Education · 1 of 5

The path

Under a year, and you practice on real arms before anyone hires you.

1. 1

   High school diploma

   Grade 12

   A diploma or equivalency is required by every certifying body and most employers.

2. 2

   Phlebotomy training

   4 to 8 months

   A program of roughly 4 to 8 months at a community college or vocational school, covering anatomy, safety, labeling and the order of draw.

3. 3

   Hands-on sticks

   During the program

   To sit the national exam you must prove at least 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live people, not on a practice arm.

4. 4

   Pass the certification exam

   One sitting

   A multiple choice exam on procedure, safety and specimen handling. Employers treat it as the baseline.

5. 5

   First job

   Year 1

   Clinics and draw stations hire new certificate holders. Hospitals usually want a year of experience first.