How to become a Psychiatric Technician

Official title: Psychiatric Technicians

Also called: BHT (Behavioral Health Technician), Health Care Technician (Health Care Tech), LPT (Licensed Psychiatric Technician), Mental Health Associate, Mental Health Specialist, Mental Health Technician (MHT), MHA (Mental Health Assistant), MHW (Mental Health Worker), Psychiatric Technician (PT), Residential Aide (RA)

Care for individuals with mental or emotional conditions or disabilities, following the instructions of physicians or other health practitioners. Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. May participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral or injectable medications.

Main tasks

• Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
• Encourage patients to develop work skills and to participate in social, recreational, or other therapeutic activities that enhance interpersonal skills or develop social relationships.
• Restrain violent, potentially violent, or suicidal patients by verbal or physical means as required.
• Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
• Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
• Take and record measures of patients' physical condition, using devices such as thermometers or blood pressure gauges.
• Observe and influence patients' behavior, communicating and interacting with them and teaching, counseling, or befriending them.
• Aid patients in performing tasks, such as bathing or keeping beds, clothing, or living areas clean.

How to become one

To enter the occupation, psychiatric technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate, and aides need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some states require technicians to be licensed. Both technicians and aides get on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Behavioral Health Aide.
• Apprenticeship: Psychiatric Technician (Nof).
• Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician
• Licence: A licence is required in 6 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $45,130 a year The middle half earn $38,430 to $50,160.
• About 161,500 people work in this job now, and about 197,500 are projected by 2035. (+22.3%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Psychiatric Technician?

To enter the occupation, psychiatric technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate, and aides need at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Some states require technicians to be licensed. Both technicians and aides get on-the-job training.

How much does a Psychiatric Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $45,130 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,430 to $50,160.

Is a Psychiatric Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 22% by 2035, from about 161,500 to about 197,500 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Psychiatric Technician?

Not always. 43% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Behavioral Health Aide.

Will AI change the work of a Psychiatric Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.