Phlebotomy Training in London – NHS Accepted, CPD Accredited

The course is split into two modules: 3.5 hours of online theory you complete before your in-person day, followed by 7 hours of hands-on practical training at our London venue.

Theoretical Module – 3.5 hours, online

• Anatomy and physiology of veins and the circulatory system
• Equipment: vacutainer system, S-Monovette, butterfly needles, tourniquets
• Order of draw and tube colour coding
• Infection control and hand hygiene to NHS standards
• Patient identification, communication and consent
• Sample labelling, transport and chain of custody
• Health and safety, sharps disposal and needle-stick injury protocol
• Legal and ethical responsibilities of a phlebotomist

Practical Module – 7 hours, in person at our London centre

• Vein selection: median cubital, cephalic and basilic veins
• Tourniquet application and venepuncture technique
• Manikin and silicone-arm practice with real equipment
• Live blood draw on a consented fellow participant
• Managing patient anxiety and handling difficult drawsFFFF
• Post-procedure care and complication management
• Practical assessment under tutor supervision
• Written assessment to confirm theoretical understanding

Time	Activity
Pre-course	3.5 hours of online theory – complete from home before your in-person day
09:30 – 10:00	Welcome, registration and introductions
10:00 – 12:00	Theory recap, equipment walk-through and tutor demonstration
12:00 – 12:30	written assessment
12:30 – 13:00	Lunch break (refreshments provided)
13:00 – 14:30	Manikin and silicone-arm practice
14:30 – 16:30	Live blood draw on consented participants – supervised practice
16:00 – 17:00	Certificate issued

 

You’ll complete two short assessments on the day.

1. Written MCQ: A short multiple-choice paper covering the core theory — anatomy, equipment, infection control and safety. It’s there to confirm you’ve understood the knowledge behind the procedure, not to catch you out.
2. Practical observation: You’ll perform a venepuncture while your trainer watches closely and marks you, from patient consent and preparation through to aftercare and safe sharps disposal.

93% of our learners pass both at the first attempt. Pass and your CPD-accredited certificate is issued the same day.

The course is designed to be accessible to absolute beginners and useful to experienced clinicians. There are no prior qualifications required. You only need to be 18 or over and have a working level of English.

Ideal for

• Career-changers wanting to enter the NHS as a phlebotomist
• Healthcare assistants ready to upskill into a clinical role
• Nurses, midwives and paramedics needing formal venepuncture certification
• Overseas medical graduates seeking UK-recognised certification
• Pharmacy technicians moving into clinical practice

Also suitable for

• Phlebotomists trained abroad needing UK accreditation
• Medical students wanting hands-on practical experience
• Care home staff and senior support workers
• Anyone applying for NHS Band 2 or Band 3 phlebotomy roles

Phlebotomy is one of the most accessible entry points into the NHS, with strong year-on-year demand and clear progression to higher bands. London phlebotomists also benefit from High Cost Area Supplements on top of standard Agenda for Change pay.

Role	NHS Band	Typical London salary
Trainee Phlebotomist	Band 2	£25,000 – £27,000
Phlebotomist	Band 3	£27,000 – £30,000
Senior Phlebotomist	Band 4	£30,000 – £35,000
Phlebotomy Team Leader	Band 5	£35,000 – £42,000

Salary ranges are indicative and based on NHS Agenda for Change pay scales including London weighting. Private-sector phlebotomy roles in London (private clinics, occupational health, mobile blood-draw services) often pay above the equivalent NHS band, particularly for evening, weekend and home-visit work.

Source: NHS Employers — Agenda for Change pay scales 2025/26. Figures shown include the London High Cost Area Supplement and are reviewed annually. Last updated [April/2026].

There is no single fixed route to becoming a phlebotomist in the UK, but the fastest and most reliable path is through accredited classroom training followed by supervised practice. Here is the route most of our students follow.

1. Choose your route. Classroom training is the fastest. Apprenticeships and NHS internal training take longer and depend on you already holding a healthcare role.
2. Complete a CPD-accredited Phlebotomy Course (Part 1) such as this one. You will learn theory and perform supervised live blood draws.
3. Build live-blood experience. Progress to Advanced/Competency Phlebotomy (Part 2) for additional supervised draws and a recommendation letter for employers.
4. Apply for Band 2 trainee phlebotomist roles on NHS Jobs and through private healthcare providers.
5. Complete on-the-job NHS competency sign-off. Most Trusts require a probationary supervised period before independent practice.
6. Progress to Band 3, then Band 4 (Senior Phlebotomist) and beyond, with experience and additional training such as cannulation.

On successful completion of the course, you receive a CPD-accredited certificate from The CPD Certification Service. This certificate carries weight wherever you apply, in the UK or internationally.

What the certificate gives you

• Valued by healthcare employers — hospital trusts, GP surgeries, private clinics and
  corporate occupational health providers
•  International recognition by healthcare employers and regulators
• Online verification through Lead Academy’s certificate-verification portal
•  Lifetime validity – your certificate does not expire
• Direct mapping to National Occupational Standard CHS132 for Obtaining Venous Blood
  Samples

Where the certificate is accepted

Our graduates have used this certificate to secure phlebotomy roles in NHS Trusts across London and the UK, in private clinics including Bupa and Spire, in occupational health services, and in mobile and home-visit blood-draw services. The CPD certification is also accepted internationally and is regularly used by overseas-qualified medical professionals seeking UK-recognised credentials.

Your in-person training day takes place at our dedicated London training centre, fully equipped with phlebotomy stations, manikins, real clinical consumables, and bright, modern teaching space.

Address

• Bank Studio, 2nd Floor, Unit 2.6, 23 Park Royal Road, London NW10 7JH

Getting there

• Tube: 5–10 minute walk from North Acton (Central Line)
• Bus: Standard Road (Stop Y) is the closest stop, served by multiple London routes
• Car: free on-site parking is limited; nearby pay-and-display parking is widely available
• Bike: secure cycle parking available on-site

On the day

• Refreshments and provided
• Step-free access to the training floor
• All consumables, manikins and equipment supplied
• Bring photo ID, a notepad and comfortable closed-toe shoes

This basic phlebotomy training course is open to all learners, with no prior academic qualifications required for enrolment. Learners must be a minimum of 18 years of age at the start of the course. The course is suitable for individuals seeking to develop foundational knowledge and skills relevant to phlebotomy and wider healthcare practice.

Transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Choose the option that suits your budget.

One-off payment

£180 (full price £350 – currently 49% off)

Pay once, secure your seat. Includes all tuition, consumables, manuals, certificate and refreshments.

Instalment plan

4 instalments of £45 – interest-free

Spread the cost into four equal payments at no extra charge. The first instalment secures your seat.

What’s included

• 3.5 hours of online theory access
• 7 hours of in-person practical training in London
• All needles, vacutainers, tourniquets and consumables
• Course manual and reference materials
• Practical and written assessments
• CPD-accredited certificate (issued same day)
• Refreshments on the training day
• 14-day money-back guarantee