc. There are usually not academic prerequisites, but there may be an orientation.
• When and where you'll be doing your externship. Most phlebotomy programs require you to extern at a hospital before you can be certified. Make sure that works with your schedule too.
• What organization will certify you. Phlebotomists are not licensed, but they do need a certification. (What's the difference?) Make sure you'll leave school with a certification that employers will respect and recognize.
• How much it costs. Also factor in textbook costs, gas prices, childcare, and time you may have to take off from work.
• What is the job market like in your area? This is extremely important. In many areas of the country, phlebotomists must have years of paid experience to get a job. Some hospitals may only employ LPNs (licensed practical nurses) or other healthcare workers as phlebotomists. Is this the case where you live? And if so, are you willing to put in the time for that extra training?

A good phlebotomy program will certify you through an association like the following ones:

• The American Phlebotomy Association
• The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
• The American Society for Clinical Pathologists
• The American Society for Phlebotomy Technicians
• National Phlebotomy Association

To stay certified, you'll need continuing education in new technologies, safety procedures, and other clinical issues. These wil be offered through one of the associations above.

What skills and abilities do I need?

Phlebotomists need to know human anatomy, including the circulatory and nervous systems. They must learn and know when to use different venipuncture techniques and proper venipuncture protocol.

A good phlebotomist must have:

• The ability to work under pressure, to work with others as a team, and to cope with anxious and frightened patients.
• A willingness to follow directions.
• Manual dexterity.
• Empathy for others and sensitivity to their needs.
• Conscientious ability to follow proper safety and confidentiality procedures.

Nobody likes getting stuck with needles. As a phlebotomist, you will be dealing with frightened, nervous and angry people. It helps if you can project confidence, soothe fears, and make the patient's experience as painless as possible.

You'll also need to be comfortable with handling needles. It's natural to be nervous at first, but if you faint at the sight of a needle or blood, you'll have to overcome that.

What does the job market look like?

Job growth for phlebotomists is projected to be about as fast as average. Generally, there are more jobs for phlebotomists in cities and metropolitan areas.

In many areas of the country, phlebotomists must have 6 months of paid experience to get a job. Needless to say, this is a big problem for newly-minted phlebotomists.

Also, some hospitals only hire Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) or other healthcare workers with phlebotomy training to draw blood.

You may need to volunteer before you can get a paying job as a phlebotomist. Before you start your course, find a way to work in a doctor's office, volunteer for the Red Cross, or get some experience right after you get certified.

Also consider getting certified as an LPN, EMT, CNA or other healthcare worker. This added training may give you a better shot at finding employment.

What's the pay like?

The average salary, for all medical and laboratory technicians, is $37,150 a year. The top 10% earns $53,520, the bottom 10% earns $23,480.

Phlebotomists are paid less than most medical technicians, on average. The above salary data includes all medical and laboratory technicians; with only phlebotomy training you should expect to make something on the lower end of the scale.

However, phlebotomy is useful wherever you go. Drawing blood cannot be outsourced, and people's aversion to getting their blood drawn will prevent it from being automated. If you are considering a health care career, phlebotomy may help you get your foot in the door, and help pay for your education.

Where can I get more information?

Find a blood bank in your area. Most blood bank websites have an "employment," "jobs" or "careers" section. Do they have a job description of a phlebotomist?

Call them and ask to speak to human resources, saying you're interested in phlebotomy. Here are some questions to ask:

• What are the hours like?
• What would my responsibilities be?
• What kind of experience do I need? Most phlebotomy jobs require experience drawing blood. Some require paid experience, while for others, volunteering for the Red Cross is sufficient.
• What other licenses and certifications do I need to have? (e.g. CPR certification, driver's license, etc.)

Also do a craigslist search for phlebotomist jobs in your area. These will give you a good idea of what qualifications you'll need to have.

More Healthcare Careers:

• Paramedic
• Massage Therapist
• Licensed Practical Nurse
• Dental Assistant
• Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Return to our Healthcare Careers index.

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