Behavioral health specialists in schools offer counseling and a wide range of services to help enhance students’ academic success, social skills, and overall emotional well-being. What could be more essential to help ensure a supportive environment for everyone – as well as a great start in life for children and young adults who face anxiety; depression; gender identity, racial, or national origin issues, or other behavior-related challenges?
How Behavior Technicians Make a Difference
Behavior technicians play a critical role as they provide individualized support to students with behavioral and developmental challenges. As just two of many examples, they may work with students who have been diagnosed with autism or ADHD, helping them to optimize their lives and experience during their formative school years.
Among the key responsibilities of school-based behavioral technicians are:
- Implementing individualized plans to address students’ specific behavioral needs and goals.
- Collecting data on student progress to help modify and improve ongoing treatment plans.
- Working closely with teachers, special education staff, and other professionals.
- Helping students with developmental disabilities to integrate into general education classrooms.
They help their students:
- Improve social skills, manage challenging behaviors, and interact more effectively with peers and staff.
- Navigate any difficult transitions between rooms, subjects, or activities.
- Gain greater independence through skill development and improved behavior management.
Becoming a Behavior Technician
To become a registered behavior technician (RBT), an individual must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, and pass a criminal background check. In addition, they must complete a 40 hour RBT task list training course and pass an exam and competency assessment administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
Registration and certification is not universally required to be hired as a behavior technician, but it can be advantageous as employers see it as proof of a solid baseline level of industry knowledge and proficiency.
Additional valuable skills for behavioral technicians include strength in communication, analytics, empathy, compassion, and ethical and cultural awareness.
Earning Potential
The average annual salary for an RBT is $54,000, with entry-level professionals earning an average of $47,000 per year.
Personalized Support to Meet Your Needs
Whether you are a job candidate exploring the behavioral health field or a school or district seeking top skilled behavior technicians for the coming academic year, Covelo Group is here to help. Check out our current job listings or contact us today to learn more.
