How to Become a Phlebotomist in Louisiana
Louisiana issues a phlebotomist certificate through the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. You qualify by one of 2 routes: a training program the board finds satisfactory (at least 20 lecture hours or adequate practical hours, with 100 venipunctures and 25 capillary collections) followed by a certification exam the board approves, or a nationally recognized phlebotomy certification exam from one of the organizations the rule lists. The rule exempts several employer settings; see who needs the certificate. Every rule below is taken from the regulations themselves (LAC 46:XLV §§3503–3533).
Updated October 2026 · Rules checked October 2026 · Sources: LAC 46:XLV §§3503–3533, IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
- Minimum training
- 20 lecture hoursor adequate practical hours; training route
- Certification exam
- Required8 organizations listed
- Colleges with phlebotomy programs
- 11IPEDS 2023–24
- Louisiana median pay
- $36,120$17.36/hr · BLS May 2025
Louisiana phlebotomy requirements at a glance
| Credential | Phlebotomist certificate |
|---|---|
| Issued by | Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners |
| Education | The board needs an official transcript sent to it directly by your professional school, the school that qualified you to sit for the national certification exam |
| Training | One of two routes (below); the training route is a program the board finds satisfactory, with at least 20 lecture hours or adequate practical hours |
| Practice | On the training route, 100 successful venipunctures and 25 successful capillary collections |
| Exam | Required on both routes: the training route ends with a certification exam the board approves or gives, and the other route is a nationally recognized phlebotomy certification exam. The board's application page says phlebotomist applicants must have passed a national exam approved by the board, with the passing score report sent to the board directly by the exam agency |
| State fee | $40 to obtain or renew the certificate |
| Applying | Apply online, then send a recent photograph, the fee, and evidence of your training and exam. If you qualify by training but have not yet passed a nationally recognized exam, you may be granted a temporary certificate valid for three months, which can be renewed one time if you fail the exam |
| Renewal | Every year: a certificate expires on the last day of the year it was issued and is renewed annually with the $40 renewal fee (the board mails renewal forms by November 15). Renewing after January 1 adds a $50 delinquent fee. You need 12 contact hours of continuing education each calendar year, and extra hours do not carry over |
| Background | A background check is required; the board sends instructions after it receives your application |
From LAC 46:XLV §3503 (definitions), LAC 46:XLV §3505 (license or certificate required), LAC 46:XLV §3507 (exemptions), LAC 46:XLV §3509 (qualifications), LAC 46:XLV §3519 (temporary certificate), LAC 46:XLV §3525 (application), LAC 46:XLV §3527 (expiration and renewal), LAC 46:XLV §3529 (fees), LAC 46:XLV §3533 (continuing education) and LSBME application instructions (clinical laboratory personnel), read in October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners before you apply.
Step 1: Check that you qualify
The board needs an official transcript sent to it directly by your professional school, the school that qualified you to sit for the national certification exam. A background check is required; the board sends instructions after it receives your application.
Who needs the certificate. The certificate requirement does not apply to anyone performing phlebotomy who is employed by, or works under the direction and supervision of, a physician licensed by the board, a clinic run by a health care provider licensed to do clinical laboratory testing, a hospital, a nursing home, or another licensed health care facility that does clinical laboratory testing. Ask the employer whether it wants you to hold the certificate anyway.
Step 2: Pick your route
The Louisiana rule gives two ways to qualify for the phlebotomist certificate:
- Finish a training program the board finds satisfactory, with at least 20 lecture hours or adequate practical hours and 100 successful venipunctures and 25 successful capillary collections, then pass a certification exam the board approves or gives.
- Pass a nationally recognized phlebotomy certification exam from one of the eight organizations the rule lists.
Both routes end in an exam. A certified phlebotomist may also perform and report results of any waived tests.
National certifications Louisiana accepts
- American Society of Clinical Pathologists
- National Certification Agency
- American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians
- National Phlebotomy Association
- American Medical Technologists
- American Association of Blood Banks
- National Allied Health Test Registry
- International Academy of Phlebotomy Science
11 colleges in Louisiana report phlebotomy programs to the U.S. Department of Education; see them with costs and graduates. Hospitals, labs and private schools outside that federal data also train phlebotomists, so check a program's approval before you pay.
What college phlebotomy programs charge in Louisiana
3 colleges report a price: $5,200 to $15,000, median $10,250 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). More: how much phlebotomy classes cost by state.
| College (lowest prices) | City | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Training Institute | Kenner | $5,200 |
| Infinity College | Lafayette | $10,250 |
| Williams Technical College | Houma | $15,000 |
Price = tuition plus books and supplies, self-reported by colleges for 2023–24; it covers the college's largest phlebotomy program. Exam and state fees are extra.
Phlebotomy classes in Louisiana's biggest metro areas
Step 3: Pass an approved certification exam
Required on both routes: the training route ends with a certification exam the board approves or gives, and the other route is a nationally recognized phlebotomy certification exam. The board's application page says phlebotomist applicants must have passed a national exam approved by the board, with the passing score report sent to the board directly by the exam agency. Check with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners that your exam is on its approved list before you register. National phlebotomy certifications.
Step 4: Apply to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
Send your application with proof of education and training and your exam result. Fee: $40 to obtain or renew the certificate. Apply online, then send a recent photograph, the fee, and evidence of your training and exam. If you qualify by training but have not yet passed a nationally recognized exam, you may be granted a temporary certificate valid for three months, which can be renewed one time if you fail the exam.
Keep it current. Every year: a certificate expires on the last day of the year it was issued and is renewed annually with the $40 renewal fee (the board mails renewal forms by November 15). Renewing after January 1 adds a $50 delinquent fee. You need 12 contact hours of continuing education each calendar year, and extra hours do not carry over.
3,410 phlebotomists work in Louisiana. The median earns $36,120 a year; the top 10% earn $47,120 or more (BLS May 2025). Louisiana phlebotomist pay by metro area.
Phlebotomy requirements by state
| State | Minimum training | Exam | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 40 lecture + 40 clinical | Required | 19 |
| Louisiana | 20 lecture hours (or adequate practical hours) | Required | 11 |
| Nevada | 6 months (training route) | One of 3 routes | 4 |
| Washington | Set by program | One of 3 routes | 14 |
Only states whose phlebotomy rules we have read in full are listed. How to become a phlebotomist: all states compared.
Becoming a phlebotomist in Louisiana: FAQ
Is there a state phlebotomy license in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana certifies phlebotomists through the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, and no one may work as a phlebotomist without a current certificate unless exempt. The exemptions cover anyone performing phlebotomy who is employed by or supervised under a board-licensed physician, a clinic run by a health care provider licensed to do clinical laboratory testing, a hospital, a nursing home, or another licensed health care facility that does clinical laboratory testing. The requirements are in LAC 46:XLV §§3503–3533, summarized on this page.
How many hours of training does Louisiana require?
On the training route, the Louisiana rule requires a program the board finds satisfactory with at least 20 lecture hours or adequate practical hours, and you must complete 100 successful venipunctures and 25 successful capillary collections. The other route is passing a nationally recognized phlebotomy certification exam from an organization the rule lists.
Do you need a national certification in Louisiana?
Required on both routes: the training route ends with a certification exam the board approves or gives, and the other route is a nationally recognized phlebotomy certification exam. The board's application page says phlebotomist applicants must have passed a national exam approved by the board, with the passing score report sent to the board directly by the exam agency. The rule lists: American Society of Clinical Pathologists, National Certification Agency, American Society of Phlebotomy Technicians, National Phlebotomy Association, American Medical Technologists, American Association of Blood Banks, National Allied Health Test Registry, International Academy of Phlebotomy Science.
How much do phlebotomy classes cost in Louisiana?
3 Louisiana colleges report a phlebotomy program price to the U.S. Department of Education: $5,200 to $15,000, median $10,250 for tuition plus books and supplies (IPEDS 2023–24). Add the $40 state certificate fee and the exam fee.
How much do phlebotomists make in Louisiana?
The median Louisiana phlebotomist earned $36,120 a year ($17.36 an hour) in BLS May 2025 data, below the U.S. median of $45,230. The middle half earned $30,900 to $44,130.