Skip to content

Medical

Phlebotomist

Phlebotomists collect blood samples from patients, and send them off for analysis and testing.

Annual Salary

£22,000 to £28,000

Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)

Working hours

37 to 42 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; on shifts

5.4%
Future employment

There will be 5.4% more Phlebotomist jobs in 2027.

Day to day tasks

As a phlebotomist, you could:

  • explain the procedure to patients and reassure them
  • insert a hypodermic needle to draw off the blood into a tube
  • apply dressings
  • label and deliver the blood sample
  • complete records and enter data on a computer

Working environment

You may need to wear protective clothing.

You could work in an NHS or private hospital.

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly
College

There are no set entry requirements to become a trainee phlebotomist, although it may help to have a college qualification like:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Healthcare Support Services
  • Level 2 Certificate in Health and Social Care
  • Level 3 Diploma in Healthcare Support

Level 2 or 3 courses in health and social care often include work placements. This will give you practical experience, which could help you to get a job afterwards.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
For more information
Apprenticeship

You could do a Healthcare Science Assistant Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship, specialising in phlebotomy.

You could do a Healthcare Support Worker Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship and then apply for a trainee role in phlebotomy.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
For more information
Work

You could start as a healthcare assistant and work your way up through training and promotion.

Volunteering and work experience

You might have an advantage when looking for jobs if you have volunteering experience in a healthcare setting.

You can also find volunteering opportunities through The National Council for Voluntary Organisations and Do IT.

Direct application

You could apply directly to work as a phlebotomist. There are no set entry requirements, though it may be helpful if you have at least 2 GCSEs and a first aid certificate.

Some employers may prefer you to have a qualification in healthcare or health and social care.

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the National Association of Phlebotomists and Institute of Biomedical Science for networking and training opportunities.

Further information

You can find out more about how to become a phlebotomist from Health Careers.

Showing jobs in:
View all vacancies in this region

With experience you could be a senior phlebotomist and have responsibility for more complex work. You could also become a team leader or manager.

Skills and experience in phlebotomy can also be useful for work with the NHS Blood and Transplant Service.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

You'll need:

  • customer service skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with others
  • knowledge of English language
  • a desire to help people
  • administration skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
My top 5 skills
Please sign in to compare your skills to this job. Sign in

To save or view your choices and results you must sign in or register (takes 1 minute).

Sign in Register