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Rehabilitation specialist vs certified medical technician

The differences between rehabilitation specialists 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 rehabilitation specialist and a certified medical technician. Additionally, a rehabilitation specialist has an average salary of $42,934, which is higher than the $38,859 average annual salary of a certified medical technician.

The top three skills for a rehabilitation specialist include rehabilitation, patients and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a certified medical technician are patients, vital signs, and CPR.

Rehabilitation specialist vs certified medical technician overview

Rehabilitation SpecialistCertified Medical Technician
Yearly salary$42,934$38,859
Hourly rate$20.64$18.68
Growth rate11%5%
Number of jobs29,177164,424
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Average age4544
Years of experience1212

What does a rehabilitation specialist do?

Rehabilitation specialists are professionals who are responsible for helping individuals with physical and mental disabilities to reintegrate into society and live independently. These specialists must assist their clients in finding the type of work they could do with their disability and prepare them for their interview. They are required to provide a basic explanation about the medical or mental health condition to their clients. Rehabilitation specialists must also collaborate with other professionals to assist with rehabilitation exercises.

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.

Rehabilitation specialist vs certified medical technician salary

Rehabilitation specialists and certified medical technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Rehabilitation SpecialistCertified Medical Technician
Average salary$42,934$38,859
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $62,000Between $28,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CityCleveland, OHDenton, TX
Highest paying stateAlaskaAlaska
Best paying companyPrudential BankFavorite Healthcare Staffing
Best paying industryProfessionalHealth Care

Differences between rehabilitation specialist and certified medical technician education

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

Rehabilitation SpecialistCertified Medical Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 61%Bachelor's Degree, 28%
Most common majorPsychologyNursing
Most common collegeColumbia University in the City of New YorkUniversity of Connecticut

Rehabilitation specialist vs certified medical technician demographics

Here are the differences between rehabilitation specialists' and certified medical technicians' demographics:

Rehabilitation SpecialistCertified Medical Technician
Average age4544
Gender ratioMale, 33.0% Female, 67.0%Male, 20.4% Female, 79.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 10.8% Asian, 2.9% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%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 rehabilitation specialist and certified medical technician duties and responsibilities

Rehabilitation specialist example responsibilities.

  • Ensure the facilities' mission are achieved by effectively supervising the mental health rehabilitative efforts of severely and chronically ill patients.
  • Assist in the development and implementation of ISP goals and objectives.
  • Utilize extensive administrative, CPR, first aid, and medical equipment training as needed.
  • Encourage and assist patients to perform specific activities of daily living (ADL's).
  • Prepare and participate in semi and annual meetings, ISP's and day hab plans.
  • Resolve issues with the clients that create a barrier to the successful completion of their IPE.
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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.
  • Show more

Rehabilitation specialist vs certified medical technician skills

Common rehabilitation specialist skills
  • Rehabilitation, 24%
  • Patients, 14%
  • Crisis Intervention, 6%
  • Excellent Interpersonal, 4%
  • Patient Care, 4%
  • Social Work, 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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