Psychiatric Aide – Technician

                 

Duties and Responsibilities:

            Psychiatric aides and technicians help care for mentally ill, disabled, or infirm people who are confined to hospitals, mental facilities, and residential care facilities. They often work in hospitals, social service centers, crisis centers, schools, and substance abuse facilities.  Psychiatric technicians usually have more formal training and responsibilities than aides.  Psychiatric aides and technicians often:

• Help patients bathe, dress, and eat
• Escort patients to and from wards or clinics
• Aid or restrain patients
• Teach daily living skills
• Observe patients and report their actions to professionals

Average Salary: $12,000 - $24,000 

Education:

Psychiatric aides need not always have a high school diploma or formal training, however most employers prefer that they do.

Psychiatric technicians need a high school diploma and should have taken courses in English and science.  A short training course or previous job experience as a psychiatric aide is often also required.