A phlebotomist is a trained healthcare professional who draws blood from patients and donors for lab tests, transfusions, donations and research. Phlebotomists find the vein, collect the right tubes in the right order, label every sample correctly and keep patients calm, often for people who are nervous about needles. Their work is the first step in most lab results, which means doctors, nurse practitioners and nurses depend on phlebotomists to get samples right every single time.
This guide covers what phlebotomists do, where they work, the order of draw and tube colors, common problems like hemolysis, how to become a phlebotomist, how long training takes, phlebotomy certification, salary, phlebotomist vs nurse and how to celebrate phlebotomists during National Phlebotomists Recognition Week.
In this guide
- What is a phlebotomist?
- What does a phlebotomist do?
- Where do phlebotomists work?
- The order of draw and tube colors
- Tourniquets, needles and butterflies
- What is hemolysis?
- How to become a phlebotomist
- Phlebotomy certification
- How much do phlebotomists make?
- Phlebotomist vs nurse
- What is it like to be a phlebotomist?
- A short history of phlebotomy
- When is Phlebotomy Week?
- Gifts for phlebotomists
- Phlebotomist humor
- Frequently asked questions
What is a phlebotomist?
The word phlebotomy comes from Greek words meaning "vein" and "cutting." Today, it simply means drawing blood. A phlebotomist, also called a phlebotomy technician or phlebotomy tech, specializes in collecting blood through venipuncture (drawing blood from a vein, usually in the arm) and capillary puncture (a finger or heel stick).
Phlebotomists are allied health professionals, not nurses. Nurses and other clinicians also draw blood, but phlebotomists do it all day, every day, which is why many are experts at finding difficult veins.
What does a phlebotomist do?
- Identify patients: confirming each patient's identity with at least two identifiers, such as name and date of birth, before every draw
- Review orders: checking which tests are ordered and which tubes are needed
- Explain and reassure: helping anxious patients, children and people who faint at the sight of needles feel calm
- Draw blood: performing venipuncture, finger sticks and heel sticks on newborns
- Follow the order of draw: filling tubes in the correct sequence so additives do not contaminate other samples
- Label and handle specimens: labeling at the bedside, keeping samples at the right temperature and getting them to the lab on time
- Infection control: hand hygiene, safe needle disposal and cleaning equipment
- Watch for reactions: recognizing when a patient feels faint or has a bad reaction and responding safely
- Special collections: blood cultures, timed draws, glucose tolerance tests and, in some roles, drug testing and urine collection
Accuracy matters. Labeling errors and poor-quality samples can delay care or lead to the wrong treatment, so phlebotomists are trained to follow procedures exactly.
Where do phlebotomists work?
- Hospitals: early morning lab rounds, emergency departments and inpatient units
- Outpatient labs and diagnostic laboratories: high-volume draw stations
- Physician offices and clinics
- Blood banks and donation centers: collecting blood and platelet donations
- Mobile phlebotomy: traveling to patients' homes, nursing homes and workplaces, or drawing samples for insurance exams
- Research and plasma centers
According to the BLS, there were about 143,900 phlebotomist jobs in the United States in 2025, and employment is projected to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
The order of draw and tube colors
The order of draw is the sequence phlebotomists follow when filling multiple tubes during one draw. Each tube contains a different additive, and following the correct order prevents additives from carrying over into the next tube and changing test results. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) sets the standard order:
| Order | Tube or bottle | Additive | Common tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blood culture bottles (or sterile tubes) | Culture media | Blood cultures for infection |
| 2 | Light blue top | Sodium citrate | Clotting tests like PT/INR and PTT |
| 3 | Red, gold or tiger top (serum tubes) | Clot activator, with or without gel | Chemistry panels, many blood levels |
| 4 | Green top | Heparin | Plasma chemistry, ammonia |
| 5 | Lavender or purple top (also pink) | EDTA | CBC, hemoglobin A1c, blood bank (pink) |
| 6 | Gray top | Sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate | Glucose, lactate |
A popular way to remember the order is "Stop Light Red, Stay Put, Green Light Go": sterile, light blue, red, SST (gold), PST (light green), green, lavender, gray. Other tubes, like royal blue for trace elements, have their own placement. Always follow your lab's procedure, since requirements can vary by facility and tube manufacturer.
Tourniquets, needles and butterflies
- Tourniquet: a band tied above the draw site to make veins easier to find. It should generally stay on for no more than about one minute, because leaving it on too long can change test results.
- Straight needle and tube holder: the most common setup for routine venipuncture
- Butterfly needle (winged infusion set): a small needle with plastic "wings" and flexible tubing, used for small, fragile or hard-to-reach veins, such as in children, older adults and hand veins. When a light blue clotting tube is the first tube drawn with a butterfly, phlebotomists usually fill a discard tube first to clear the air from the tubing so the tube fills correctly.
- Lancets: for finger sticks and newborn heel sticks
What is hemolysis?
Hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells, which releases their contents into the sample. A hemolyzed sample often looks pink or red instead of clear yellow after it is spun, and it can falsely raise results like potassium, which may mean the patient has to be stuck again.
Common causes include using a needle that is too small for the vein, pulling too hard on a syringe, shaking tubes instead of gently inverting them, leaving the tourniquet on too long and drawing through a difficult or damaged site. Good technique prevents most hemolysis, which is one reason skilled phlebotomists are so valuable.
How to become a phlebotomist
Phlebotomy is one of the fastest ways to start a healthcare career. The typical path:
- Earn a high school diploma or GED.
- Complete a phlebotomy training program. Programs are offered by community colleges, technical schools, hospitals and some labs. They include classroom learning (anatomy, safety, the order of draw) and hands-on practice.
- Complete clinical practice. Most programs and certifications require a set number of successful blood draws on real patients.
- Get certified. Pass a national phlebotomy certification exam (see below).
- Get a state license if required. A few states, including California, Louisiana, Nevada and Washington, require phlebotomists to be licensed or certified by the state.
- Apply for jobs. Hospitals, labs, donation centers and clinics all hire new phlebotomists.
How long does it take to become a phlebotomist?
Most phlebotomy training programs take a few weeks to a few months, and some college programs last up to a year. According to the BLS, the typical entry-level education is a postsecondary nondegree award, and no prior work experience is required.
Phlebotomy certification
Most employers prefer or require certification. The most common national certifications are:
| Credential | Certifying organization |
|---|---|
| CPT (Certified Phlebotomy Technician) | National Healthcareer Association (NHA) |
| PBT (Phlebotomy Technician) | American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification |
| RPT (Registered Phlebotomy Technician) | American Medical Technologists (AMT) |
| NCPT (National Certified Phlebotomy Technician) | National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) |
Each organization has its own eligibility routes, usually a combination of an approved training program and a minimum number of successful venipunctures and capillary sticks. Check the certifying organization for current requirements before you enroll in a program.
How much do phlebotomists make?
The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $45,230 in May 2025, or about $21.75 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,780, and the highest 10% earned more than $58,780.
Pay varies by work setting. According to BLS data for May 2025, median wages in some of the top industries were:
| Setting | Median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Outpatient care centers | $48,450 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | $45,700 |
| Hospitals | $41,490 |
| Offices of physicians | $40,480 |
Location, experience, certification, shift differentials (early mornings and nights often pay more) and specialty roles like mobile phlebotomy can also raise pay.
Phlebotomist vs nurse
| Phlebotomist | Registered nurse | |
|---|---|---|
| Training | A few weeks to a few months | Two to four years (ADN or BSN) |
| Main job | Collecting blood and specimens | Full patient care, assessments, medications and education |
| Credential | National certification (and state license in a few states) | State RN license after passing the NCLEX-RN |
| Median pay (BLS, May 2025) | $45,230 | $97,550 |
Many people start as phlebotomists while they are in nursing school or deciding whether healthcare is right for them. The patient interaction, clinical experience and venipuncture skills give future nurses a real head start. Explore the next steps in our guide to nurse specialties.
What is it like to be a phlebotomist?
- Early mornings: hospital phlebotomists often start before sunrise so results are ready for morning rounds.
- High volume: outpatient phlebotomists may draw dozens of patients in a shift.
- People skills: calming nervous patients is just as important as finding the vein.
- Precision: the right patient, the right tubes, the right order and the right label, every time.
- Tough draws: dehydrated patients, rolling veins and tiny babies all test your skills.
- Quick training, real impact: most lab results start with a phlebotomist.
A short history of phlebotomy
- Ancient times to the 1800s: "bloodletting" was used for thousands of years in the mistaken belief that removing blood could cure illness. Barbers often performed it, which is one origin story for the red-and-white barber pole.
- Late 1800s and early 1900s: as laboratory medicine developed, blood was drawn to be tested rather than to treat patients.
- 1940s: evacuated blood collection tubes are invented, making it possible to draw several samples cleanly through one needle stick.
- Late 1900s: phlebotomy becomes its own profession, with national certification exams and dedicated training programs.
- Today: phlebotomists collect samples for the lab tests that guide diagnosis and treatment across every part of healthcare.
When is Phlebotomy Week?
National Phlebotomists Recognition Week is celebrated each February. American Medical Technologists (AMT) and its Registered Phlebotomy Technicians lead the celebration, which ran from February 9 to 13 in 2026. Many hospitals, labs, blood banks and schools hold events that week, and some also celebrate phlebotomists during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in April.
Phlebotomy Week ideas
- Bring breakfast for the early morning draw team.
- Give awards like "Best Tough Stick," "Calmest With Kids" and "One-Stick Wonder."
- Share thank-you notes from nurses and patients.
- Sponsor certification or continuing education fees.
- Give practical gifts like a good mug for the 0400 start.
Gifts for phlebotomists
For the phlebotomist who knows exactly what they are. Perfect for the early morning lab run. $15.99
Shop now →
A nod to the butterfly needle and the phlebotomists who can find a vein when no one else can. $15.99
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For order-of-draw flashcards, certification exam prep or tracking your venipunctures. $17.99
Shop now →Phlebotomist humor
- "I'm basically a mosquito with a badge." (Also a sticker.)
- "Professional vampire. PhleBATomist." (We made that a sticker too.)
- "Today's phlebotomist, tomorrow's RN." (For the future nurses, here's the sticker.)
- "Little pinch. Okay, maybe a medium pinch."
- "Hydrate before your blood draw. I'm begging you."
- "Rolling veins are just veins with a sense of adventure."
Frequently asked questions
What does a phlebotomist do?
A phlebotomist draws blood from patients and donors for lab tests, transfusions, donations and research. They identify patients, collect samples in the correct order, label specimens and keep patients calm and safe.
How long does it take to become a phlebotomist?
Most phlebotomy training programs take a few weeks to a few months, though some college programs last up to a year. Many new phlebotomists then pass a national certification exam.
How much do phlebotomists make?
The median annual wage for phlebotomists was $45,230 in May 2025, or about $21.75 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What is the order of draw in phlebotomy?
The CLSI order of draw is blood cultures, light blue (sodium citrate), serum tubes (red, gold or tiger), green (heparin), lavender or pink (EDTA) and gray (sodium fluoride and potassium oxalate).
Do you need a certification to be a phlebotomist?
Most employers prefer or require national certification, such as the NHA CPT, ASCP PBT, AMT RPT or NCCT NCPT. A few states, including California, Louisiana, Nevada and Washington, also require a state license or certification.
What is hemolysis?
Hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells in a blood sample. It can falsely raise results like potassium and often means the sample must be redrawn. Good collection technique helps prevent it.
Is a phlebotomist a nurse?
No. Phlebotomists are allied health professionals who specialize in drawing blood after a short training program. Registered nurses complete two to four years of nursing school and pass the NCLEX-RN, though many nurses started out as phlebotomists.
When is Phlebotomy Week?
National Phlebotomists Recognition Week is celebrated each February, led by American Medical Technologists. In 2026, it ran February 9 to 13.
Exploring other healthcare careers? See our full guide to nurse specialties and the types of nurses.
Celebrate the phlebotomists in your life
For Phlebotomy Week, a new certification or the one-stick wonder who found your vein on the first try.
Shop the Phlebotomist Collection →Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Phlebotomists
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses
- Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, National Phlebotomists Recognition Week
- Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), GP41: Collection of Diagnostic Venous Blood Specimens
- National Healthcareer Association, ASCP Board of Certification, American Medical Technologists and NCCT, phlebotomy certification information