Behavioral Health Technician | How Do I Become One?
Learn about the route to becoming a behavioral health technician, mental health technician, or psychiatric technician here.
Are you interested in working in the psychiatric or psychological field by assisting with and supporting the work of behavioral health specialists?
A behavioral health technician job is an entry-level role that can introduce you to the complex field of psychological and psychiatric care of people with mental illnesses, disabilities, and chemical dependencies.
Several job titles have similar roles. You may see these referred to as behavioral health technicians, psychiatric technicians, mental health technicians, mental health assistants, or psychiatric aides.
Much like certified behavioral health technicians (CBHTs), certified mental health technicians (CMHTs) work as members of a team under the supervision of psychologists, psychiatrists, or counselors to care for emotionally disturbed and mentally ill patients.
Job Outlook and Salary
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<table border="1"><tr><td> <b>Education Required</b> </td><td> Certificate or associate's degree</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Education Field of Study</b> </td><td> Behavioral health, mental health technician, psychology, human services</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Key Responsibilities</b> </td><td> Support for people with mental illnesses and disabilities, assist with personal care, administer prescribed medication</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Licensure/Certification</b> </td><td> State license requirements vary by location, professional certification (recommended for employment)</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Job Growth (2021-2031)</b> </td><td> 9%</td></tr>
<tr><td> <b>Median Salary (2023)</b> </td><td> $38,300</td></tr>
</table><p>The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 9% increase in jobs for <b>psychiatric technicians and aides</b> between 2021 and 2031, adding an anticipated 12,500 positions.
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<p>The BLS data for 2021 states that the average <b>psychiatric technician</b> earns $36,230 per year.
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<p>As of mid-2023, according to Salary.com, the average <b>behavioral health technician</b> or <b>mental health technician</b> salary in the United States is $38,300, with a range typically between $34,400 and $43,300.
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<p>In contrast, another job data site, Indeed.com, provides a much higher salary as of mid-2023, stating that the average salary for a <b>mental health technician</b> in the U.S. is $63,294 per year, with Arizona as the highest-paying state.
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<p>ZipRecruiter.com has the average annual salary listing of $38,049 per year for <b>mental health technicians</b> but $80,165 for <b>psychiatric mental health technicians</b> in mid-2023.
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<p>Clearly, salaries vary greatly not only from state to state but also within cities and with experience. However, these larger discrepancies may indicate different levels and types of certification.
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<p>Certainly, slight differences in job titles may also indicate different job requirements and expectations, so be sure to study job notifications carefully.
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<p>Please note that another job position, called registered behavior technician (RBT), is a distinctively different job involving behavior analysis, so we are not including it here.
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<h2 id="section---Step1LearnWhatABehavioralHealthTechnicianDoes">Step 1: Learn What a Behavioral Health Technician Does</h2>
<p>A behavioral health technician assists a licensed mental health professional such as a psychiatrist (who is a medical doctor with an MD) or a clinical psychologist (who holds a PhD) in treating patients with behavioral disorders.
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<p>As a psychiatric or behavioral health technician, you might work in a psychiatric clinic, hospital, mental healthcare facility, memory care facility, or other residential care setting to provide direct care to patients under a doctor's supervision.
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<p>Technicians may have to complete the following job duties:
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<ul><li>monitor patients
</li><li>listen to patients' concerns
</li><li>record their physical and emotional symptoms
</li><li>assist with daily activities
</li><li>administer prescription medications
</li><li>assist with therapeutic activities
</li></ul><p>Skills needed for this career role are compassion and patience, interpersonal communication, keen observational abilities, and physical stamina.
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<h2 id="section---Step2AcquireTheEducationNeededToBecomeABehavioralHealthTechnician">Step 2: Acquire the Education Needed to Become a Behavioral Health Technician</h2>
<p>Beyond a high school diploma, employers may require an <a href="https://bestaccreditedcolleges.org/articles/behavioral-health-technician-training-and-education-program-summaries.html">associate degree or certificate</a>. Only three states require licensure (see below).
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<p>You can earn your associate degree at any community college in about two years. Find out what academic programs your state approves for psychiatric or behavioral health technicians.
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<h2 id="section---Step3GetLicensedIfYourStateRequiresIt">Step 3: Get Licensed If Your State Requires It</h2>
<p>Behavioral health technicians or psychiatric technicians in Arkansas, California, and Colorado will need to study their state's requirements and process to obtain a license.
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<p>For example, California requires:
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<ul><li>graduating from a state-approved academic program for psychiatric technicians OR equivalent education and supervised clinical experience OR completion of a military course in neuropsychiatric nursing and working with developmentally disabled clients plus at least one year of verified full-time, paid work experience
</li><li>a background check and fingerprinting for all candidates
</li><li>completing the California Psychiatric Technician Licensure Examination
</li></ul><p>In Kansas, the state's Department of Administration divides licensed and unlicensed behavioral health technicians into distinctly different roles for technicians seeking work in a state-operated facility.
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<h2 id="section---Step4ObtainProfessionalCertification"> Step 4: Obtain Professional Certification</h2>
<p>Professional certification is highly recommended for employment and to enhance your career path. Once certified, you become a professional in the field and adhere to a Code of Ethical and Professional Conduct.
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<p>Many different credentialing organizations exist, often offering certification for the same role such as Certified Behavioral Health Technician or Certified Mental Health Technician.
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<p>The following list includes some of the leading credentialing organizations you can choose from:
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<ul><li>state certification boards
</li><li>National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
</li><li>American Association of Psychiatric Technicians (AAPT)
</li><li>International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium (IC&RC)
</li><li>National Council for Behavioral Health (NCBH)
</li><li>American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy (ASAPT)
</li><li>National Board for Certified Mental Health Technicians (NBCMHT)
</li><li>National Career Certification Board (NCCB)
</li><li>National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI)
</li></ul><p>To qualify for any level of certification, you'll usually need to pass a written examination and often a practical component as well.
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<p>Be sure to research the certification requirements for each organization to discover which one best fits your needs. The cost and convenience of credentialing will vary from organization to organization as well.
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<h2 id="section---Step5EarnContinuingEducationCreditsToMaintainYourProfessionalStatus">Step 5: Earn Continuing Education Credits to Maintain Your Professional Status</h2>
<p>In most states, certified behavioral health technicians and related roles are required to earn continuing education credits each year if they want to maintain their certification status.
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<p>You can generally earn these credits by participating in workshops, seminars, or online courses.
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<h2 id="section---ContactUsForMoreInformationOnVariousCareersAndAcademicPrograms">Contact Us for More Information on Various Careers and Academic Programs</h2>
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