Behavioral Health Technician Jobs in Virginia
Behavioral Health Technician jobs in Virginia are concentrated in Richmond, Northern Virginia, and the Hampton Roads region, where large behavioral health networks, community services boards, and integrated health systems maintain steady hiring pipelines. Employers such as Inova Health System, Virginia Commonwealth University Health, and Bon Secours Mercy Health consistently post openings for behavioral health technicians at every level from entry-level residential aides to senior crisis stabilization specialists. The most in-demand specialties include crisis intervention, substance use disorder support, and community-based mental health services. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 109+ Behavioral Health Technician jobs
Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
Actual starting salary depends on education, credentials and experience.
10% Specialty Assignment Pay + 7% shift Differential.
Every day, people experiencing a behavioral health crisis need someone who can provide hope, compassion, and expert clinical care. At Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare’s (CIBH) Crisis Receiving Center, a Licensed Clinician I plays a vital role in helping individuals stabilize, connect to treatment, and begin their recovery journey.
What You’ll Do
- Conduct comprehensive behavioral health and substance use assessments for individuals presenting in crisis.
- Complete suicide risk, violence risk, and safety assessments and develop individualized safety plans.
- Provide crisis intervention, brief therapeutic counseling, stabilization services, and solution-focused interventions.
- Develop person-centered treatment and discharge plans that promote recovery and continuity of care.
- Coordinate transitions to outpatient services, crisis stabilization, residential treatment, inpatient care, and community-based supports as clinically appropriate.
- Collaborate closely with psychiatrists, nurses, peer recovery specialists, emergency services clinicians, case managers, and community partners.
- Facilitate therapeutic groups and psycho-educational interventions as assigned.
- Complete accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with Medicaid, DBHDS, licensing, and agency standards.
- Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, case consultations, and quality improvement activities.
- Promote a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented environment that emphasizes dignity, hope, and person-centered care.
The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits.
Requires a master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a closely related field, or another degree as approved by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:
In addition to satisfying the vocational/education standards, this class requires a minimum of two years of related, full-time equivalent experience.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:
- Requires State of Virginia licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Professional Counselor (LPC), Clinical Psychologist (LCP).
- A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist MD/DO, or a Bachelor’s Prepared Registered Nurse (RN) with five years of experience may be considered in the Emergency Services Program.
- May consider as a marginal (under-grade) applicant a Resident in Counseling or Supervisee in Social Work applicant who is currently registered with the Board of Health Professions with the ability to obtain licensure within the probationary period.
- May require Pre-Screening Certification within 6 weeks of employment (12 weeks for part-time staff) for those in the Emergency Services Program.
- Requires a valid driver’s license and a driving record that is in compliance with the City Driving Standards.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
- Experience providing crisis intervention, emergency behavioral health, or psychiatric services.
- Experience working with adults experiencing acute mental health and substance use crises.
- Knowledge of suicide risk assessment, crisis de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and recovery-oriented practices.
- Experience treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
- Familiarity with evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.
- Experience with electronic health records and Medicaid documentation requirements.
Please ensure that all employment entries on the resumes are listed as either Full or Part time.
Medical Marijuana:
In accordance with City policy, this position is deemed safety-sensitive. As such, applicants for this position are subject to pre-employment drug/alcohol testing after receiving a conditional offer of employment and may also be subject to random testing. This drug test includes testing for marijuana. Possession of a medical marijuana card will not excuse an applicant from the testing process; however, a test will not be considered positive for marijuana if a valid medical marijuana certification is presented unless the position requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or is a sworn law-enforcement officer/deputy.
ADA Checklist
C = Continuously- 2/3 or more of the time. F = Frequently- From 1/3 to 2/3 of the time. O = Occasionally- Up to 1/3 of the time. R = Rarely- Less than 1 hour per week. N = Never- Never occurs.
D = Daily W = Several Times Per Week M = Several Times Per Month S = Seasonally N = Never
D = Daily W = Several Times Per Week M = Several Times Per Month S = Seasonally N = Never
C = Continuously- 2/3 or more of the time. F = Frequently- From 1/3 to 2/3 of the time. O = Occasionally- Up to 1/3 of the time. R = Rarely- Less than 1 hour per week. N = Never- Never occurs.
Professional References
Please provide contact information for professional references.
Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
Actual starting salary depends on education, credentials and experience.
10% Specialty Assignment Pay + 7% shift Differential.
Every day, people experiencing a behavioral health crisis need someone who can provide hope, compassion, and expert clinical care. At Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare’s (CIBH) Crisis Receiving Center, a Licensed Clinician I plays a vital role in helping individuals stabilize, connect to treatment, and begin their recovery journey.
What You’ll Do
- Conduct comprehensive behavioral health and substance use assessments for individuals presenting in crisis.
- Complete suicide risk, violence risk, and safety assessments and develop individualized safety plans.
- Provide crisis intervention, brief therapeutic counseling, stabilization services, and solution-focused interventions.
- Develop person-centered treatment and discharge plans that promote recovery and continuity of care.
- Coordinate transitions to outpatient services, crisis stabilization, residential treatment, inpatient care, and community-based supports as clinically appropriate.
- Collaborate closely with psychiatrists, nurses, peer recovery specialists, emergency services clinicians, case managers, and community partners.
- Facilitate therapeutic groups and psycho-educational interventions as assigned.
- Complete accurate and timely clinical documentation in accordance with Medicaid, DBHDS, licensing, and agency standards.
- Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings, case consultations, and quality improvement activities.
- Promote a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented environment that emphasizes dignity, hope, and person-centered care.
The City of Chesapeake offers an exceptional range of benefits.
Requires a master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or a closely related field, or another degree as approved by the Virginia Department of Health Professions.
EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT:
In addition to satisfying the vocational/education standards, this class requires a minimum of two years of related, full-time equivalent experience.
SPECIAL CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:
- Requires State of Virginia licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Professional Counselor (LPC), Clinical Psychologist (LCP).
- A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialist MD/DO, or a Bachelor’s Prepared Registered Nurse (RN) with five years of experience may be considered in the Emergency Services Program.
- May consider as a marginal (under-grade) applicant a Resident in Counseling or Supervisee in Social Work applicant who is currently registered with the Board of Health Professions with the ability to obtain licensure within the probationary period.
- May require Pre-Screening Certification within 6 weeks of employment (12 weeks for part-time staff) for those in the Emergency Services Program.
- Requires a valid driver’s license and a driving record that is in compliance with the City Driving Standards.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Employees may be expected to work hours in excess of their normally scheduled hours in response to short-term department needs and/or City-wide emergencies.
- Experience providing crisis intervention, emergency behavioral health, or psychiatric services.
- Experience working with adults experiencing acute mental health and substance use crises.
- Knowledge of suicide risk assessment, crisis de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and recovery-oriented practices.
- Experience treating co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
- Familiarity with evidence-based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.
- Experience with electronic health records and Medicaid documentation requirements.
Please ensure that all employment entries on the resumes are listed as either Full or Part time.
Medical Marijuana:
In accordance with City policy, this position is deemed safety-sensitive. As such, applicants for this position are subject to pre-employment drug/alcohol testing after receiving a conditional offer of employment and may also be subject to random testing. This drug test includes testing for marijuana. Possession of a medical marijuana card will not excuse an applicant from the testing process; however, a test will not be considered positive for marijuana if a valid medical marijuana certification is presented unless the position requires a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or is a sworn law-enforcement officer/deputy.
ADA Checklist
C = Continuously- 2/3 or more of the time. F = Frequently- From 1/3 to 2/3 of the time. O = Occasionally- Up to 1/3 of the time. R = Rarely- Less than 1 hour per week. N = Never- Never occurs.
D = Daily W = Several Times Per Week M = Several Times Per Month S = Seasonally N = Never
D = Daily W = Several Times Per Week M = Several Times Per Month S = Seasonally N = Never
C = Continuously- 2/3 or more of the time. F = Frequently- From 1/3 to 2/3 of the time. O = Occasionally- Up to 1/3 of the time. R = Rarely- Less than 1 hour per week. N = Never- Never occurs.
Professional References
Please provide contact information for professional references.
See All 109+ Behavioral Health Technician Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsBehavioral Health Technician Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Behavioral Health Technician Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Inova Health System12
- Bon Secours8
- Connections Health Solutions8
- Bon Secours Mercy Health7
- University of Virginia5
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Education
- Investment & Asset Management
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in behavioral health technician jobs across Virginia.
- Active Virginia Department of Health Professions registration or DBHDS-recognized credential preferred
- High school diploma or GED required, associate or bachelor's degree in psychology or human services preferred
- Demonstrated experience supporting individuals with mental health, substance use, or developmental conditions
- Current CPR and first aid certification required before starting employment
- Ability to pass a Virginia criminal background check and child protective services registry screening
- Familiarity with electronic health record systems and behavioral health documentation standards
Behavioral Health Technician Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a behavioral health technician in Virginia?
Most Virginia employers require at minimum a high school diploma and relevant experience working with individuals with behavioral health needs, though an associate or bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or a related field strengthens your application considerably. Virginia does not issue a single statewide license specifically titled behavioral health technician, but many employers expect or prefer candidates to hold a Qualified Mental Health Professional designation or to be registered through the Virginia Board of Counseling or DBHDS credentialing pathways depending on the setting and population served.
Which companies hire behavioral health technicians in Virginia?
Virginia behavioral health technician roles are posted by Inova Health System, Bon Secours, and Connections Health Solutions and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Virginia's community services board network, which operates across every locality in the state, is also a consistent source of openings alongside private residential and outpatient behavioral health providers.
Which Virginia cities have the most behavioral health technician jobs?
Portsmouth, Richmond, and Leesburg lead Virginia for behavioral health technician openings, driven by the concentration of major hospital systems, state-operated facilities, and community services boards in those metros. Richmond's role as a state government hub anchors a large publicly funded behavioral health infrastructure, while Northern Virginia's dense population and rapid growth have expanded demand for community-based and crisis services, and Hampton Roads benefits from the presence of both military behavioral health programs and large regional health systems.
Are there remote behavioral health technician jobs in Virginia?
Yes, but they're rare. Behavioral health technician work is largely hands-on, involving direct client interaction in residential, crisis stabilization, or outpatient settings that require physical presence. About 25% of behavioral health technician openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those positions are typically limited to telehealth support roles, care coordination, or administrative case management functions rather than direct-care technician work.
How can I get hired as a behavioral health technician in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a residential support specialist or mental health aide role with a Virginia community services board, which operates in every locality and routinely hires candidates who are early in their careers. Inova Behavioral Health, VCU Health, and Bon Secours Mercy Health all run structured onboarding programs for new staff without extensive clinical backgrounds. Completing a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist training through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services gives entry-level candidates a concrete, Virginia-recognized credential that differentiates them from other applicants without prior behavioral health experience.
Where can I find and apply to behavioral health technician jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to behavioral health technician jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, preferred location, and setting, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 109+ Behavioral Health Technician Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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