The Top 5 Reasons to Consider Becoming a Behavior Technician
Introduction
If you’re looking for a career that’s rewarding, stimulating, and is an entry way into the field of mental health, then becoming a Behavior Technician is the job for you.
What is a behavior technician?
A Behavior Technician is an entry level position in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. Individuals can earn a certification to work with people on the autism spectrum and with neurodiverse individuals in clinical and natural settings. In some states it is required by Medicaid or licensing laws that the behavior technician be certified. It is also required that individuals be certified to serve military families with Tricare.
Top 5 reasons to become a Behavior Technician
1. At its core being a Behavior Technician is rewarding.
Whether you are working with clients in a clinical setting, out in the community working on various social skills, or in a school setting providing support for a client, the job
of a behavior technician is rewarding. With a desire to improve the lives of others, the rewards of that will be infectious to clients, their families, your co-workers and anyone else lucky enough to be orbiting around your mission.
2. The “evergreen” nature of providing healthcare.
No two days of being a Behavior Technician are the same. There are many varied situations you will face in the field. This aspect of working with clients helps keep the work you do fresh, allows for self-improvement, and
will keep you sharp when you work with a multitude of clients.
3. For Behavior Technicians, opportunities for growth abound.
Continuing education opportunities will aid you in taking on a supervisory (or other role) in the future if you so choose. The ABAT has continuing education needed for the renewal. Staying on top of the continuing education units will keep you current in the field and the renewal process easy.
4. Becoming a Behavior Technician Will Give you Options.
The field of Applied Behavior Analysis is diverse and growing. There are many positions and titles one can
achieve. Becoming a Behavior Technician will make you well rounded in this field, and in the process give you an idea of the kind of path you’d like your career to take. Again, this road can be supervisory in nature, such as a Behavior Analyst, all the way to getting a PhD.
5. Obtaining a Behavior Technician certification aids in Career Focus.
Career options when entering the field of healthcare can be overwhelming. “What career path should I take?” are questions that are often made with time and money as the biggest consideration. Becoming a Behavior Technician will bring clarity to that, because as you work toward your certification you will be both working in education and healthcare. The needs of clients are as diverse as the types of clients you will work with. One may require assistance with their homework as part of their behavior plan. Another might need tools to deal with stress and anxiety that can provoke challenging behaviors. As one works with others, and gets certified as a Behavior Technician, they will gain very real world experience that will let them know firsthand what career path they should
travel down.