What is a Phlebotomist?

What does a Phlebotomist do?

Phlebotomists draw blood from patients for laboratory tests, transfusions, blood donations, and other blood collection purposes to help medical professionals make diagnoses and treat illness and disease. They may also collect urine or other bodily fluid or tissue samples and must label and store them correctly and enter them into the correct database.

Safety and sanitation are an important part of a phlebotomist’s job for infection control, as phlebotomists are dealing with blood and other bodily fluids.

Phlebotomists also interact directly with patients before, during, and after a blood draw, so people skills are important to the job.

They often work in medical laboratories, hospitals, and doctors’ offices, as well as blood donation centers. Occasionally, phlebotomists may be involved in the shipping and transport of blood samples.

How to become a Phlebotomist 

Phlebotomists usually obtain a certification from a postsecondary phlebotomy program. However, it is possible in some cases to become a phlebotomist with only a high school diploma and on-the-job training. 

To become a phlebotomist you will need to:

• Complete high school or obtain a GED and apply to a phlebotomy program. You may need to show proof of immunization, a minimum GPA upon high school graduation or a GED degree, and CPR certification. You may also need to complete a background check. It’s best to contact your state licensing agency for specific requirements.
  
• Complete a phlebotomy program at a college, vocational, or technical school, typically under a year, or receive on-the-job training, with a minimum of 40 hours of hands-on training in addition to coursework. Phlebotomists will learn about such subjects as anatomy, physiology, and laboratory work, among other subjects.
  
• Obtain your phlebotomy certification. Certifying agencies include ASCP Board of Certification (ASCP BOC), and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), among others. State certification is required in California, Washington, Nevada, and Louisiana.

To obtain certification, you may need to have clinical experience as well as pass an exam. Phlebotomists who transport samples may need other types of certification as well as a driver’s license.

Other important skills phlebotomists need:

• Communication skills: Phlebotomists must be able to explain procedures clearly and provide instruction to patients.
• People skills: Phlebotomists interact directly with patients, for whom blood draws can provoke anxiety and pain. The ability to empathize and calm patients is important to the job. Additionally, phlebotomists need to be able to work well with other medical staff.
• Organizational skills: The blood that is drawn can only be accurately analyzed if it is correctly labeled and entered into the right database. 
• Dexterity and stamina: Drawing blood is a hands-on and precise technique that requires good dexterity. Additionally, phlebotomists may stand for extended periods of a workday, so stamina is required.

How much does a Phlebotomist make?

Phlebotomists earn between $17.63 and $20 per hour or $35,190 to $41,591 per year. Those who take on a lead or coordinator role, or have higher certifications, may earn at the higher end of the scale. (Source: ASCP Wage Survey)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, phlebotomists may also earn varying wages based on the location in which they work, such as:

• Outpatient care centers: $42,750
• Medical and diagnostic laboratories: $41,580
• Hospitals: $37,400
• Physician offices: $36,970
• Ambulatory healthcare services: $36,190

Phlebotomy jobs are in high demand, with nearly 20,000 positions to fill each year and projections remain high.