Medical laboratory technician assistant vs certified medical technician

The differences between medical laboratory technician assistants and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a medical laboratory technician assistant and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $36,484 average annual salary of a medical laboratory technician assistant.

The top three skills for a medical laboratory technician assistant include phlebotomy, patients and lab tech. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs certified medical technician overview

	Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Yearly salary	$36,484	$38,859
Hourly rate	$17.54	$18.68
Growth rate	16%	5%
Number of jobs	128,758	164,424
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age	37	44
Years of experience	12	12

What does a medical laboratory technician assistant do?

A Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant provides information for patient diagnosis and treatment. They work under the supervision of a medical technologist or physician.

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.

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs certified medical technician salary

Medical laboratory technician assistants and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Average salary	$36,484	$38,859
Salary range	Between $26,000 And $50,000	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

Differences between medical laboratory technician assistant and certified medical technician education

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

	Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Most common degree	Associate Degree, 30%	Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common major	Medical Assisting Services	Nursing
Most common college	-	University of Connecticut

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between medical laboratory technician assistants' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

	Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant	Certified Medical Technician
Average age	37	44
Gender ratio	Male, 17.8% Female, 82.2%	Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.2% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.7% 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	6%	8%

Differences between medical laboratory technician assistant and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Medical laboratory technician assistant example responsibilities.

Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
Promote continuity of care by accurately and completely communicating to other caregivers the status of patients for which care is provided.
Perform all protocol specific regulatory duties from initial submission to IRB to final study close-out.

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.

Medical laboratory technician assistant vs certified medical technician skills

Common medical laboratory technician assistant skills

Phlebotomy, 14%
Patients, 13%
Lab Tech, 7%
EKG, 6%
Vital Signs, 6%
Surgical Procedures, 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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Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant
Medical Laboratory Technician Assistant vs Certified Medical Technician

Updated January 8, 2025

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