A nurse tech is someone who has advanced medical training in performing certain procedures, while a CNA (Certified Nurse Aide) is a trained and certified healthcare professional that assists nurses.

Nurse Technician vs. CNA

A nurse technician performs the duties of a CNA but is also trained to perform some basic medical duties such as EKG readings and phlebotomy, while a CNA performs basic patient-care duties.

What is a nurse technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jason Mott Ph.D.

The role of a nurse technician is crucial in providing quality patient care and supporting the work of registered nurses. A nurse technician works alongside registered nurses to provide patient care. They assist with tasks such as taking vital signs, bathing and feeding patients, and administering medications. They also help patients with mobility and exercise and monitor and document their progress. They work in various settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics.

What general advice would you give to a nurse technician?

Jason Mott Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pre-licensure Program Director/Assistant Dean, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

I think the best advice for new graduates is to be flexible. Things are going to change daily. It is essential to be able to go with the flow. Also, take time for yourself. As the numbers of covid patients increase, staff members are at high risk of developing burnout. It is essential to take time for yourself to relax and get away from everything, even if for only a few minutes. That way, you can prevent becoming burned out.

ScoreNurse TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,005

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.5

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

10.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.98%

Asian 8.00%

Black or African American 11.49%

Hispanic or Latino 13.64%

Unknown 5.05%

White 60.84%

Gender

female 83.13%

male 16.87%

Age - 41

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41

Stress level

8.5

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

7.5

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a nurse technician?

Pros

Opportunity to gain experience in healthcare field
Flexibility with shift scheduling
Potential for career advancement
Job stability and high demand for nurses
Building strong relationships with patients and their families

Cons

Physically demanding job with long hours on your feet
Exposure to illnesses and diseases
High stress levels due to fast-paced environment
Emotional toll of caring for sick or dying patients
Risk of workplace violence or injury

Key steps to become a nurse technician

Explore nurse technician education requirements

Most common nurse technician degrees

Bachelor's

39.2 %

Associate

29.2 %

High School Diploma

11.5 %

Start to develop specific nurse technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	26.48%
CPR	8.75%
Vital Signs	7.54%
Rehabilitation	5.42%
Home Health	5.24%

Complete relevant nurse technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nurse 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 nurse technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nurse technician resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed nurse technician usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed nurse technician in most of states. 25 states require nurse technicians to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse Aide
Arkansas	Specific course required	Both state and third-party exams required	Nursing Assistant (Certified)
California	Specific course required	State exam required	Certified Nurse Assistant
Colorado	Specific course required	State exam required	Nurse Aide
Connecticut	Specific course required	State exam required	Nurses Aide

Gain additional nurse technician certifications

Nurse technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific nurse technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for nurse technicians include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research nurse technician duties and responsibilities

Manage memory unity within facility.
Deliver timely and quality patient care on rehabilitation unit under direct supervision of staff nurses.
Assist patients with ADL's: bathing, transferring, ambulating, changing bed linens, skin care, etc.
Assist and serve patients with activities of daily living (ADL) in a manner conductive to their safety and comfort.

Prepare your nurse technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nurse 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 nurse 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 nurse technician resume templates

Build a professional nurse 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 nurse technician resume.

Apply for nurse technician jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a nurse 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 do nurse technicians rate their job?

-/5

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Nurse technician reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2023

Pros

Very fulfilling and rewarding

Cons

Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022

Cons

All the changes with certification and how you can be on the floor of a facility and know not even common sense. How they have hospitality aides, hca, and people going to start a free class. Back in the day we were called glorified babysitters I never agreed until we have just a warm body with no license(s) whom can't do anything even as small as getting ice waters. I've worked hard tobe where i am and these people take a computer class and pass we would call that our continuing education hrs but what do i know after 23 yrs. I once REALLY loved my job and still do but it's almost like being in grade school with people who have phone's lol It bothers me that many new or non licensed bodies have the audacity to come in these facilities and act like the residents are on their time! We are in their home to help provide ADL's amongst other things like them still trying to be & keep their independence. The ridiculous amount they have to spend to have the care they get from some people makes me wanna die young!! Our system sucks unless its the government making the dollar. I just wish they'd spend an 8 hr shift in these facilities before signing off on some rules & regs. Im not political by any means but those who take the dollar should get to live and experience a day of what our elderly lived ones are forced to experience daily , monthly, yearly! In fact the state hasn't even done the 18 month annual expectation in over 2 yrs at the place im contracted at 👍way to keep up on stuff and by stuff I mean our elderly living human beans. People who deserve to be served on gold plates or at least gave better food then what they serve daycares and if not that at least for it to be at high minimum warm food !! In 23 yrs of being a CNA I can only try to write a book to get out all the things I've seen ,heard. & witnessed in the years.

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2022

Pros

I like the Patient care part of the job. Seeing the patients get better and go home

Cons

Nothing

What is a nurse technician and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a nurse technician?

What are the pros and cons of being a nurse technician?

Nurse technician career paths

Key steps to become a nurse technician

Explore nurse technician education requirements

Most common nurse technician degrees

Start to develop specific nurse technician skills

Complete relevant nurse technician training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Gain additional nurse technician certifications

Research nurse technician duties and responsibilities

Prepare your nurse technician resume

Choose from 10+ customizable nurse technician resume templates

Apply for nurse technician jobs

How did you land your first nurse technician job

Average nurse technician salary

How do nurse technicians rate their job?

Nurse technician reviews

Nurse technician FAQs

Nurse Tech vs. CNA

Nurse Technician vs. CNA

Search for nurse technician jobs

Nurse technician jobs by state