How to Become a Phlebotomist

May 23, 2022

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Unless you’ve always fancied yourself as a vampire, working with blood might not have been your first career choice. But phlebotomists provide a vital service, and this is a rewarding and fascinating healthcare career. What‘s more, becoming a phlebotomist has no set list of entry requirements, making it one of the most accessible healthcare careers for individuals who want to work in a role where they can help people and make a difference.

Phlebotomy is a vital role. The latest statistics show that 500 million biochemistry and 130 million haematology tests are carried out per year in the UK. That’s an average of 14 tests per year for each person living in England and Wales.

Because so many people don’t like needles, or are nervous about having their blood samples taken, phlebotomists tend to be confident and outgoing individuals who are easily able to put their patients at ease. They create an atmosphere of calm and comfort for their patients whilst also ensuring that they complete the mechanical elements of their role as quickly, and as competently as possible. This means that phlebotomists are usually great at multitasking and have high-level active listening skills.

From what a phlebotomist’s salary potential could be to where to find the best phlebotomist jobs, here’s everything you need to know about how to become a phlebotomist:

What is a Phlebotomist

A phlebotomist is a healthcare professional who specialises in drawing blood. Phlebotomy is the practice of making a puncture in a vein (usually in the arm) using a needle, with the purpose of removing a blood sample or series of blood samples. These samples are then used for testing purposes, to help medical professionals make more informed decisions and diagnoses, guiding them on the best way to treat their patients.

Phlebotomists play a vital role within the NHS, often working with both children and adults to make drawing blood as calm and pain-free as possible.

As a phlebotomist, you may work either within the NHS or within the private sector. You will either work within a hospital, clinic or GPs surgery, and you may be required to wear some protective clothing. Working hours for phlebotomists are regular, and you’ll generally work a standard 37.5-hour week. Some phlebotomists will work shifts, which means that some flexibility is required: you may need to work over weekends, and occasional evening work may also be required.

Personal Qualities of a Phlebotomist

Phlebotomists often deal with people who are nervous or in pain. They could be nervous about the blood test itself, or about the results and their wider treatment plan. A huge part of your role as a phlebotomist will be to put these patients at ease and help them to feel as comfortable as possible. In order to succeed as a phlebotomist, you’ll need to be:

Kind and caring. This is important for creating a rapport with your patients and ensuring that they feel as comfortable as possible in your care
You need to be comfortable around blood and needles. If the sight of a needle leaves you feeling uncomfortable then this probably isn’t the right career path for you!
Willing to be hands-on with patients with no discomfort about others being in your personal space. Phlebotomy is a hands-on role where you will have to touch your patients, feel for their veins, and be very close to them throughout the process
Able to follow instructions and procedures with ease, to ensure that the process runs smoothly for each patient
Able to work with others and as part of a close-knit team but also able to work independently and use your own initiative. You may also need to work as part of a multidisciplinary team on occasion, to provide the best care for a patient
Have a strong understanding of what a phlebotomist does and be able to explain any procedures to patients to help them feel more at ease in your presence
A methodical nature, to ensure that all records and blood collections are stored and recorded correctly
Good active listening skills, to enable you to listen to your patients and understand their needs whilst working on your role at the same time
Good observational skills. It is important that you know when patients are feeling comfortable, or when they are feeling unwell as a result of their treatment, even if they are not giving you any verbal cues to inform you

What a Phlebotomist Does

The primary role of the phlebotomist is to draw blood samples from patients in order to enable laboratory staff to better identify any diseases, conditions or anomalies within that blood, so that physicians can then offer the most appropriate treatment to the patients. As part of your role you will:

Explain the procedure to the patient so they are fully aware of what you will be doing throughout the procedure
Take blood samples in a way that is as careful and un-invasive as possible, without causing any harm or distress to the patient
Remain calm and collected when interacting with patients to ensure they are as relaxed as possible throughout the process
Take blood samples without interfering with or disturbing any other medical treatments that the patient may be receiving
Insert a hypodermic needle into the vein of a patient to remove a sample, or samples of their blood and then apply an appropriate dressing to the puncture made by the needle so that your patient feels as comfortable as possible
Take the blood correctly and label it accurately so that it will be considered a valid sample for testing
Store the blood correctly, and at the correct temperatures as soon as it has been drawn
Deliver the blood samples that you draw regularly to the relevant laboratory so that it can be investigated promptly
Use a computer and computer software package to log and record all of the patients that you see and any samples that you take from them

How Much Does a Phlebotomist Earn?

Most phlebotomists work within the NHS and are therefore paid according to the NHS Agenda for Change pay scale. Within this pay scale, phlebotomists typically start at band 2 or 3 depending on the department in which they work. As you develop and achieve additional training within your chosen career, you could work in more senior phlebotomist positions, which are paid at a band 4 level.

Starting Phlebotomist salaries at band 2 are £18,546 rising to £19,918 for those with more than two years of experience in the role
Starting salaries at band 3 are £20,330 rising to £21,77 for those with more than two years of experience in the role
Starting salaries at band 4 are £22,549 rising to £24,822 for those with more than three years experience in the role

In addition to this starting salary, if you work in London you will be entitled to London weighting of up to 20% of your salary if you work within an inner-city clinic or hospital, and of up to 15% of your salary if you work within an outer city clinic or hospital. NHS employees also benefit from a generous pension scheme, paid maternity and paternity leave, 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, and access to a highly regarded health service discount scheme.

Whilst most phlebotomists’ worth within the NHS, if you choose to work within private practice then you will find that similar salary levels apply.

Qualifications Needed for a Phlebotomist

Phlebotomists are part of the clinical support team within a hospital or clinic setting, but there are no set requirements to become a trainee phlebotomist. This is because phlebotomists are trained on the job, and will develop many of the skills they need within a workplace setting. Some employers or NHS bodies may ask that you have at least two GCSEs at C grade level or above to support your application. Others will ask that you demonstrate an understanding of the sector with a BTEC or equivalent vocational qualification in health and social care or healthcare. You may also be asked to demonstrate that you have some relevant work experience.

Phlebotomy positions are often highly sought after, meaning that there is a lot of competition for these positions. In order to give yourself a competitive edge, and help you to stand out from the other candidates, you may wish to gain a college certification such as:

The initial qualifications you will need to apply for these courses will depend on whether you wish to study towards a Level 2 or a Level 3 course. For a Level 2 course you will need 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent whilst for a level 3 course you will need 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent.

Another route into the world of phlebotomy is to secure an apprenticeship as a healthcare science assistant, specialising in phlebotomy. This would be an intermediate level apprenticeship. In order to secure an apprenticeship at this level you would need to demonstrate that you had some GCSE level education, and many apprenticeship providers will require that this includes a GCSE in both English and maths.

It’s important to note that just because there is no required or prescribed route into phlebotomy doesn’t mean that it isn’t a highly qualified and professional role. You will be working as a key member of a multidisciplinary team that is made up of nurses, healthcare science staff working in blood sciences, biomedical scientists, GPs and other healthcare staff. For this reason, employers will be looking for you to have as much experience as possible in the healthcare field to be suitable for this role. Why not consider some work experience in the health or social care arena? This could be either paid or voluntary work, and would demonstrate your commitment to pursuing a career as a phlebotomist.

On the Job Training

Phlebotomy is a hands-on role where much of your skills are learnt on the job. As with all healthcare careers, on the job training will form a key part of your continued professional development, and you will be required to ensure that you are up to date with the latest techniques and best practices for your profession. There are courses you could take to further enhance your skills, such as a phlebotomist training course or a lab technician training course if you wish to diversify your skillset and learn how to analyse the samples that you take.

With the right on the job training there are good career progression opportunities available for competent phlebotomists. You could become a phlebotomist team leader, working alongside other phlebotomists and supporting them in their work, whilst also helping to train and guide junior members of your team. You could also utilise your phlebotomy skills and undertake further training to become a Specialist Biomedical Scientist, where you take a more scientific interest in the samples that you take and in other biomedical materials that you are presented with. This is a fascinating field, and one that has the potential to be financially lucrative if you have an analytical mind and a keen interest in self-development.

Professional Bodies

There are two main professional bodies that provide support and training to phlebotomists at all stages of their career. These are the National Association of Phlebotomists and Institute of Biomedical Science. Both bodies offer professional recognition and training opportunities, whilst other membership benefits include an online forum which will enable you to interact with other phlebotomy professionals, and continued professional development opportunities.

Belonging to a professional body with a specific focus on your chosen career path is important because it adds to your credibility, and shows that you have reached a certain level of expertise in your profession. If you are new to the world of phlebotomy then joining either the National Association of Phlebotomists of the Institute of Biomedical Sciences will also show that you are serious about your career, and keen to take any development opportunities that are available to you.