Behavioral Health Tech Jobs

Take a look at Vivian's Behavioral Health Tech Career Guide for more information, including required education, responsibilities, pros and cons and more.

Behavioral health techs are allied health professionals who specialize in assisting doctors, nurses, and other mental health providers in the treatment of patients with various behavioral disorders, mental illness, or developmental disabilities. BHTs, sometimes called mental health technicians or psychiatric technicians, work directly with patients to implement a prescribed treatment plan and practice under direct or indirect supervision. Behavioral health is a challenging yet rewarding career choice and employment of BHTs is expected to grow 13% between 2019 and 2029.

Some healthcare employers may prefer behavioral health tech job candidates with Licensed Psychiatric Technician (LPT) or Nationally Certified Psychiatric Technicians (NCPT-AAPT), and some may even require specific professional certifications.

Having a Nationally Certified Psychiatric Technicians (NCPT-AAPT) validates your knowledge and skills as a behavioral health tech and your dedication to continuing your education in your chosen field. All of which makes you a more desirable job candidate to healthcare employers.