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Phlebotomists

SOC 31-9097.00Job Zone 3 · Medium Preparationv.26.05

Context coveredThis framework covers phlebotomy practice in clinical inpatient, outpatient, and laboratory settings including specimen collection, processing, disposal, regulatory compliance, patient communication, and departmental leadership across all career stages.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Contaminated sharps disposal — follow established protocols under direct supervision to ensure compliance with applicable laws and facility policies in a clinical laboratory or outpatient draw station.
  2. Blood-drawing tray setup — organize and inspect trays for sterility and first-use needles and syringes under the guidance of a senior phlebotomist in a healthcare setting.
  3. Venipuncture technique — perform basic vacuum tube blood draws under direct supervision on cooperative adult patients in a hospital or clinic environment.
  4. Laboratory requisition forms — match printed or electronic requisition forms to correctly labeled specimen tubes under supervisor review in a processing area.
  5. Biohazard fluid disposal — dispose of blood and other biohazardous materials following facility protocols and applicable regulations under direct oversight in a clinical setting.
  6. Patient identification — verify two patient identifiers before specimen collection using established facility procedures in an inpatient or outpatient draw environment.
  7. Standard phlebotomy equipment — identify and handle needles, syringes, and butterfly sets correctly under direct supervision on a healthcare unit.
  8. Medical terminology — recognize common laboratory test names and abbreviations when reading requisition forms in a clinical laboratory context.
  9. Specimen labeling — apply accurate patient and collection-time labels to specimen tubes immediately after collection under guidance in a draw station.
  10. Infection control basics — apply standard precautions including hand hygiene and personal protective equipment under direct supervision during all specimen collection activities.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Sharps disposal compliance — consistently manage and document contaminated sharps disposal in accordance with OSHA regulations and facility policy with minimal oversight in a high-volume phlebotomy setting.
  2. Tray and instrument maintenance — independently organize, restock, and verify sterility of blood-drawing trays at the start and end of each shift in a busy outpatient laboratory.
  3. Multi-method venipuncture — perform vacuum tube, syringe, and butterfly venipuncture methods on a range of patient populations with reduced supervision in inpatient and outpatient environments.
  4. Requisition-to-tube matching — accurately reconcile laboratory requisition forms to the correct specimen tubes and verify test codes before specimen transport with routine efficiency.
  5. Standard laboratory tests — conduct routine tests including blood glucose screening, blood smears, and blood alcohol collections following established protocols in a clinical laboratory.
  6. Timed specimen collection — collect specimens at prescribed intervals for therapeutic drug monitoring and glucose tolerance tests, adjusting scheduling as needed in a fast-paced clinical environment.
  7. Specimen processing — centrifuge, aliquot, and prepare blood and fluid samples for downstream analysis by laboratory professionals with limited direction in a processing laboratory.
  8. Patient communication — explain collection procedures clearly to anxious or pediatric patients using active listening and plain language in a patient-facing draw center.
  9. Electronic health records — enter and retrieve specimen data accurately using medical software and office suite applications in an integrated healthcare system.
  10. Time management — prioritize multiple concurrent draw orders and timed collections to meet turnaround time targets independently in a high-demand clinical setting.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Complex venipuncture scenarios — perform successful blood draws on difficult-access patients, including elderly, pediatric, and oncology populations, autonomously and with minimal patient discomfort in acute care settings.
  2. Biohazard compliance leadership — audit disposal practices for blood and biohazardous materials across the team and recommend corrective actions to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance in a multi-site facility.
  3. Advanced specimen collection — independently conduct blood cultures, peak-and-trough drug level draws, and oral glucose tolerance tests while managing strict timing requirements in a hospital laboratory.
  4. Quality control of specimens — evaluate specimen integrity, identify hemolysis, clotting, or labeling errors, and initiate recollection procedures with clinical judgment in a laboratory environment.
  5. Requisition reconciliation — resolve discrepancies between electronic orders and physical specimens by coordinating with nursing and laboratory staff autonomously in a complex health system.
  6. Tray and supply oversight — manage inventory levels, evaluate vendor supplies for quality compliance, and maintain sterile technique standards across an entire phlebotomy department.
  7. Cross-functional coordination — collaborate with nursing, pathology, and medical staff to ensure seamless specimen workflow and timely result delivery in an integrated hospital setting.
  8. Patient safety monitoring — recognize and respond to adverse reactions such as syncope or hematoma formation during or after collection, applying appropriate first-aid protocols independently.
  9. Documentation and reporting — produce accurate written reports of collection incidents, near-misses, and quality deviations using electronic health record and spreadsheet software in a compliance-driven environment.
  10. Regulatory knowledge application — interpret and apply updated CLSI standards, OSHA guidelines, and facility accreditation requirements to daily phlebotomy practice without supervisory direction.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Departmental standards development — design and implement phlebotomy protocols, disposal policies, and quality assurance frameworks aligned with regulatory requirements across an entire healthcare organization.
  2. Staff training and mentorship — develop and deliver competency-based training curricula for emerging and developing phlebotomists, using instructional best practices in classroom and clinical environments.
  3. Performance metrics leadership — establish key performance indicators for specimen quality, turnaround time, and patient satisfaction, and drive continuous improvement initiatives across a multi-site laboratory network.
  4. Regulatory compliance strategy — lead organizational preparation for accreditation inspections by CAP, TJC, or OSHA, ensuring all phlebotomy practices meet or exceed current standards.
  5. Technology integration — evaluate, implement, and champion medical software, scheduling platforms, and electronic health record systems to optimize phlebotomy operations across a health system.
  6. Workforce planning — assess staffing needs, recruit qualified candidates, and design scheduling models to ensure adequate coverage and maintain service quality in a high-volume clinical environment.
  7. Cross-departmental policy influence — partner with laboratory directors, nursing leadership, and risk management to align specimen collection policies with patient safety and operational goals at an executive level.
  8. Competency assessment program — design and administer formal competency evaluation tools for phlebotomy staff, ensuring ongoing proficiency and professional development within the department.
  9. Budget and resource management — oversee procurement of phlebotomy supplies, negotiate vendor contracts, and manage departmental budgets to balance cost efficiency with quality and compliance.
  10. Organizational culture of safety — champion a culture of attention to detail, integrity, and cautiousness by modeling exemplary practice and establishing accountability systems across the phlebotomy workforce.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.

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Sources:Pathsmith™ Durable SkillsPathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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O*NET enrichment · skillscrosswalk.com

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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Certified Phlebotomist · Certified Phlebotomy Technician · Clinical Phlebotomist · Collections Technician · Lab Liaison Technician · Laboratory Phlebotomist · Long Term Care Phlebotomist · Mobile Examiner · Mobile Phlebotomist · Outpatient Phlebotomist · Patient Service Technician (PST) · Phlebotomist
RAPIDS apprenticeships
—
O*NET skills
Service OrientationSocial PerceptivenessSpeakingActive ListeningCritical ThinkingMonitoringCoordinationReading ComprehensionWritingActive LearningInstructingTime Management
Knowledge domains
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageAdministrativeEducation and TrainingPsychologyComputers and ElectronicsMedicine and Dentistry
Abilities
Near VisionArm-Hand SteadinessProblem SensitivityOral ComprehensionWritten ComprehensionOral ExpressionDeductive ReasoningSpeech ClarityFinger DexteritySpeech Recognition
Work styles
Attention to DetailDependabilityCautiousnessIntegrityStress ToleranceCooperation
Technology
Medical softwareWeb platform development softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite softwareElectronic mail softwareWord processing softwareCalendar and scheduling software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Dispose of contaminated sharps, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, and policies.
  2. Organize or clean blood-drawing trays, ensuring that all instruments are sterile and all needles, syringes, or related items are of first-time use.
  3. Draw blood from veins by vacuum tube, syringe, or butterfly venipuncture methods.
  4. Match laboratory requisition forms to specimen tubes.
  5. Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids or tissue, in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
  6. Conduct standards tests, such as blood alcohol, blood culture, oral glucose tolerance, glucose screening, blood smears, or peak and trough drug levels tests.
  7. Collect specimens at specific time intervals for tests, such as those assessing therapeutic drug levels.
  8. Process blood or other fluid samples for further analysis by other medical professionals.
CIP education codes
51.1009

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me®, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith™ Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.