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What is a certified medical technician and how to become one
Certified medical technicians are trained to carry out laboratory tests and analyze lab results. A certified medical technician helps pathologists and physicians collect samples from their patients while the patient is undergoing diagnosis.
Certified medical technicians are in charge of documenting medical records, e.g., medication administration, vital signs, and resident behaviors of a patient. They are also responsible for performing medical screenings on patients, among these responsibilities includes helping those patients complete questionnaires of their medical history. To qualify for this job, there are some skills you need to have, some of them include communication, inventory management, presentation skills, customer service, professionalism, creativity, and the ability to work under pressure.
Though the skills are important, the more certified an applicant is academically, the greater their chances of getting this job. Prospects should have at least a bachelor's degree in medical technology, life sciences, or equivalent. Salary depends on experience, which should correlate with your academic qualifications. In the United States, certified medical technicians are paid between $47,000 and $19,500 depending on the size of the organization.
What general advice would you give to a certified medical technician?
Eve Leija AAS, NCMA
Medical Assistant Program Director, Website
Avg. Salary $38,859
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 5%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.79%
Asian 9.96%
Black or African American 15.91%
Hispanic or Latino 14.57%
Unknown 5.00%
White 53.77%
Genderfemale 79.62%
male 20.38%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Certified medical technician career paths
Key steps to become a certified medical technician
Explore certified medical technician education requirements
Start to develop specific certified medical technician skills
Skills Percentages Patients 16.74% Vital Signs 12.12% CPR 8.07% Administer Medications 7.18% Resident Care 6.46% Complete relevant certified medical technician training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New certified medical technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a certified medical technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real certified medical technician resumes.Research certified medical technician duties and responsibilities
- Maintain the cleanliness of storage areas, trays, centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and work area.
- Administer medications to patients according to their medication record as scheduled, as needed according to physician orders.
- Perform laboratory test and procedures in areas including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, serology, and bacteriology.
- Perform first aid and apply CPR when necessary.
Prepare your certified medical technician resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your certified medical technician resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a certified medical technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable certified medical technician resume templates
Build a professional certified medical technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your certified medical technician resume.
Apply for certified medical technician jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a certified medical technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first certified medical technician job
Are you a certified medical technician?
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Average certified medical technician salary
The average certified medical technician salary in the United States is $38,859 per year or $19 per hour. Certified medical technician salaries range between $28,000 and $53,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do certified medical technicians rate their job?
Certified medical technician reviews
What is there not to like? It's such a rewarding job!
Nothing
taking care of people love it been doing it for 34 years and getting patient back home and be able to return to there daily activities
Updated January 8, 2025
