Phlebotomist
Take blood samples from people in hospital so their illness can be diagnosed and they can be treated.
About the job
What it's like
You would take blood samples from people in hospital so their illness can be diagnosed and they can be treated.
You'd need to have a calm and friendly manner to put people at their ease when they may be nervous and distressed.
The samples you'd take would be important for diagnosing illness. As a phlebotomist you'd need to label the samples correctly and send them for analysis and testing in a laboratory.
You would:
Explain the procedure to patients
Reassure patients if they are nervous or distressed
Insert a hypodermic needle into the vein and draw off the blood into a tube
Apply a dressing to the puncture made by the needle
Label the blood sample
Deliver the sample to the correct laboratory within required timescales
Complete records and enter data on a computer
At all stages you would follow set procedures carefully so that samples are not contaminated or mixed up.
You could work with babies, adults and older people, with a wide range of conditions. You would need to follow the appropriate procedure for each type of patient you work with.
You can see more about the role on the phlebotomist page on the NHS Careers website.
Hours
You would usually work 37.5 hours a week, between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Part-time hours are also often available.
Environment
You would need to follow strict health and safety procedures, including wearing disposable gloves, when taking and handling blood samples. You may also need to have a Hepatitis B immunisation. You would work mainly in hospitals, either on wards or in outpatient clinics.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- phlebotomy
- electrocardiography
- body composition analysis
- spirometry
- health assessment
- exercise science
- venipuncture
- blood donation drives
- cardiovascular disease
- capillary
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- making decisions
- developing a plan
- social conscience
- empathising
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- resilience
- positive attitude
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Care
Human Biology
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
Most employers value a good general education qualifications at SCQF levels 4 to 6; or relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Healthcare Support (SVQ level 2/3).
Qualifications that show a strong interest in health and wellbeing and science such as Laboratory Science (SCQF level 5).A driving licence can also be helpful.
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
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