Last Updated: August 2026
Louisiana is one of four states that credentials phlebotomists at the state level, alongside California, Nevada, and Washington. The certificate comes from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. Here’s what most sites won’t tell you though: Louisiana’s law includes exemptions broad enough that many working phlebotomists in the state are not legally required to hold it. We break that down below.
Louisiana’s healthcare scene centers on New Orleans and Baton Rouge. New Orleans has Ochsner Health, Tulane Medical Center, and University Medical Center New Orleans. Baton Rouge has Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge General, and LSU Health Shreveport. Shreveport in north Louisiana and Lafayette in Acadiana also have solid healthcare markets.
Louisiana phlebotomists earn an average of $35,000 to $39,000 per year, depending on whether you’re certified and where you work. That’s below the national average, but Louisiana’s cost of living is low outside New Orleans. What makes Louisiana interesting is the combination of state credentialing, Cajun culture, no state income tax on the first $12,500 of income, and year-round warm weather.
Louisiana currently employs around 2,940 phlebotomists, with job growth projected at 8 to 12 percent through 2034 depending on the source. New Orleans and Baton Rouge account for most of the demand.
Requirements to Become a Phlebotomist in Louisiana
Here’s what you need:
- High school diploma or GED
- Be 18 years or older
- Complete a phlebotomy training program satisfactory to the board
- Pass a certification exam approved by LSBME and its Clinical Laboratory Advisory Committee
- Apply for your LSBME phlebotomist certificate, unless you fall under one of the exemptions below
- Background check
- Current immunizations
- CPR/BLS certification
The Louisiana Exemption Most Sites Don’t Mention
Under R.S. 37:1313(D), the state certification requirement does not apply to anyone performing phlebotomy who is employed by, or working under the direction and supervision of:
- A physician licensed by the board
- A clinic operated by a licensed health care provider
- A hospital, nursing home, or other licensed health care facility
- A testing location or laboratory certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, if the facility provides at least five calendar days of phlebotomist training and two calendar weeks of on-the-job training
That last one was added by Act 369 of 2023, effective August 1, 2023, and it widened the exemption considerably.
Look at that list next to the major employers further down this page. Ochsner, Our Lady of the Lake, Tulane, Quest, LabCorp. Hospitals, clinics, and CLIA labs cover nearly the whole job market in Louisiana.
So should you get certified anyway? For most people, yes. Employers still expect national certification regardless of what state law requires. The exemption only holds as long as you stay in an exempt workplace. And the LSBME certificate makes you portable if you change jobs or move. Being legally exempt and being competitive for hiring are two different things.
Phlebotomy Training in Louisiana
Community colleges in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, and other cities offer accredited programs that typically run 4 to 8 months.
Your training must include classroom instruction covering anatomy, medical terminology, infection control, and blood collection techniques, plus supervised clinical training where you practice on real patients. Most programs require at least 50 successful venipunctures and 10 successful capillary punctures before graduation.
When evaluating programs, verify they’re accredited and accepted by LSBME. Programs affiliated with major health systems like Ochsner, Our Lady of the Lake, or Tulane give you a direct pipeline to employment.
Questions to ask: Is this program accredited? What’s the total cost? What’s your pass rate for national certification exams? Where do students complete clinical training? Do you help with job placement?
Phlebotomy Certification in Louisiana
To qualify for the LSBME phlebotomist certificate you need to pass a certification examination approved by the board. LSBME approves specific national exams but does not publish the complete list on its website, so contact the board directly before you register and pay for one.
Nationally recognized agencies that appear in the board’s rules include:
American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
American Medical Technologists (AMT)
National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
Pick the exam your training program prepares you for. Costs run $90 to $200, and results typically arrive within a week or two.
For detailed information on each certification agency, check here.
Getting Your Louisiana Phlebotomist Certificate
After you complete training and pass your approved exam, you apply to LSBME. This is a document-heavy application, so start gathering paperwork early.
What you need to submit:
- Your exam score report, sent to LSBME directly from the testing agency. Score reports you submit yourself are not accepted.
- Proof of your completed training program
- A notarized oath
- A notarized third-party authorization form allowing LSBME to gather information about you
- A passport-quality photograph taken within the past six months
- Birth certificate or valid visa
- Verification of any other healthcare licenses or certificates you hold, sent directly from the issuing state
- Completion of the required online education course and quiz
- Criminal background check
- $40 non-refundable application fee
What it costs:
- Application fee: $40
- Renewal fee: $40 per year
- Late penalty: an additional $50 if you fail to renew by January 1
That makes Louisiana the cheapest of the four credentialing states by a wide margin. Washington charges $145 and California charges $150 annually.
Renewal:
- Annual, on a calendar year cycle. Your certificate expires December 31 of the year it was issued.
- Renewal notices are mailed by November 15
- Online renewal opens 56 days before expiration
- 12 contact hours (1.2 CEUs) of continuing education required, per LAC 46:XLV.3533
The calendar year cycle catches people out. Unlike states that renew on your birthday, your Louisiana certificate expires December 31 no matter when you were certified, so a certificate issued in November is good for about six weeks before its first renewal.
Verify current fees, approved exams, and continuing education requirements with the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners before applying.
Phlebotomy Jobs in Louisiana
Louisiana employs approximately 2,940 phlebotomists, with strong concentrations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, and Lake Charles.
Job growth is projected at 8 to 12 percent through 2034, driven by Louisiana’s aging population and expansion of healthcare systems in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
Major employers in Louisiana:
- Ochsner Health (New Orleans, statewide)
- Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (Baton Rouge)
- Baton Rouge General Medical Center
- Tulane Medical Center (New Orleans)
- University Medical Center New Orleans
- LSU Health Shreveport
- Willis-Knighton Health System (Shreveport)
- Lafayette General Health
- Lake Charles Memorial Health System
- Quest Diagnostics
- LabCorp
- United Blood Services
You’ll find phlebotomy jobs in teaching hospitals, community hospitals, outpatient clinics, diagnostic labs, physician offices, urgent care centers, blood donation centers, and mobile phlebotomy services.
New Orleans and Baton Rouge have the highest concentration of jobs. Shreveport and Lafayette also offer opportunities.
Browse Louisiana phlebotomy jobs here.
Phlebotomist Salary in Louisiana
Louisiana phlebotomists earn an average of $33,912 to $39,310 per year or about $16 to $19 per hour as of 2026, depending on the data source. Certified phlebotomists earn an average of $38,798 to $41,400 per year. That’s below the national average, but Louisiana’s cost of living is significantly lower than most states outside New Orleans.
Salary ranges:
- Entry level: $29,100 to $29,720/year ($14 to $15/hour)
- Average: $35,650 to $41,400/year
- Top earners (90th percentile): $43,611 to $49,597/year ($21 to $24/hour)
- Certified phlebotomists: $38,798 to $41,400 average
Highest paying cities in Louisiana:
- Brusly $45,315/year ($22/hour), Baton Rouge area
- Bossier City $40,000 to $41,000/year, Shreveport metro
- New Roads $40,138/year ($19/hour)
- New Orleans $39,442/year ($19/hour), largest market
- Shreveport $39,309/year ($19/hour), north Louisiana
- Baton Rouge $38,000 to $39,000/year, state capital
- Lafayette $37,000 to $38,000/year, Acadiana hub
What affects your pay:
Certification is close to universal among Louisiana phlebotomists, so it doesn’t create the same salary premium you see in states where certification is optional. Experience matters significantly. After a few years at a major health system, you’ll see steady salary growth. Location makes some difference, with Shreveport and the Baton Rouge suburbs paying slightly more than rural Louisiana.
Employer type plays a role. Large health systems like Ochsner, Our Lady of the Lake, and Tulane pay more than small clinics. Shift differentials can add $2 to $4 per hour for evenings, nights, and weekends.
Why Choose Phlebotomy in Louisiana?
Louisiana offers a combination of state credentialing, warm weather year-round, distinct culture, and very affordable living outside New Orleans. The path in takes longer than in states with no credential at all, but the fee is the lowest of the four credentialing states by a wide margin.
Louisiana’s biggest financial advantage is low cost of living combined with no state income tax on the first $12,500 of income. Housing in Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, and smaller cities is significantly cheaper than comparable cities in other states. New Orleans is more expensive but still affordable compared to coastal cities. A $38,000 phlebotomy salary in Louisiana buys more than $38,000 in many higher cost states.
Louisiana’s culture is unlike anywhere else in the country. New Orleans has Mardi Gras, jazz music, Creole and Cajun food, and a distinct personality. Baton Rouge is the state capital with LSU football culture. Lafayette is the heart of Cajun country. The state has French influences that set it apart from the rest of the South.
The climate is hot and humid year-round. Winters are mild and snow is extremely rare. Summers are oppressively hot. Hurricane season is a real consideration if you live near the coast. If you’re coming from a cold climate, Louisiana’s warmth is a major lifestyle upgrade.
Job opportunities are concentrated in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Ochsner Health is one of the largest health systems in the South and dominates employment in New Orleans. Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge is a major employer. Both offer solid benefits packages.
Louisiana isn’t for everyone. The culture is laid back to the point of being slow. Bureaucracy is a way of life. Infrastructure lags behind many states. But if you’re drawn to warmth, culture, affordable living, and don’t mind paperwork, Louisiana offers something you won’t find anywhere else.
Comparing states? See how Louisiana stacks up against Washington’s MA-P requirements and California’s CPT levels, or browse all 50 states on our state requirements hub.