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The differences between dental assistant externs and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a dental assistant extern, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $38,679 average annual salary of a dental assistant extern.
The top three skills for a dental assistant extern include patients, dental procedures and patient care. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.
| Dental Assistant Extern | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $38,679 | $38,859 |
| Hourly rate | $18.60 | $18.68 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 24,154 | 164,424 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
Dental assistant externs are responsible for various office and laboratory tasks in a dentist's clinic or office. They may provide patient care, but the procedures they can perform vary by state. Their duties and responsibilities may include preparing patients for the dental examination, organizing and maintaining laboratory equipment and supplies, and scheduling appointments. Also, they are responsible for recording dental and medical histories of patients and providing aftercare, such as instructing patients on proper oral hygiene. Dental assistants may also perform other duties such as fluoride application and polishing.
Certified Medical Technicians are specialists in medical diagnoses by performing laboratory testing and analysis for hospitals and physicians. Their duties include lab sanitization to prepare for testing and collection, recording medical samples for testing, specimen preparation, blood drawing for donation and testing, and assisting physicians with sample collection as well as equipment handling in surgical rooms. They must also understand how to use complex and sensitive testing equipment such as cell counters, analyzers, microscopes, and centrifuges.
Dental assistant externs and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Dental Assistant Extern | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average salary | $38,679 | $38,859 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $52,000 | Between $28,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Denton, TX |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Favorite Healthcare Staffing |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a dental assistant extern and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:
| Dental Assistant Extern | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 28% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | University of Connecticut |
Here are the differences between dental assistant externs' and certified medical technicians' demographics:
| Dental Assistant Extern | Certified Medical Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 26.1% Female, 73.9% | Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 23.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 52.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 15.9% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.6% Asian, 10.0% White, 53.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |