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Phlebotomist: how to get hired

Most people enter with a phlebotomy certificate that takes less than a year. This page is the hiring path: your state's rule, the program checklist, where the jobs are and the interview questions to practise.

  • 8 steps, each with the official page
  • Reviewed 2026-10-19

Start with step 1See open jobs

At a glance

$45,230median pay per year ($21.75 an hour), May 2025
18,000openings per year on average, 2025–35
7%projected job growth, 2025–35
Certificatetypical entry education (postsecondary nondegree award)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Phlebotomists , checked 2026-10-19

What the work involves

  • Draw blood for tests, transfusions, research or donations
  • Reassure nervous patients and donors
  • Label and track every sample
  • Collect other specimens, such as urine
  • Keep the work area clean and sanitary

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Phlebotomists , checked 2026-10-19

Your step-by-step plan

Pick your state to see its exact forms. Showing the general steps; every button opens the page where you act.

  1. Step 1: Get free local help and ask about training money

    Before you pay any school, contact your nearest American Job Center. It is the U.S. Department of Labor's free local network for job search help, referrals and placement. Services vary by state, so ask directly whether training funds are available to you.

    Have ready: Your ZIP code · Your work history in a few lines · Your weekly hours free for class

    Done when: You have an appointment date, or a written answer about training funds.

  2. Step 2: If your program is at a college, file the FAFSA

    Federal student aid starts with the FAFSA. Since July 1, 2026, Workforce Pell Grants can pay for some short job-training programs — each state's governor picks which programs qualify — so ask the school whether its phlebotomy program is eligible.

    Have ready: Your Social Security number · Your recent tax information

    Done when: Your FAFSA is submitted and you have asked the school about Workforce Pell.

  3. Step 3: Choose a training program that counts in your state

    Pick a program that meets your state's rule, then ask the school five questions in writing: total cost including exam fees; whether it meets your state's requirement; how many supervised blood draws are included; whether they arrange the clinical placement; how many recent graduates found work.

    Have ready: High school diploma or GED (most programs and exams require it)

    Done when: You have a written start date from the school.

  4. Step 4: Get a Basic Life Support (BLS) card

    Some employers ask for Basic Life Support. Book a blended or in-person class: the Red Cross says online-only certificates may not meet workplace requirements.

    Done when: You hold a BLS card with an expiry date.

  5. Step 5: Book a national certification exam

    Near the end of training, register with one certifying organization. Check its eligibility first: NHA, for example, asks for at least 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary sticks on live people.

    Have ready: Your training completion date · Your log of supervised draws

    Done when: You have an exam date — then a passing score.

  6. Step 6: Apply for your state credential (if your state has one)

    BLS notes that a state may require an accredited program, a license or a certification. Your state is not in JoRoute's checked list yet, so confirm with your state health department before your first job offer.

    Done when: You know your state's answer in writing.

  7. Step 7: Put your application kit together

    Write a one-page resume from your real experience, then practise the five interview questions on this page out loud.

    Have ready: Certificate or credential number · BLS card · Log of supervised draws

    Done when: Your resume fits one page and you can answer each question with a real example.

  8. Step 8: Apply where phlebotomists are hired

    Medical laboratories and hospitals employ most phlebotomists. Open each search below, filter by your city, and apply on the employer's own site.

    Done when: You have applied to every matching opening within your commute, and noted each date.

Finish line

You are now waiting for two calls: the school confirming your start date, and employers inviting you to interview. Keep your phone and e-mail checked daily, and follow up politely one week after each application.

State rules we checked

StateWhat is requiredOfficial source
CaliforniaCertified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) certificate. New trainees: a CDPH-accredited program with 40 hours of classroom and 40 hours of clinical practice (at least 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures), a national exam, and yearly renewal.California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services
NevadaCertification by the state as a Laboratory Assistant. Qualifying routes include a phlebotomy certification from a state-approved organization (NHA, ASCP, NCCT and others).Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School
WashingtonMedical Assistant-Phlebotomist credential from the Department of Health: a completed phlebotomy training program and high school or equivalent.Washington State Department of Health
LouisianaState law requires a phlebotomist certificate, with exemptions for people working under a licensed physician or licensed facility. Confirm your case with the State Board of Medical Examiners.Louisiana State Legislature

These are the states JoRoute checked on 2026-10-19 — not a complete list. BLS notes that any state may require an accredited program, a license or a certification: check your state health department before you enroll.

Where the jobs are

36%hospitals
33%medical and diagnostic laboratories
16%other ambulatory health care services
9%physicians' offices

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Phlebotomists , checked 2026-10-19

Titles to search on any job site: Phlebotomist, Phlebotomy technician, Specimen collector.

Open jobs now

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Interview questions to practise

JoRoute practice questions. Answer each with one real example.

A patient says they faint at the sight of blood. What do you do?

They are listening for: Patient safety first, calm words, and that you follow your site's procedure instead of improvising.

How do you make sure a sample is never mixed up?

They are listening for: A step-by-step habit you repeat every time — not just "I'm careful".

You've missed the vein and the patient is upset. What next?

They are listening for: That you know your site's limit on repeat attempts and when to ask a colleague.

Tell me about a time you stayed accurate during a rush.

They are listening for: One real example: the situation, what you did, and what changed.

Why phlebotomy, and where do you want to be in two years?

They are listening for: That you have thought about the work itself and plan to stay.

Practise in Interview Studio STAR answer guide

Sources

Rules and pay change. Confirm with your state before you pay for training. Reviewed 2026-10-19. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.