A phlebotomist is a health care professional that is responsible for the safe collection and handling of blood. They collect blood samples by drawing blood from veins, arteries, or capillaries depending on the situation. The blood collected is used for many purposes including laboratory tests and transfusions. Because of the nature of this work a phlebotomist often has direct interaction with patients when performing their duties.
Phlebotomy is a growing field with employment in a variety of places including blood banks, clinics, and laboratories. It takes two to four months of training to work in the phlebotomy profession although some people do have 2-year associate degrees and 4-year bachelor degrees. Community colleges, junior colleges, and technical schools all offer phlebotomy courses and training. Obtaining certification after completing your training helps makes you more competitive in the job market as well as helping increase your salary.