What does a behavior technician do?

The job of a behavioral technician is to offer mental health services to patients who struggle with behavior-related problems. Behavior technicians uphold the highest standard of quality of care. They are the ones who enforce learning programs like self-help, communication, and play skills. It is their duty to incorporate medical care training for parents, so caregivers or family members can support and teach skills during family activities. One must be good in written and verbal communication, can work with team members, and develop good interpersonal relationship skills to be a good technician.
Behavior technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real behavior technician resumes:
- Manage and target behaviors using the ESDM, ABA, PRT and SCERTS model.
- Teach family members and teachers different ways to achieve cooperation with child and transfer skills to ensure an efficient learning environment.
- Have RBT credential from the BACB.
- Work with kids with autism * run programs apply individually for each child
- Provide ABA services to adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
- Facilitate intensive in-home ABA services to children with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
- Conduct specific behavior modification programs that focuse on identifying and terminating problematic behaviors for clients with autism and learning disabilities.
- Complete 40 hour RBT (TM) training coursework.
- Up to date on CPR and and tb test.
- Complete state documentation CPR and first aid certify
- Monitor the use of restraints and behavioral medications.
- Help teach kids with special needs and behavioral issues.
- Adhere to the guidelines of the facility and HIPPA.
- Provide in home and clinic therapy to children with autism and adhd.
- Practice in accordance with and implement standards of the BACB and ethical procedures.
Behavior technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 25% of Behavior Technicians are proficient in Autism, Applied Behavior Analysis, and Behavior Analysis. They’re also known for soft skills such as Observational skills, Patience, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Behavior Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Autism, 25%
Provide behavior therapy to children and young adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related developmental delays in their natural setting.
- Applied Behavior Analysis, 19%
Implemented Applied Behavior Analysis intervention and provided case coordination services to assist client and family in achieving a stable home environment.
- Behavior Analysis, 8%
Complete preference assessments as well as functional behavior analysis.
- BCBA, 5%
Provided direct in-home behavioral therapy for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by implementing behavioral programs designed by BcBA.
- Developmental Disabilities, 4%
Provide direct one-on-one instruction of behavioral, communication, and adaptive living skills to children with developmental disabilities.
- Social Work, 4%
Assist nurses & social workers with admission and discharge of client, assist with crisis intervention and de escalation.
Common skills that a behavior technician uses to do their job include "autism," "applied behavior analysis," and "behavior analysis." You can find details on the most important behavior technician responsibilities below.
Observational skills. The most essential soft skill for a behavior technician to carry out their responsibilities is observational skills. This skill is important for the role because "psychiatric technicians and aides must watch patients closely and be sensitive to changes in behavior." Additionally, a behavior technician resume shows how their duties depend on observational skills: "develop individualized behavior management treatment plans and skills programming based on the findings from assessments and direct observational data. "
Patience. Many behavior technician duties rely on patience. "working with people who have mental, emotional, or developmental conditions may be challenging," so a behavior technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways behavior technician responsibilities rely on patience: "learned and experienced autism face to face while growing patience and managing behaviors. "
Physical stamina. behavior technicians are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to behavior technician responsibilities, because "psychiatric technicians and aides must lift, move, and sometimes restrain patients." A behavior technician resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "conducted group therapy sessions addressing social skills and physical education with ages ranging from 2 years old to 18 year-olds. "
Compassion. behavior technician responsibilities often require "compassion." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "psychiatric technicians and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients who have mental, emotional, or developmental conditions." This resume example shows what behavior technicians do with compassion on a typical day: "provided support, compassion and assistance to persons with a dual diagnosis of a developmental disability and a co-existing psychiatric disorder. "
Interpersonal skills. A commonly-found skill in behavior technician job descriptions, "interpersonal skills" is essential to what behavior technicians do. Behavior technician responsibilities rely on this skill because "psychiatric technicians and aides may want to develop a rapport with patients in order to properly care for them." You can also see how behavior technician duties rely on interpersonal skills in this resume example: "established and maintained interpersonal relationships with patients, visitors, and other hospital personnel while maintaining confidentiality of patient information. "
The three companies that hire the most behavior technicians are:
- Proud Moments ABA578 behavior technicians jobs
- ACES274 behavior technicians jobs
- BlueSprig199 behavior technicians jobs
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Behavior technician vs. Mental health nurse
A mental health nurse is responsible for assisting with the diagnosis and treatment plans of patients with mental health complications. Mental health nurses handle high-quality nursing care under mental health professionals' supervision within a hospital or mental health institution. They support in performing therapeutic activities, administering medical examinations, and counseling patients to know more about their conditions. A mental health nurse also does administrative tasks as needed, such as organizing and updating patients' information on the database, processing treatment payments, and responding to the family's inquiries and concerns.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between behavior technicians and mental health nurse. For instance, behavior technician responsibilities require skills such as "applied behavior analysis," "behavior analysis," "bcba," and "developmental disabilities." Whereas a mental health nurse is skilled in "psychiatric mental," "pmhnp," "medication management," and "substance abuse." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Mental health nurses really shine in the government industry with an average salary of $113,936. Comparatively, behavior technicians tend to make the most money in the education industry with an average salary of $40,316.The education levels that mental health nurses earn slightly differ from behavior technicians. In particular, mental health nurses are 6.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a behavior technician. Additionally, they're 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Behavior technician vs. Therapist
A therapist is responsible for improving the patients' health conditions by evaluating their needs and providing physical and mental support. Therapists are licensed, medical professionals who specialize in different areas to perform treatments and bring relief to patients. Some of their duties include diagnosing patient's problems, performing counseling services, monitoring medication progress, customizing therapy activities for pain management, and consulting other health professionals as needed. Therapists must have extensive knowledge with the medical industry to detect patients' conditions easily and provide effective medications.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that behavior technician responsibilities requires skills like "bcba," "developmental disabilities," "rbt," and "kids." But a therapist might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "group therapy sessions," "mental health," "patient care," and "community resources."
On average, therapists earn a higher salary than behavior technicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, therapists earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $55,972. Whereas behavior technicians have higher pay in the education industry, with an average salary of $40,316.therapists earn higher levels of education than behavior technicians in general. They're 30.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.8% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Behavior technician vs. Clinical therapist
A Clinical Therapist works with patients to help identify, examine, and treat mental health and emotional issues or disorders. They counsel individuals or groups regarding psychological or emotional problems, as well as observe clients to detect indications of abnormal physical or mental behavior.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a behavior technician is likely to be skilled in "autism," "applied behavior analysis," "behavior analysis," and "bcba," while a typical clinical therapist is skilled in "mental health," "discharge planning," "community resources," and "psychosocial assessments."
Clinical therapists earn the best pay in the government industry, where they command an average salary of $54,686. Behavior technicians earn the highest pay from the education industry, with an average salary of $40,316.Most clinical therapists achieve a higher degree level compared to behavior technicians. For example, they're 39.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Behavior technician vs. In home therapist
An in-home therapist provides case management, counseling, resource system development, support system development, and crisis intervention services for family members and children. They provide goal-oriented and structured therapy on referral issues for families that help recover from neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or physical abuse. Also, they provide time-limited, goal-oriented, and structured therapy in the families' natural environment for families that need help to recover from neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and physical abuse.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between behavior technicians and in home therapists, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a behavior technician might have more use for skills like "developmental disabilities," "rbt," "kids," and "home health." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of in home therapists require skills like "community resources," "community agencies," "substance abuse," and "group therapy. "
In general, in home therapists earn the most working in the government industry, with an average salary of $52,546. The highest-paying industry for a behavior technician is the education industry.In general, in home therapists hold higher degree levels compared to behavior technicians. In home therapists are 30.9% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of behavior technician
Updated January 8, 2025











