What is the difference between a certified Medication Aide and Med Tech?

I've read online and still don't quite see the difference, whats the difference between the jobs? and what about the pay? doesn't both pass meds, which can work in hospital settings? please explain
CMA's Pass Meds. A Med Tech has a bachelor's degree and works in the Lab running test on blood and body fluids.

No they have certified med techs as well, they both apparently pass meds. It's a course, you don't need an degree.

Quote from mzsuccessNo they have certified med techs as well, they both apparently pass meds. It's a course, you don't need an degree.

Quote from DarlaSchragCMA's Pass Meds. A Med Tech has a bachelor's degree and works in the Lab running test on blood and body fluids.

Yes Diane, its so confusing. Thanks for clearing that up. A medication technician passes meds and so does a medication aide, I don't see the difference in those two and I'm just looking for something to do until I'm done with nursing school.

Depends on what part of the country you are from. A Med Tech is a MEDICAL Technician, which is--depending on where you live, the same thing as a Certified Nurse Assistant, a Medical Assistant, a Patient Care Technician, and depending on what department you work in can be an Emergency Room Technican. Every unit has their own rules about what a Medical Technician can and can not do. If you work in an MD's office the lines get even blurrier. Mostly, it is patient care based (and there are some Medical Technicians who are allowed to do some more advanced technical things, some who can draw labs, some who even insert foleys......) but that is not everywhere--and you need to get a job description to see what this all means, and what you are required to do. An ER tech is usually an EMT or a paramedic, and does (or not) some wound care, EKG's, labs.....A Medication Aide is a different certification. And again, dependent on where you would be working, usually do not pass meds in the same way a nurse would. They are usually utilized in Assisted Living or the higher functioning units of LTC or Skilled Care--even in halfway houses for mentally ill clients. They observe residents taking their own medications out of a pre-poured medication box (that is pre-poured by an RN or an LPN). With that being said, a Medication Aide is usually a program assistant or a CNA that has additional certification as a Medication Aide. In some states, it is a Department of Mental Health or State certification, in addition to being a state certified CNA. Either way, I would start as perhaps a CNA, and take whatever additional certifications that you can once you are one. Or see about if you are a nursing student, if you could work in an MD's office as an assistant.

And in endoscopy we use med techs to clean and care for scopes. Medical technician, not medication technician. They don't pass meds at all, they are equipment techs. So it matters what the context is in which the title is used. Just worth noting when looking through job listings.

Quote from jadelpn....Either way, I would start as perhaps a CNA, and take whatever additional certifications that you can once you are one. Or see about if you are a nursing student, if you could work in an MD's office as an assistant.

Guide, your information was helpful. I'm looking into for my cousin, but I've read you have to have your cna's first. Thanks for all your help.

There is a difference between Certified Medication Technicians & Certified Medication Aide:CMT are to pass all sorts of meds & Insulin's (ONLY if you have a Insulin License) including narcotics with a approval from the CN (Charge Nurse) which will be a LPN or RN!CMA Are to pass all sorts of meds but are NOT allowed to administer insulin's and narcotics it is the state law.. and in order to get your CMT or CNA you have to be a CNA for at least 6 months before being eligible to do CMT classes you also can not have any kind of felony on your record and you can not have a record of being put on the EDL (Elderly Disqualification List) and you have to have no record of child abuse / elderly abuse.. BASICALLY you have to have a very very clean record so if you have a record on you then might want to consider into doing something else.. Hope this helped!