Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

Can I still attend for the course, even if I have no experience in taking blood?

Yes, the Basic Course is designed to suit people with little or no experience in taking blood. All that is required is a good understanding of English. In our experience some of our best students have come to the course with no prior knowledge of phlebotomy.

Do You Offer Phlebotomy Courses Near Me?

How much does the basic course cost?

The cost of a place on our Basic Course is £348 (inc. of VAT). This price is subject to change.

What happens once I have paid for the course?

You should receive confirmation straight away by email with full details for the course and also a link to the agreed terms and conditions. 10 days before the course is due to start will we send another email to confirm the venue details and directions.

Can you give funding for your training?

We cannot, but there are a number of sources available. If you are on jobseekers allowance/universal credit your JCP advisor may be able to help.

For members of the armed forces who are leaving our training can be paid for by using an application for  in advance of Individual Resettlement Training Costs (IRTC) . Please speak to your Service Resettlement Adviser (SRA).

Will I take Live blood on the basic course?

The short answer is no, you will not take live blood on the basic course. You will be using pads that are attached to the arm of the other learners to simulate the veins that can be found in the elbow area of the arm (antecubital fossa or ‘ACF’). The benefit of using these pads is that it allows you to practice the procedure as many times as you need to until you feel comfortable and confident in your technique. We also have prosthetic (artificial) arms with realistic veins for learners to use. Both the pads and arms are filled with a blood coloured liquid, to add a little more realism.

Also when taking live bloods, the quality of the experience is dictated by the quality of the learners veins. If half the group has bad veins then everyone will have a bad experience and inexperienced learners may find their lack of success disheartening.

What is the difference between your Certificate and a “Certificate of Competency’?

A Certificate of Competency can only properly be obtained after you have been supervised drawing a number of bloods in a clinical environment. This requires you to take a number of bloods from patients and is generally earned over a period of time whilst working as a phlebotomist. Our certificate is an Accredited Certificate from Aim Qualifications and Assessment Group that shows that you have developed all of the skills required to commence a career in phlebotomy.

Can you guarantee me a job after your training ?

Sadly not, that’s up to you – but we know that lots of our learners go on to get jobs after our training. However, we do know that our training is well recognised across the healthcare sector. We often get feedback on our Facebook page about learners who have gone on to get jobs as phlebotomists.

Are we recognised by the NHS?

We deliver our courses to employees of the NHS nationwide, but we cannot say that everyone in an organisation as large and diverse as the NHS will recognise our certificate (after all it is the 5th largest employer in the world). However, we have close ties with a number of NHS Hospitals, Trusts and GP practices.

Do you use safety equipment in your training?

We do, all of our training complies with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 as required by law.

How much do phlebotomists earn in the UK?

Most phlebotomy jobs in the UK are on NHS bands 2 or 3  which equates to £17,652 to £20,765 per annum full time dependent upon experience but many phlebotomists work part time which will reduce that income dependent upon the hours worked.

London weighting will increase this level of payment in the Capital

How do you train to be a phlebotomist?

Many phlebotomists in practice today have been trained on the job and until comparatively recently there has been little standardised training.

In 2012 Northallerton based Phlebotomy Training Services introduced the first accredited phlebotomy training course to the UK. They remain the market leaders although many other training organisations have subsequently entered the market

Formal phlebotomy training introduces standardised techniques and ensures that participants acquire all of the knowledge and skills required to take blood safely and effectively.

Can anyone train to be a phlebotomist?

 The simple answer is “Yes”

You will need to be good with people and to have a good level of written and colloquial English.

Being happy keeping and entering records on a computer will also be an advantage but otherwise no special skills are required.

Do you need training to be a phlebotomist?

Would you be happy inserting a needle into another person without any training?

Like any other procedure, phlebotomists are better when properly trained – that’s not to say that on the job training isn’t good – we think that its essential but you will benefit more from that training if you understand why you are doing what you are being taught and if you have a sound base of practical skills to work from