Career Overview
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.
Also Known As
- Mental Health Associate
- Mental Health Technician (MHT)
- MHW (Mental Health Worker)
- Psychiatric Technician (PT)
Alternate Job Titles
- Autism Behavior Technician (Autism Behavior Tech)
- Behavior Technician (Behavior Tech)
- Behavioral Health Associate
- Behavioral Technician (Behavioral Tech)
- BHT (Behavioral Health Technician)
- Counselor
- 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)
- Milieu Therapist
- Patient Care Specialist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Education and Training
- Public Safety and Security
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Empathy
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
- Cooperation
- Self-Control
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Relationships
- Support
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Some College Courses
On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Bag valve mask BVM resuscitators
- Blood drawing syringes
- Blood pressure cuffs
- Cold therapy equipment
- Crutches
- Desktop computers
- Electronic patient thermometers
- Emergency carts
- Enema equipment
- Evacuated blood collection tubes
- Glucometers
- Gurneys
- Hazardous material spill kits
- Heat therapy equipment
- Hospital beds
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Telephone Conversations
- Physical Proximity
- Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $32,980 |
| Median | $42,590 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $60,150 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 136,300
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Psychiatric Aides
Education: Some College Courses
Median Salary: $41,590
Physical Therapist Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $65,510
Occupational Therapy Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $37,370
Physical Therapist Aides
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $34,520
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
Median Salary: $68,340
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.