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Hearing aid dispenser vs certified medical technician

The differences between hearing aid dispensers 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 hearing aid dispenser, becoming a certified medical technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a hearing aid dispenser has an average salary of $50,821, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a hearing aid dispenser include hearing loss, patients and hearing evaluations. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Hearing aid dispenser vs certified medical technician overview

Hearing Aid DispenserCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$50,821$38,859
Hourly rate$24.43$18.68
Growth rate-5%
Number of jobs25,014164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4344
Years of experience212

What does a hearing aid dispenser do?

Hearing aid dispensers are medical professionals who are responsible for evaluating the case of patients with hearing problems while recommending the best hearing aid to help improve their condition. These specialists must employ the hearing test called audiogram test that indicates the different degrees of hearing loss of their patients. They must guide their patients to go through the entire process of choosing the appropriate hearing aid. Hearing aid dispensers must also create ear impressions and earmolds to make the necessary adjustments to device settings to ensure a comfortable level of hearing.

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.

Hearing aid dispenser vs certified medical technician salary

Hearing aid dispensers and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hearing Aid DispenserCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$50,821$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $94,000Between $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

Differences between hearing aid dispenser and certified medical technician education

There are a few differences between a hearing aid dispenser and a certified medical technician in terms of educational background:

Hearing Aid DispenserCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 44%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorSpeech-Language PathologyNursing
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Connecticut

Hearing aid dispenser vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between hearing aid dispensers' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Hearing Aid DispenserCertified Medical Technician
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 50.6% Female, 49.4%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 10.3% White, 51.2% 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 Percentage8%8%

Differences between hearing aid dispenser and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Hearing aid dispenser example responsibilities.

  • Meet with patients, carry out exams and perform routine tests with an audiometer.
  • Fit hearing aids and make necessary adjustments and orientate patients to their new devices.
  • Perform audiological evaluations, counseling, fitting, and hearing aid programming
  • Service and repair defective BTE's from customers.

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.
  • Show more

Hearing aid dispenser vs certified medical technician skills

Common hearing aid dispenser skills
  • Hearing Loss, 55%
  • Patients, 17%
  • Hearing Evaluations, 7%
  • EAR Impressions, 6%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Hearing Tests, 5%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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