Phlebotomist Jobs in Fresno, CA
Phlebotomists in Fresno draw blood at Community Regional Medical Center downtown, Quest Diagnostics sites on Shaw and Elm avenues, and the Fresno VA, with hospital postings running $27 to $35 an hour. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring and how to get certified.
Current phlebotomist Openings in Fresno, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Phlebotomist Work in Fresno
Fresno is the medical hub of the central San Joaquin Valley, and every one of its hospitals and outpatient networks needs people who can draw blood cleanly on the first stick. The biggest single draw is Community Regional Medical Center on Fresno Street downtown, the only Level I trauma center between Los Angeles and Sacramento, where phlebotomists cover inpatient floors and the emergency department around the clock. In north Fresno, Kaiser Permanente runs its lab out of the Fresno hospital and floats laboratory assistants to its Orchard Plaza, Clovis, Selma and Oakhurst medical offices.
Outpatient draws are just as busy. Quest Diagnostics staffs locations on West Shaw Avenue and South Elm Avenue, the Fresno VA Medical Center on East Clinton Avenue draws for veterans across the region, and Valley Children's Hospital, across the San Joaquin River on Highway 41 in Madera, hires phlebotomists who are comfortable with infants and children. California also sets this job apart: you cannot draw blood here without a state certificate, so certified phlebotomists are always in short supply.
Top Fresno Employers Hiring Phlebotomists
These Fresno-area employers have posted phlebotomy roles on their own careers sites:
- Community Health System - hires phlebotomists for Community Regional Medical Center, including full-time PM shifts that require a CPT I or CPT II certificate.
- Quest Diagnostics - the national lab staffs Phlebotomist I roles at its West Shaw Avenue and South Elm Avenue locations, with weekday morning shifts.
- Kaiser Permanente - hires Laboratory Assistant II staff who draw blood at the Fresno hospital and float to its Clovis, Selma and Orchard Plaza offices.
- Valley Children's Healthcare - posts Lab Support Tech - Phlebotomy roles at the Madera hospital campus, combining pediatric draws with specimen processing.
- Fresno VA Medical Center - the VA Central California Health Care System hires Medical Technician (Phlebotomist) staff for its Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service through USAJOBS.
Phlebotomist Salaries in Fresno
- Entry level: about $21 to $24 an hour at outpatient labs and for newly certified CPT I holders.
- Experienced: roughly $25 to $35 an hour at Fresno hospitals, including evening and PM shift roles.
- Senior / top of scale: about $40 to $42 an hour for unionized laboratory assistant roles at Kaiser Permanente.
These are estimates drawn from Fresno postings and 2025 federal wage data for the Fresno area, which puts the median near $24 an hour. Hospital work, evening and night shifts, pediatric experience and a CPT II certificate all push pay up, and California's healthcare minimum wage law sets a floor above the general state minimum at most hospitals and clinics.
How to Become a Phlebotomist in Fresno
California requires a state certificate to draw blood. The entry credential is the Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I), issued by Laboratory Field Services at the California Department of Public Health. If you have no experience you need 40 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of clinical practice from a state-approved program, 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures, and a passing score on a national certification exam that the state accepts. Locally, the Training Institute at Madera Community College runs a 168-hour phlebotomy course, 48 hours of theory and 120 hours of clinical rotation, that trains for CPT I licensure. A high school diploma or GED is required by every Fresno employer listed above.
What the Job Involves
Phlebotomists identify patients, confirm test orders, and draw blood by venipuncture or finger and heel sticks, then label, log and route each specimen to the lab. In a hospital you work the floors and the emergency department, help nurses with line draws, and handle urgent orders, while at an outpatient lab you move a steady line of walk-in patients. Many roles also include specimen processing, centrifuging, point-of-care testing, patient registration and restocking supplies.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current California CPT I or CPT II certificate
- Clean venipuncture technique with few re-sticks
- Calm, reassuring manner with anxious adults and children
- Careful specimen labeling and chain-of-custody habits
- Data entry skills for lab and registration systems
- Bilingual English and Spanish, preferred by many Fresno employers
Career Path and Advancement
Most Fresno phlebotomists start at an outpatient draw station or on a hospital evening shift, then move to a higher-paying hospital or Kaiser laboratory assistant role with experience. From there, the next steps are a CPT II certificate, a lead or trainer position, or more schooling toward a clinical lab scientist, medical assistant or nursing career.
Related Careers in Fresno
If phlebotomy interests you, these related Fresno healthcare guides are a good next read:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a phlebotomist in Fresno?
Yes. California requires a state certificate to perform blood draws, and the basic one is the Certified Phlebotomy Technician I issued by the California Department of Public Health's Laboratory Field Services. Fresno hospitals and labs list CPT I or CPT II as a requirement in their postings.
How much do phlebotomists make in Fresno?
Outpatient roles generally start around $21 to $24 an hour, while Fresno hospital postings run from about $25 to $35. Unionized laboratory assistant roles at Kaiser Permanente pay around $40 an hour.
How long does it take to become a certified phlebotomist?
Without prior experience, California requires 40 hours of classroom training and 40 hours of clinical practice, plus the required number of supervised draws and a national exam. The Madera Community College course holds its theory classes on Saturdays, followed by clinical rotation and the state application.
Where can I take a phlebotomy class near Fresno?
The Training Institute at Madera Community College offers a 168-hour phlebotomy course that trains for CPT I licensure, with seats filled by lottery because of demand. Check that any program you choose is approved by the state, because only approved training counts toward the certificate.
Do Fresno hospitals hire phlebotomists for night shifts?
Yes. Hospitals draw blood around the clock, and Fresno postings include PM and evening shifts at Community Regional and Valley Children's. Outpatient labs run daytime hours instead; Quest's posted Fresno shift is weekday mornings.
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