PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS California Occupational Guide Number 95 Interest Area 13 1995
THE JOB
PSYCHIATRIC TECHNICIANS work on a mental health team with doctors, psychologists and rehabilitation therapists. Together they treat institutionalized patients who are mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled. Their goal is to rehabilitate individuals and return them to the community.
Psychiatric Technicians provide nursing, psychiatric, and personal care for patients. They help maintain a clean and healing environment and assist patients with personal cleanliness. They encourage them to develop work skills and social relationships and to participate in recreational activities. They maintain daily records of the physical condition of patients, including temperature, respiration and blood pressure. Under the direction of their supervisors, doctors, nurses, or other medical professionals, they give medication and may do physical therapy. They use thermometers, blood pressure gauges, catheters, hypodermic needles and syringes in their work.
Psychiatric Technicians have closer patient contact than other medical workers. They observe and influence patient behavior. They teach, counsel and befriend them and do reports describing both their physical and emotional symptoms. Not only do they give routine and emergency nursing care, but also use communication skills in effective patient interaction and rehabilitation counseling. They may interview and evaluate patients to determine previous mental health problems and treatment. They may also help develop therapy treatment plans and act as leaders in group sessions.
Most Psychiatric Technicians work in State hospitals. Others work in county facilities, private institutions, and community psychiatric and addiction treatment centers. They may stand or walk for long periods of time and lift, carry, or restrain patients.
Technicians work with emotionally disturbed or developmentally disabled patients and must be responsive to their needs. They must have the special understanding and tolerance required for treating patients who sometimes are withdrawn or display bizarre behavior.
Some Psychiatric Technicians belong to the Hospital and Institutional Workers Union, AFL- CIO; others may belong to public employees associations.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1990 3,000 Estimated number of workers in 2005 4,740 Projected Growth 1990-2005 58% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 800
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
Demand for Psychiatric Technicians in State facilities should continue, depending on the budget. Demand in the private sector may increase as some counties contract with private psychiatric and addition treatment centers as an alternative to running their own facilities. However, some private sector employers combine technician duties with nursing staff work and do not hire Psychiatric Technicians.
More than 12,000 Psychiatric Technicians currently hold a license in the State. The California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners reports that between 300 and 350 new licenses are issued each year. No information exists right now on the number of licensed technicians who are actually working in their field. This is a high stress occupation that many workers exit and reenter often.
Applications to the accredited schools are brisk, reflecting a probable expansion of job opportunities. Many schools are located in mental or developmental care facilities that employ technicians. Over the next few years, a better balance between the supply of qualified Psychiatric Technicians and job opportunities should develop as new graduates enter the job market.
WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS
State employed workers in the classifications of apprentice, training candidate and student Psychiatric Technician earn between $1,636 and $1,953 monthly. Licensed Psychiatric Technicians advance through monthly levels that begin at $2,270 and go up to $2,985. Psychiatric Technician instructors earn between $3,459 and $4,202 monthly.
Entry-level technicians in private, county, and community facilities earn from $5.25 to $12.50 per hour. Experienced technicians earn an hourly range of $5.50 to $18.00 or more, depending on work history, kind of employer, and geographic area.
The normal workweek for psychiatric technicians is 40 hours. Most facilities operate on a 24-hour schedule, requiring day and night shifts, as well as holiday and weekend shifts. Psychiatric Technicians often work a rotating schedule. Overtime work may be required and is usually paid at time and a half. Fringe benefits are fairly standard throughout the health industry. Benefits for technicians hired on a permanent basis include paid vacations, sick leave, and holidays. Paid health and life insurance plans are common. Both public and private sector employers provide most, if not all, of these benefits.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Technicians must be licensed by the California Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners. Basic qualifying standards for licensing are:
-- Minimum age - eighteen years
-- High school graduation or equivalent
-- Qualifying scores on the written licensing exam
-- Completion of one of the following options specified
by the Board:
-- The Board approved, twelve-month course offered by accredited
California schools;
-- A school for Psychiatric Technicians outside California that
offers a Board approved course of study; or
-- Coursework in nursing science and behavioral science combined with
clinical or paid work experience.
Accredited schools and their telephone numbers are:
Atascadero School of Psychiatric Technology;(805) 468-2000 Camarillo State Hospital; (805) 484-3661 Cypress College; (714) 826-2220 Grossmont Health Occupation Center;(619) 579-4780 Hacienda La Puente Valley Adult School; (818) 855-3139 Mission College; (408) 748-2750 Mt. San Antonio College; (909) 594-5611 Napa College; (707) 253-3121 Porterville College; (209) 781-3130 Saddleback Community College; (714) 582-4700 San Bernardino Valley College; (909) 888-6511 Santa Rosa Junior College; (707) 527-4272 Ventura College; (805) 654-6448 Yuba College; (916) 741-6959
ADVANCEMENT
State employed workers in the classifications of apprentice, training candidate and student Psychiatric Technician advance into the Psychiatric Technician series after completing licensing requirements. After one year of service, technicians working for State facilities can advance to Senior Psychiatric Technician. Other advancement opportunities are unit supervisor, developmental specialist, nursing coordinator, program assistant, program director and clinical director. Most of these positions require additional education and on-the-job training. Job related training coursework is usually paid or partially paid by the employing agency. The advancement system is similar for county agencies. Most private facilities are willing to give technicians further training and promote them to higher paying positions when they are qualified.
FINDING THE JOB
Psychiatric Technicians should contact personnel offices of counties, the California Department of Mental Health and the California Department of Developmental Services. They should also apply directly to local psychiatric centers, developmental services centers and community mental health centers. Employers may list openings through mental health associations, psychiatric technology training centers, and newspaper classified ads. Job seekers may also contact the California Employment Development Department Job Service.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
State Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician Examiners 2535 Capital Oaks Drive, Suite 205 Sacramento, CA 95833 (916) 263-7800
For apprenticeship information: Department of Industrial Relations Division of Apprenticeship Standards Headquarters 455 Golden Gate Avenue, Room 1193 San Francisco, CA 94102 (415) 975-2035
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Psychologists No. 77 Teachers, Special Education No. 110 Occupational Therapists No. 143 Licensed Vocational Nurses No. 313 Recreation Workers No. 357 Nurse Aides/Nursing Assistants No. 442 Home Health Aides No. 461
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Psychiatric Technician 079.374-026
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Psychiatric Technicians 329310
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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