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Peer counselor vs certified medical technician

The differences between peer counselors and certified medical technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified medical technician has an average salary of $38,859, which is higher than the $37,464 average annual salary of a peer counselor.

The top three skills for a peer counselor include peer support, substance abuse and wic program. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Peer counselor vs certified medical technician overview

Peer CounselorCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$37,464$38,859
Hourly rate$18.01$18.68
Growth rate10%5%
Number of jobs76,608164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4244
Years of experience-12

What does a peer counselor do?

Typically working at schools, communities, or medical facilities, a peer counselor specializes in providing counseling to an individual or group of people, aiming to help them deal with and overcome crises. Their duties often include conducting initial assessments through interviews and appointments, listening to clients and offering advice, recommending opportunities, referring them to other support agencies, and coordinating treatment services as needed. Above all, a peer counselor must provide emotional support and guidance to clients, giving them comfort and a shoulder to lean on.

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.

Peer counselor vs certified medical technician salary

Peer counselors and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Peer CounselorCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$37,464$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $57,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityHayward, CADenton, TX
Highest paying stateCaliforniaAlaska
Best paying companyThe Brooklyn Hospital CenterFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryEducationHealth Care

Differences between peer counselor and certified medical technician education

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

Peer CounselorCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorPsychologyNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Connecticut

Peer counselor vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between peer counselors' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Peer CounselorCertified Medical Technician
Average age4244
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage11%8%

Differences between peer counselor and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Peer counselor example responsibilities.

  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Refer clients (as needed) to inpatient or outpatient substance abuse rehabilitation programs and assist them in qualifying for services.
  • Formulate and edit nutrition education materials and monthly newsletters for WIC participants.
  • Counsele and enroll people in ACA and ABE.
  • Work with multiple groups of undergraduate students to improve GPA's.
  • Present information via PowerPoint and hand-outs to students on the dangers of poor credit decisions.
  • Show more

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

Peer counselor vs certified medical technician skills

Common peer counselor skills
  • Peer Support, 14%
  • Substance Abuse, 9%
  • WIC Program, 9%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Community Resources, 6%
  • Mental Illness, 6%
Common certified medical technician skills
  • Patients, 17%
  • Vital Signs, 12%
  • CPR, 8%
  • Administer Medications, 7%
  • Resident Care, 6%
  • HIPAA, 6%

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