A phlebotomy technician is a medical worker who is primarily responsible for drawing blood, either for medical testing or for blood donation. It is a very important job because a lot of information can be gained from testing blood, including the detection of diseases, which can then be prevented or treated properly. Phlebotomy technicians are also responsible for recording data about patients’ blood and blood work, which must be complete and accurate because it becomes part of their permanent medical history.

This is a great job for people who like working directly with patients, have excellent communication skills and are not squeamish about blood or needles. The best part is that the education and other qualifications required to become a phlebotomy technician are minimal and fairly easy to acquire.

The work you’ll do as a phlebotomy technician is basic but the weight of responsibility is heavy. It is very important to be accurate, calm and meticulous. You will frequently work with patients who are nervous about the procedure of drawing blood. Therefore, you will not only need to be technically skilled to make sure that the experience is not traumatic for the patient, but you will also need excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to keep a level head in stressful situations to help put your patients at ease.

Your basic responsibilities will be fairly uniform no matter which type of medical facility you work in. You will need to clearly explain procedures to your patients, draw their blood, apply pressure and bandages afterward, update patient records, clean and sterilize equipment and send blood samples to the lab for testing, among other things.

Phlebotomy jobs can be found in a variety of different health care facilities, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, health care clinics, blood banks and independent laboratories. Wherever you decide to work, your primary responsibility will be drawing blood. Most of the variance you’ll experience on the job will be the different ages and conditions of the patients you’ll encounter. Different phlebotomy techniques should be employed when working with elderly people than those used for children or infants. All of the skills you'll need can be learned through experience and training.

The minimum requirement for most jobs in phlebotomy is simply a high school diploma and a few months of specialized training, which may be provided by the employer. However, with technological advances and the increased responsibilities of phlebotomy technicians, more employers are beginning to require proper certification through an accredited phlebotomy education program. These programs and classes may be offered at your local vocational school or junior college. You can search online to find a program near you. You will take classes in anatomy, physiology, and blood and cell composition. There is no need to obtain a degree.

Through an accredited phlebotomy program, you can become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT). However, in order to maintain your certified status, you will be required to pursue continuing education as you work as a phlebotomy technician.

As a certified phlebotomy technician, you can expect to start out with a wage between $8 and $10 an hour. It isn’t the highest paying job in the industry, but if you love to help people and have the skills necessary to help them feel at ease throughout the undesirable procedure, the rewards will be great. It can also be a useful stepping stone that provides you with invaluable experience if you plan to complete additional schooling for a more advanced position such as a physician or therapist.