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Diabetes educator vs certified medical technician

The differences between diabetes educators and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a diabetes educator, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a diabetes educator has an average salary of $60,588, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a diabetes educator include patients, CDE and patient care. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Diabetes educator vs certified medical technician overview

Diabetes EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$60,588$38,859
Hourly rate$29.13$18.68
Growth rate12%5%
Number of jobs8,203164,424
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4344
Years of experience412

What does a diabetes educator do?

A Diabetes Educator helps improve the health condition of people who are at risk of developing diabetes. They collect patient data to monitor health status and manage the patients conditions.

What does a certified medical technician do?

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.

Diabetes educator vs certified medical technician salary

Diabetes educators and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Diabetes EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$60,588$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $81,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCDenton, TX
Highest paying stateConnecticutAlaska
Best paying companyBaptist Health CareFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryPharmaceuticalHealth Care

Differences between diabetes educator and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a diabetes educator and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

Diabetes EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 58%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of FloridaUniversity of Connecticut

Diabetes educator vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between diabetes educators' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Diabetes EducatorCertified Medical Technician
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 8.9% Female, 91.1%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 6.8% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%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 Percentage21%8%

Differences between diabetes educator and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Diabetes educator example responsibilities.

  • Used motivational interviewing techniques to engage participants and achieve enrollment into program.
  • Develop, plan implement diabetes education self-management program for diabetics.
  • Instruct classes and one-to-one consultations to provide patients with basic, intermediate, advance and gestational diabetes information.
  • Educate patients on dietary management including carbohydrate counting, label reading, meal planning and information regarding dietary fats.
  • Perform test counseling for HIV and other STIs.
  • Serve as the main instructor for the DSME program.
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Certified medical technician example 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.
  • Perform first aid or CPR during medical emergencies until paramedics arrive.
  • Assist the residents in their ADL needs and prepare their meals.
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Diabetes educator vs certified medical technician skills

Common diabetes educator skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • CDE, 10%
  • Patient Care, 9%
  • Diabetes Self-Management Education, 7%
  • Patient Education, 6%
  • RD, 4%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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