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Psychiatric Techs Job Overview

Psychiatric technicians provide healthcare to the mentally impaired individuals. They cater to the physical and emotional needs of the patients, monitor their conditions, and report to the doctors. Administering oral medications and injections, and helping with personal hygiene are a part of their job duties. Psychiatric techs also participate in treatment and rehabilitation programs.

Psychiatric Techs Schools and Degrees

To take up the profession of a psychiatric technician, one needs to have a minimum of an associates or a bachelors degree. A number of certificates and diploma programs are also offered in various colleges and technical schools. Besides, one can opt for training courses in vocational schools. These training programs prepare individuals to provide direct care services, administer medications, implement treatment plans, and perform administrative functions. The specialized Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician program instructs students on mental health treatment procedures, mental health theory, applied psychopathology, psychotropic medication, crisis intervention, and patient communication and management.

Job Requirements

Psychiatric techs are mostly employed in psychiatric as well as general medicine hospitals and outpatient care centers. Employers look for candidates with at least a year of formal or informal training in any vocational school, or under the supervision of a mental healthcare professional. On-the-job experience is of great help in securing employment at a hospital or healthcare facility.

Those interested in adopting the profession of a psychiatric technician should have knowledge about human behavior, psychological research methods, and the treatment of mental and emotional disorders. One should also be familiar with the principles, methods, and procedures of diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders.

Psychiatric technicians should possess excellent communication skills as they need to constantly deal with patients, their family members, and the medical practitioners. This also applies to those wishing to pursue a career in therapy and counseling. The ability to think critically so as to identify signs of distress and think of alternative solutions is extremely crucial. One should also be a good listener, possess an acute social perceptiveness, and be service oriented.

Nature of Work

The job of psychiatric techs involves maintaining records of the patients general physical conditions, and providing daily reports to the medical staff. They need to provide healthcare in keeping with the procedures and instructions of the physician and the hospital. Observing the patients and making a record of their behavioral pattern is also a part of their jobs. In addition, psychiatric techs may at times need to verbally or physically intervene and restrain violent or suicidal patients.

Psychiatric techs generally work in clean, well lit, and comfortable surroundings. Weekly work hours are generally regular, though they may have to be on-call occasionally. While the job of providing care and relief to the mentally distressed can be rewarding, it might also lead to a significant amount of stress.

Psychiatric Techs Jobs and Outlook

Approximately 60,690 psychiatric techs were employed in the US, according to the records published in 2007. Employment is the highest in the following industries:

• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
• Outpatient Care Centers
• Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals
• Residential Mental Retardation, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities
• Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals

The mean hourly wage for psychiatric techs in the US is about $15.21, while the average annual earnings are around $31,640.

Job Numbers and Growth

How many psychiatric techs are there? About 62,000 in all. Workers can most likely expect a very low rate of unemployment. Note that 2% of employees were without work in 2006.

Area Job Conditions

Kankakee (Illinois), Visalia (California), and Santa Rosa (California) boast the most employees for their size population. Detroit (Michigan), Boston (Massachusetts), and Dallas (Texas) have the fewest.

The highest salaries for psychiatric techs are in and around San Jose (California), Oakland (California), and Santa Ana (California). The lowest-paying areas are Fort Walton Beach (Florida), Palm Bay (Florida), and Hattiesburg (Mississippi).

Training and Education

Expect to get a postsecondary vocational award for this occupation. The share of employees with a bachelor's degree or higher is 16%. About 57% of psychiatric techs got additional education after high school, but did not have to get a college degree. There was no need to go beyond high school for 27% of workers. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

It is estimated that 21% of psychiatric techs work less than full time.

Psychiatric Techs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

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Louisiana

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Nebraska

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Washington

Wisconsin