CNA vs Phlebotomy: Which First Healthcare Role Fits You?

What does a CNA do, and what does a phlebotomist do?

The simplest way to compare these jobs is by how long you spend with each person. A certified nursing assistant, or CNA, looks after the same small group of patients or residents for a whole shift, often for weeks or months. A phlebotomist meets a long line of people, one after another, for a few minutes each.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nursing assistants (opens in a new tab) bathe patients, help them use the toilet and dress, turn them and move them between beds and wheelchairs, serve meals and help them eat, and measure vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature. They also listen to patients’ concerns and pass them on to the nurse. In practice, you are often the first person to notice that something has changed.

Phlebotomists (opens in a new tab) draw blood for tests, transfusions, research and donations. The BLS lists their duties as verifying each patient’s identity, drawing the blood, labelling it for testing and keeping equipment clean. It also notes that they explain their work to relax nervous patients. The needle is only part of it, and a single labelling mistake can attach a result to the wrong patient.

So one job is broad, continuous and personal. The other is narrow, repeated and precise. Neither is easier. They ask different things of you.

CNA vs phlebotomy at a glance

The table puts the main differences in one place. Pay figures are BLS medians for May 2025 and growth figures are its 2025–35 projections. They describe occupations, not what any one person will earn.

Where do CNAs and phlebotomists work in Orlando?

Nationally, the BLS says 36 per cent of nursing assistants work in nursing care facilities, 32 per cent in hospitals and 11 per cent in continuing care and assisted living communities. In Florida, section 400.211 of the Florida Statutes requires nursing assistants in nursing homes to be certified, with narrow exceptions such as licensed nurses.

Phlebotomists are spread differently. The BLS puts 36 per cent in hospitals, 33 per cent in medical and diagnostic laboratories, 16 per cent in other ambulatory healthcare services and 9 per cent in physician offices. Around Orlando, that means hospital units, laboratory collection sites, clinics and blood donation services.

The biggest local difference is volume. In the BLS May 2025 survey for the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford metro area, there were about 12,000 nursing assistant jobs and about 1,040 phlebotomist jobs. That is more than eleven CNA posts for every phlebotomy post. That matters if you want the widest choice of employers and shifts.

How do you get certified as a CNA or a phlebotomist in Florida?

CNA certification is a state credential. Under section 464.203 of the Florida Statutes, the Board of Nursing issues the certificate to people who pass the competency exam and the required background screening. The exam has a written part and a skills demonstration, and you can ask for an oral exam in place of the written part. Prometric runs it for the Florida Department of Health, and once you pass, the Board sends your certificate and adds you to the CNA Registry.

There is more than one route to the exam. Prometric’s Florida bulletin (opens in a new tab) (revised 1 November 2025) describes five, including a challenger route for people with no nursing assistant training. Every applicant needs Level II background screening by Livescan fingerprinting. If you fail three times, you must complete a state-approved programme of at least 120 hours before you can test again. For what the two parts cover, read what the Florida CNA exam tests.

Phlebotomy works differently, because Florida does not license phlebotomists. Section 483.803 of the Florida Statutes (opens in a new tab) defines the clinical laboratory personnel the state regulates, then says the term does not include phlebotomists. What you can earn is a national certification from an independent body. The BLS notes that some employers prefer certified phlebotomists, so read the job postings you want before you pick one.

Each certifying body sets its own eligibility, including how many documented live draws you need. Check its current rules before you commit to training:

• NHA (National Healthcareer Association): a high school diploma or equivalent, a training programme or a year of supervised work in the past three years, and at least 30 venipunctures and 10 capillary or finger sticks on live people.
• AMT (American Medical Technologists): on its education route, at least 120 classroom hours in the past four years, plus 50 venipunctures and 10 skin punctures.
• NCCT (National Center for Competency Testing): several pathways, some with state-specific counts as high as 100 venipunctures and 25 capillary punctures.
• ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology): its own routes combining training, clinical practice and experience. Read them on its site.

How long does each take, and what does it cost to start?

For the CNA, time depends on your route. Under Rule 64B9-15.006 of the Florida Administrative Code, a Board-approved programme needs at least 80 classroom hours and 40 clinical hours, 20 of them in a licensed nursing home. The challenger route has no required training, but all the preparation falls to you. Either way, you then apply, complete fingerprinting and wait to be cleared to test.

After you pass, Prometric says scores take about a week to reach the Board, and the Board can take four weeks to issue and mail the certificate. Its bulletin lists $155 for both exam parts, plus a separate fee collected by the fingerprinting vendor.

For phlebotomy, the BLS says programmes usually take less than a year. The bottleneck can be supervised live draws rather than classroom time, because most certifying bodies want a documented count before you sit their exam. Certification fees vary by body: in September 2026, AMT listed $125 and NCCT $119.

Training fees vary widely, and third-party fees are usually extra, so ask any provider for an itemised list. If you are leaning towards the CNA exam, CNA exam preparation is structured practice for both parts. It is exam preparation, not a Board-approved training programme, so confirm your route first.

Phlebotomy vs CNA salary and job outlook

Nationally, phlebotomists earn a little more. In May 2025 the median annual wage was $45,230 for phlebotomists and $42,260 for nursing assistants, according to the BLS. The middle 80 per cent of phlebotomists earned between $35,780 and $58,780; for nursing assistants the range was $33,940 to $51,980.

Growth favours phlebotomy in percentage terms. The BLS projects phlebotomist employment to grow 7 per cent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average, with about 18,000 openings a year. For nursing assistants and orderlies it projects 3 per cent, about as fast as the average, but around 203,300 openings a year, because that occupation is more than ten times larger.

Orlando pays less than the national figure for both. In the BLS May 2025 survey for the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area, the median was $37,690 a year ($18.12 an hour) for nursing assistants and $39,390 ($18.94 an hour) for phlebotomists. That is a gap of 82 cents an hour. Both sit below the area’s median for all occupations, which was $46,630. The Orlando phlebotomy figure comes from a much smaller group, so treat it as approximate.

Setting matters too. Nationally, phlebotomists in outpatient care centres ($48,030) and laboratories ($46,670) had higher medians than those in hospitals ($44,220).

Is CNA or phlebotomy a better fit for your personality?

The BLS lists compassion, communication and physical stamina as important in both jobs. It adds patience for nursing assistants, and attention to detail and manual dexterity for phlebotomists. See which of these statements sound like you:

• You would rather get to know people over weeks than meet them for three minutes. Lean CNA.
• You like a clear procedure you can repeat until it is exact. Lean phlebotomy.
• Helping someone wash, dress or use the toilet does not trouble you. Lean CNA.
• You are steady with your hands and happy to check every detail twice. Lean phlebotomy.
• You want variety within a shift, from meals to mobility to vital signs. Lean CNA.
• You can stay calm with someone who is scared of needles, and shrug off a missed vein. Lean phlebotomy.
• You are unsure about both. Try to shadow or volunteer in a care setting before you pay for either.

How physically and emotionally demanding is each job?

Both are harder on the body than they look. The BLS says nursing assistants and phlebotomists each have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. For nursing assistants, much of that comes from moving patients. For phlebotomists, the risk comes from blood, needles and other equipment.

CNA work is physically heavy. You are on your feet, turning and transferring people, and dealing with bodily fluids. The emotional load is steady too. You may care for people who are confused, in pain or near the end of life, and you get to know them well. Some find that deeply rewarding. Others find it hard to leave at the door.

Phlebotomy involves less lifting but is tiring in other ways. You stand for long periods, repeat the same fine movements and meet a lot of anxious people. The pressure comes in short bursts: a full waiting room, a vein you cannot find, a patient who feels faint.

Hours can be demanding in both. Because care runs around the clock, the BLS says nursing assistants may work nights, weekends and holidays. Most phlebotomists work full time, and those in hospitals and laboratories may work the same unsocial hours.

Where can each role lead? CNA and phlebotomy career ladders

A CNA is a common first step towards nursing. In Florida, one defined next step is qualified medication aide. Under section 400.211, a CNA whose certification has been clear and active for at least a year can complete a 34-hour Board-approved course and, after showing competence, give medication in a nursing home under the direct supervision of a licensed nurse.

Further on is practical nursing. The BLS says licensed practical nurse (LPN) programmes typically take about a year, followed by a licensing exam. The median LPN wage was $64,400 nationally and $61,030 in the Orlando area in May 2025. Bedside time as a CNA gives you a working feel for nursing before you commit to that, or to registered nursing later.

Phlebotomy points towards the laboratory and the clinic. According to the BLS, clinical laboratory technicians usually need an associate degree or a postsecondary certificate, and technologists a bachelor’s degree. Unlike phlebotomists, both count as clinical laboratory personnel under section 483.803. The national median for the group was $62,930 in May 2025.

Phlebotomy also fits inside medical assisting. The BLS notes that some medical assistants draw blood, and it projects 13 per cent growth for the occupation from 2025 to 2035. The median was $45,690 nationally and $43,800 in the Orlando area in May 2025. Each next step has its own admission and licensing rules.

Can you do both, and which should you do first?

Yes, you can do both. The two credentials come from different organisations, so holding one never blocks the other. Some jobs combine them. The NCCT describes patient care technicians as doing basic nursing assistant tasks, such as vital signs and help with daily living, alongside ECGs and phlebotomy.

Most people still start with one. Choose CNA first if nursing is your goal or you want the largest local job market. Choose phlebotomy first if you are drawn to laboratory or clinic work, or bedside personal care is not for you. If you want both, the career-skills package prepares you for the CNA exam, phlebotomy and CPR together, and the phlebotomy workshop can be taken on its own. Neither awards the CNA certificate or a phlebotomy certification. Before you decide:

1. 1Picture your ideal shift: the same people all day, or many short encounters.
2. 2Be honest about needles, blood and intimate personal care.
3. 3Read ten Orlando job postings for each role. Note the credentials, shifts and settings they ask for.
4. 4For CNA, confirm your exam route with the Board of Nursing and Prometric’s current bulletin.
5. 5For phlebotomy, choose a certifying body your target employers accept, check its draw count and work out where your supervised draws will come from.
6. 6Add up every third-party fee: exam, fingerprinting and certification.
7. 7Think one step ahead. Nursing favours CNA first; laboratory or clinic work favours phlebotomy first.
8. 8Get an itemised, written answer to each of these before you pay anyone. You can ask us too.

Sources

1. 1US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Nursing Assistants and Orderlies (May 2025 pay, 2025–35 projections) (opens in a new tab)
2. 2US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Phlebotomists (May 2025 pay, 2025–35 projections, work environment) (opens in a new tab)
3. 3US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA (opens in a new tab)
4. 4US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses (opens in a new tab)
5. 5US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (opens in a new tab)
6. 6US Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical Assistants (opens in a new tab)
7. 7Florida Board of Nursing — Certified nursing assistant certification, examination and background screening (opens in a new tab)
8. 8Prometric — Florida CNA Candidate Information Bulletin (Rev. 11/01/2025): routes, fees, retakes and certificate timelines (opens in a new tab)
9. 9Florida Statutes s. 464.203 — CNA certification, the competency exam and the three-attempt rule (2024 text) (opens in a new tab)
10. 10Florida Statutes s. 483.803 — definition of clinical laboratory personnel, which excludes phlebotomists (2024 text) (opens in a new tab)
11. 11Florida Statutes s. 400.211 — nursing assistants in nursing homes and qualified medication aides (2024 text) (opens in a new tab)
12. 12Florida Administrative Code R. 64B9-15.006 — approved CNA training programme hours (amended 2 February 2022) (opens in a new tab)
13. 13National Healthcareer Association — Exam eligibility, including Certified Phlebotomy Technician draw counts (opens in a new tab)
14. 14American Medical Technologists — Registered Phlebotomy Technician eligibility routes and fees (opens in a new tab)
15. 15National Center for Competency Testing — National Certified Phlebotomy Technician pathways and fee (opens in a new tab)
16. 16National Center for Competency Testing — Patient Care Technician role description and pathways (opens in a new tab)