Behavioral Health Assistant Overview

Required Education and Training To Become a Behavioral Health Assistant

Best Schools to become a Behavioral Health Assistant in U.S. 2024

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, IN

In-State Tuition:$4,487
Out-of-State Tuition:$8,777
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:31%
Total Enrollment:89,705

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

In-State Tuition:$15,467
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,467
Admission Rate:99%
Graduation Rate:66%
Total Enrollment:96,709

Black River Technical College

Pocahontas, AR

In-State Tuition:$2,448
Out-of-State Tuition:$4,896
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:34%
Total Enrollment:1,566

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH

In-State Tuition:$11,525
Out-of-State Tuition:$35,782
Admission Rate:53%
Graduation Rate:88%
Total Enrollment:60,540

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

In-State Tuition:$16,407
Out-of-State Tuition:$16,407
Admission Rate:78%
Graduation Rate:45%
Total Enrollment:101,816

Sinclair Community College

Dayton, OH

In-State Tuition:$3,889
Out-of-State Tuition:$7,636
Admission Rate:N/A
Graduation Rate:30%
Total Enrollment:17,591
Behavioral Health Assistant Job Description:
  • Assist mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients, working under direction of nursing and medical staff.
  • May assist with daily living activities, lead patients in educational and recreational activities, or accompany patients to and from examinations and treatments.
  • May restrain violent patients.
  • Includes psychiatric orderlies.

Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Behavioral Health Assistant

Job Duties for Behavioral Health Assistants

  • Complete physical checks and monitor patients to detect unusual or harmful behavior and report observations to professional staff.

  • Listen and provide emotional support and encouragement to psychiatric patients.

  • Provide mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed patients with routine physical, emotional, psychological, or rehabilitation care under the direction of nursing or medical staff.

Technologies and Skills Used by Behavioral Health Assistants

Electronic mail software

  • Email software
  • Microsoft Outlook

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Basic Skills

  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • Talking to others

Problem Solving

  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • Looking for ways to help people
  • Understanding people's reactions

Current Job Market and Opportunites for a Behavioral Health Assistant

Additional Resources To Help You Become a Behavioral Health Assistant

FAQs About Becoming a Behavioral Health Assistant