Curious About Phlebotomy?
Learn what phlebotomy is, what the work involves, and how Mayo could help you explore a path into the field.
What is phlebotomy?
Phlebotomists are trained healthcare professionals who collect blood samples for testing, donation, or diagnosis. Their work helps laboratories and care teams gather the information they need to understand a patient’s health and guide next steps in care.
Collect blood samples safely
Support accurate lab testing
Create a calm, professional patient experience
What the work is like
Phlebotomists do more than collect blood samples. They help patients feel informed and at ease, follow careful safety practices, and make sure samples are collected and handled accurately for testing. It is hands-on healthcare work that combines technical skill with human connection.
In practice, this means phlebotomists often help with:
A calm, respectful approach helps patients feel informed and at ease before and during a blood draw.
Proper technique, safety practices, and patient identification help make each collection safe and reliable.
Careful labeling, preparation, and handling help samples move from patient care to lab testing accurately.
Organization and attention to detail help the work move smoothly in clinical or lab-connected settings.
Is this for you?
If you’re interested in healthcare but unsure where to begin, phlebotomy can be a practical field to explore. It offers a way to build focused clinical skills, work directly with patients, and learn how care teams rely on accurate testing without first committing to a long degree path.
Phlebotomy may be a career worth considering if you’re looking for:
You want work that supports patients, care teams, and the testing that helps guide important health decisions.
You’re interested in learning hands-on clinical skills that connect directly to patient care.
You’re curious about healthcare and want an option that feels specific, practical, and possible to explore.
You want help understanding what training looks like, what the role requires, and how Mayo Clinic can help you
Training at Mayo
Mayo Clinic’s phlebotomy training pathway gives students the hands-on skills, confidence, and clinical understanding they need to collect samples safely, support accurate testing, and deliver compassionate care.
Students train alongside Mayo Clinic’s expert educators in a supportive learning environment, with real-world practice and patient-centered preparation every step of the way.
The cost of education and uncertainty about job opportunities should not stand in the way of a meaningful heal
All admitted students automatically receive the Mayo Clinic Workforce Development Scholarship, which covers the full cost of tuition for the full duration of the program as long as they remain in good standing.
Programs within Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences are designed to support staffing needs at Mayo Clinic and help prepare students for healthcare careers where qualified candidates are needed and current job openings are in high demand.
If you’re looking for continuing education, try Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
“When I was applying to school, what drew me to Mayo was the patient-centric focus of everything, even very basic science studies. Being in a hospital setting and working with clinicians here constantly keeps the patient centered in all our work and in the forefront of our minds.”
If you’re curious about phlebotomy and wondering whether it could be a fit for you, our team can personally help you explore the field, training at Mayo, and what to consider next.
Go deeper
Some questions need more than a quick answer. These resources can help you learn more about the field, the work, and what to consider as you explore phlebotomy as a healthcare discipline.
Celebrating community and the excitement of scientific curiosity, graduate students and faculty gathered in Rochester in October for the 37th annual Student Research Symposium.
Mayo Clinic pathway programs support learners at every stage of their educational journey. This story on undergraduate enrichment is the second in a two-part series highlighting how those opportunities help students translate their interests into careers in medicine, science and healthcare.
Read article: Turning opportunity into purpose through undergraduate enrichmentPhysicians-in-training explore how emerging technologies, including humanoid robots, could help support healthcare teams and improve patient care
Read article: Mayo Clinic residents gain hands-on experience at the intersection of medicine and innovationMayo Clinic pathway programs help to build the future healthcare workforce by introducing learners to career options and educational opportunities. This story about high school exploration is the first in a two-part series highlighting the Education Shield's portfolio of pathway offerings.
Read article: Opening doors to healthcare careers through early explorationIf phlebotomy has helped you think differently about working in healthcare, you may also want to explore related roles that involve patient care, clinical support, lab testing, imaging, or hands-on technical skills.
Explore all healthcare programs
Explore a lab-focused path for people interested in testing, analysis, and the science behind patient care.
Learn about a healthcare role that uses imaging technology to help care teams diagnose and treat patients.
Explore a patient-facing imaging field that combines technical skill, anatomy, and clinical care.
Explore a broad clinical support role that may involve patient interaction, care coordination, and hands-on re