Your Phlebotomy Technician Career Guide (Salary, Job Duties, & Requirements)
Phlebotomy technicians play essential roles in healthcare. They are professionally trained to draw blood from patients. Training to become a phlebotomy technician is relatively short, allowing medical professionals to start working in this field quickly.
Penn Foster Group’s Sr. Director of Healthcare Programs Jaime Nguyen, MD, MPH, MS explains, “Phlebotomy techs play a really important role in healthcare. They’re working anywhere where blood collection and specimen handling are needed – medical offices, hospitals, outpatient labs, and clinical laboratories – which is almost every type of healthcare setting.”
This blog post will dive into all things phlebotomy: what phlebotomy technicians do, how much phlebotomy technicians make, and how to become one.
What does a phlebotomy technician do?
Phlebotomy technicians work in healthcare settings to draw blood from patients. Some phlebotomy technicians may also assist with blood transfusions or blood donations. It is not a role for the squeamish!
Healthcare professionals who work in phlebotomy need excellent soft skills for handling patients who struggle or even have intense reactions to having their blood drawn.
Phlebotomy technician daily tasks
A phlebotomy tech’s day, depending what environment they work in, may look something like this:
- Reading lab scripts.
- Setting up their work area (printing labels, setting up vials, and choosing the proper needle size).
- Drawing and labeling blood samples and sending them to the lab.
- Calming anxious patients.
- Maintaining a clean and sanitized work area.
- Collecting insurance information and taking payment of any copays.
Is the work environment for a phlebotomist stressful?
Phlebotomy technicians can work in a variety of healthcare settings. Depending on where a phlebotomist works, the stress level can vary. Some environments, like hospitals and urgent care clinics, can be very fast paced, which could be stressful at times.
The work itself may also have stressful moments. The potential of mislabeling samples, which can cause serious issues, can be nerve-wracking.
Handling patients who struggle severely with getting their blood drawn can also be tough on phlebotomy techs. Some patients may cry and scream, and some may even pass out from fear and anxiety. Phlebotomy technicians must keep their cool and remain compassionate in these sometimes scary situations.
How do you become a phlebotomy technician?
Some employers may be willing to hire candidates with only a high school diploma if they get on-the-job training, but others may prefer candidates who have a training program and/or certification under their belt.
Training in Penn Foster’s Phlebotomy Technician Program, for example, involves learning the skills and knowledge you’ll need to be successful on the job and can help you become certified, which can also help you stand out to employers when applying for jobs.
Read more: Penn Foster’s New Phlebotomy Technician Program
What is a certified phlebotomy technician?
Certified phlebotomy technicians are able to perform more tasks and may even be able to earn more. To become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), you must sit for the National Healthcare Association (NHA)’s exam.
The Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) exam consists of 120 multiple choice questions. To be eligible to take this certification exam, you must provide evidence you have successfully performed a minimum of 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary, or finger sticks, on live individuals.
A program like Penn Foster’s Online Phlebotomy Technician Program prepares you with a hands-on externship as well as test prep materials so you are ready to take your test and begin your career.
How many levels of phlebotomy are there?
There are three levels of phlebotomy:
- Limited Phlebotomy Technician (LPT). Authorized to perform only skin puncture blood collections.
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I). Authorized to perform both skin puncture and venipuncture blood collections.
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPT II). Authorized to perform skin puncture, venipuncture, and arterial puncture blood collections.
Read more: Does Education Make a Difference in Salary? (How Learning More May Help You Earn More)
Where can you get a job as a phlebotomy technician?
Phlebotomists work in a variety of healthcare settings, including
- hospitals
- medical and diagnostic laboratories
- blood donor centers
- doctors’ offices
Read more: Top Healthcare and Medical Careers for 2025
What skills do you need to be a phlebotomy technician?
Phlebotomy technicians need both clinical and soft skills in order to perform their job. Some skills they need include
- Venipuncture techniques
- Specimen handling and labeling
- Knowledge of laboratory protocols
- Communication skills
- Empathy and patience
- Collaboration
While some areas of healthcare can get away with a less than stellar bedside manner, phlebotomy is not one of them. Compassion and patience are particularly important when handling young patients.
How long does it take to become a phlebotomy technician?
The timeframe to become a phlebotomy technician varies depending on how you go about it. For on-the-job training, there’s no set timeline.
If you are enrolling in a training program and getting certified, the timeframe to do so can vary depending on how much of your day you’re able to dedicate to learning. Some online certification prep training programs can be completed in 12 months.
Read more: 5 Jobs You Need to Know About in 2025
How do I know if being a phlebotomy technician is right for me?
If you’re squeamish or struggle with needles, phlebotomy may not be the career for you. But if blood and needles don’t bother you, this could be the perfect way to enter the healthcare field.
It’s a very hands-on role with a lot of patient interaction, so if that interests you, becoming a phlebotomy tech could be a great career move.
What are some common mistakes phlebotomists make?
According to Phlebotomy Training Specialists, the top ten mistakes phlebotomists make are:
- Improper Patient Identification
- Wrong Order of Draw
- Failure to Invert Tubes Properly
- Poor Vein Selection
- Incorrect Needle Angle or Insertion
- Not Following Hand Hygiene and PPE Protocols
- Failing to Label Tubes at the Bedside
- Incorrect Tourniquet Use
- Forgetting to Document or Report Complications
- Lack of Communication or Patient Comfort
Like any job, mistakes will happen. Being aware of common mistakes, however, can help decrease the likelihood and frequency
Phlebotomy Technician Salary
On average, a phlebotomy technician makes $43,660 a year as of May 2024.
What’s the job outlook for phlebotomists?
Roles for phlebotomy techs are projected to grow 8% by 2033, with 19,600 jobs expected to open each year for the next decade.
How to possibly earn more money as a phlebotomy technician
Like most jobs, experience and increased credentials can help you earn more as a phlebotomy technician. Certification, including specialized certification, can help you qualify for higher pay. It may also be beneficial to consider cross-training in another area of healthcare so you have more skills and can work in positions with higher pay scales.
Train to be a phlebotomy technician online
Phlebotomy is a great field to get into, one that can open the door to a rewarding healthcare career. Dr Nguyen shares that “Becoming a phlebotomy tech is a great way to start a career in healthcare and can be a steppingstone to more advanced roles, such as medical assistant, respiratory technician, medical lab tech, or registered nurse. These programs are usually short and allow you to get out and start working fast.”
Penn Foster’s Phlebotomy Technician Training Program, which includes a 40-hour externship to ensure hands-on experience, can be a fantastic way to get started. To learn more about this program, request information to see if it’s the right fit for you. You can enroll online or call an admissions specialist at 1-800-523-0577 if you decide this is the perfect move for you.
