Psychiatric Technicians and Aides

Summary

What Psychiatric Technicians and Aides Do About this section

Psychiatric technicians may monitor patients' vital signs, such as taking their blood pressure.

Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental or emotional conditions or developmental disabilities. Technicians typically monitor patients’ conditions and provide therapeutic care, such as overseeing their medications. Aides help patients in their daily activities and ensure a safe and clean environment.

Duties

Psychiatric technicians, sometimes called mental health technicians, typically do the following:

• Listen to patients' concerns, observe their behavior, and record their condition
• Report changes in patient health or behavior to medical staff
• Lead patients in therapeutic and recreational activities
• Provide medications and other treatments to patients, following instructions from doctors and other medical professionals
• Help with patient intake and discharge
• Monitor patients’ vital signs, such as their blood pressure and body temperature
• Help patients with daily living activities, including eating and bathing
• Restrain patients who are or may become physically violent

Psychiatric aides typically do the following:

• Monitor patients’ behavior and location in a mental healthcare facility
• Escort patients within a facility
• Help patients with daily living activities, such as bathing and dressing
• Serve meals and help patients eat
• Keep facilities clean by doing tasks such as changing bed linens
• Participate in or accompany patients to group activities, such as recreational sports or field trips
• Restrain patients who are or may become physically violent

Some psychiatric technicians and aides provide care to patients who have severe developmental disabilities or mental health issues. Others work with patients undergoing rehabilitation for drug and alcohol addiction. Their work varies based on the types of patients they work with.

Psychiatric technicians and aides work as part of a medical team under the direction of physicians or registered nurses. Other team members may include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and therapists. For more information about the counselors and therapists they may work with, see the profiles on substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and marriage and family therapists.

Work Environment About this section

Psychiatric technicians and aides work primarily in healthcare settings, such as hospitals.

Psychiatric aides held about 32,400 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of psychiatric aides were as follows:

Psychiatric technicians held about 107,100 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of psychiatric technicians were as follows:

Psychiatric technicians and aides may need to stand for long periods, and the work can be physically demanding. Some of their tasks are unpleasant, and it can be challenging to care for patients who are disoriented, uncooperative, or violent.

Despite their work’s challenges, however, psychiatric technicians and aides may find it rewarding. For example, their close contact with patients allows technicians and aides to have a positive influence on patients’ outlook and treatment.

Injuries and Illnesses

Psychiatric technicians and aides have some of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Common injuries may include sprains and strains, such as from lifting and turning patients. Injuries also may result from working with patients who are physically uncooperative.

Psychiatric technicians and aides learn proper lifting techniques to minimize their risk of injury. In addition, these workers receive safety training to help with handling patients who may be a danger to themselves or others.

Work Schedule

Most psychiatric technicians and aides work full time, but part-time work is common. Because hospitals and residential facilities operate 24 hours a day, psychiatric technicians and aides may work nights, weekends, and holidays.

How to Become a Psychiatric Technician or Aide About this section

Psychiatric technicians observe patients’ behavior and listen to their concerns.

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.

Education

Psychiatric technicians typically need a postsecondary certificate for psychiatric technicians, behavioral health technicians, or similar titles. Programs for these certificates or associate’s degrees, available at community colleges and technical schools, train students in basic nursing skills. They include courses in psychology, anatomy, and pharmacology and also may include supervised clinical work experience. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree.

Psychiatric aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent.

Training

Psychiatric technicians and aides may have a short period of on-the-job training. This training may include working with patients while under the supervision of an experienced technician or aide.

Other Experience

Employers may prefer that psychiatric technicians and aides have experience in a related occupation, such as having worked with people who have developmental disabilities or mental health conditions. Technician experience also may include a clinical component, which they can gain in occupations such as nursing assistant or licensed practical or licensed vocational nurse.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Some states require psychiatric technicians to have a license. Requirements may include completing an accredited education program and passing an exam. Contact your state licensing board for additional information.

Psychiatric technicians may choose to earn optional certification. For example, the American Association of Psychiatric Technicians offers four levels of certification for psychiatric technicians. Requirements vary based on education and work experience.

Employers may require candidates to have certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS).

Important Qualities

Compassion. Psychiatric technicians and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients who have mental, emotional, or developmental conditions. They must be caring and understanding of their patients.

Interpersonal skills. Psychiatric technicians and aides may want to develop a rapport with patients in order to properly care for them. They also must be able to work well as part of a medical team.

Observational skills. Psychiatric technicians and aides must watch patients closely and be sensitive to changes in behavior. For their safety and that of their patients, they must recognize signs of discomfort or trouble among patients.

Patience. Working with people who have mental, emotional, or developmental conditions may be challenging. Psychiatric technicians and aides must be able to stay calm in stressful situations.

Physical stamina. Psychiatric technicians and aides must lift, move, and sometimes restrain patients. They also spend much of their time standing.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for psychiatric aides was $37,160 in May 2022. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $25,900, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $52,050.

The median annual wage for psychiatric technicians was $37,380 in May 2022. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,660, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,880.

In May 2022, the median annual wages for psychiatric aides in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

In May 2022, the median annual wages for psychiatric technicians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most psychiatric technicians and aides work full time, but part-time work is common. Because hospitals and residential facilities operate 24 hours a day, psychiatric technicians and aides may work nights, weekends, and holidays.

Job Outlook About this section

Overall employment of psychiatric technicians and aides is projected to grow 9 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 15,200 openings for psychiatric technicians and aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of psychiatric technicians and aides varies by occupation (see table). Cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, are more likely to occur in older people. As the nation’s population of older people grows, demand is expected to increase for psychiatric technicians and aides who care for patients affected by such disorders.

Psychiatric technicians and aides also will be needed to care for people who have mental health and substance abuse issues.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Psychiatric aides
• Psychiatric technicians

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about psychiatric technicians and aides, visit

American Association of Psychiatric Technicians

O*NET

Psychiatric Aides

Psychiatric Technicians