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 121+ Behavioral Health Technician jobs
About the Job:
The Farley Center is looking for Behavioral Health Techs to join our team!-$18 -$20 Base Pay + Shift differentials
- Full-time Mid shift (3pm-11:30pm)
- Complimentary Continued Education
- $3000 per year Tuition Assistance
- Flex Pay-Daily pay option
- PTO package
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
The Behavioral Health Associate I serves as an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment team and is responsible for monitoring and reporting of client behaviors; providing continuous client care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling; assisting in client data collection, recording, and maintenance; and responding in crisis situations and medical emergencies as needed.
Roles and Responsibilities:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Ensures the wellbeing of clients and provides a safe, positive, supportive, and structured environment. Maintains a constant awareness and supervision of clients.
- Conducts safety checks, ensuring that supervision is conducted at intervals in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines.
- Checks clients for contraband and manages the client’s valuables and belongings.
- Interacts routinely with clients, observes behaviors and communicates significant observations to supervisor. Encourages attendance at group therapy and promotes client participation in unit activities.
- Engages with clients in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
- Facilitates client educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills and independent living skills.
- Takes and records vital signs properly and communicates significant changes in client’s condition to the charge nurse.
- Charts in client records timely, accurately, and appropriately.
- Applies de-escalation techniques to help manage client’s emotions, behavior and participation in treatment.
- Assists with unit cleaning, organization of new admits charts, discharge process, filing, etc. Initiates client/employee incident reports.
- Receives report from previous shift to utilize information in planning for shift and then provides an accurate and thorough report to oncoming shift.
- Serves as a resource for new clients introducing them to other clients and staff, explaining programs and encouraging participation. Orients clients to the activities program, explaining the benefits of activities.
- Maintains an awareness of client's needs and individual goals while motivating clients towards activities which are beneficial to them. Observes clients’ interest levels and behaviors.
- Assists with activity planning by offering new activity ideas and diverse therapeutic recreation program.
- Organizes and sets up the equipment that is used in recreational activities. Provides clients with activity resources and supplies, as needed.
- Enforces safety rules to prevent injury and modifies activities to suit the needs of specific groups.
- Helps to develop and maintain departmental resources, sharing the responsibility to monitor equipment and supplies.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- High school graduate or equivalent.
- Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.
- Knowledge of common psychiatric disorders and/or dual diagnosis and various treatment modalities of the population served preferred.
LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:
- CPR certification and de-escalation training required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
- First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.
WORK LOCATION:
This position is onsite at the facility and is not a remote position.
SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS:
This position is an Individual Contributor.
Why The Farley Center?The Farley Center offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. The Farley Center is an EOE.Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.
About the Job:
The Farley Center is looking for Behavioral Health Techs to join our team!-$18 -$20 Base Pay + Shift differentials
- Full-time Mid shift (3pm-11:30pm)
- Complimentary Continued Education
- $3000 per year Tuition Assistance
- Flex Pay-Daily pay option
- PTO package
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
The Behavioral Health Associate I serves as an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment team and is responsible for monitoring and reporting of client behaviors; providing continuous client care, supervision, interaction, and role modeling; assisting in client data collection, recording, and maintenance; and responding in crisis situations and medical emergencies as needed.
Roles and Responsibilities:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Ensures the wellbeing of clients and provides a safe, positive, supportive, and structured environment. Maintains a constant awareness and supervision of clients.
- Conducts safety checks, ensuring that supervision is conducted at intervals in accordance with individualized supervision guidelines.
- Checks clients for contraband and manages the client’s valuables and belongings.
- Interacts routinely with clients, observes behaviors and communicates significant observations to supervisor. Encourages attendance at group therapy and promotes client participation in unit activities.
- Engages with clients in activities and interactions designed to encourage achievement of treatment goals.
- Facilitates client educational-rehabilitative groups which cover a variety of topics including social skills, coping skills and independent living skills.
- Takes and records vital signs properly and communicates significant changes in client’s condition to the charge nurse.
- Charts in client records timely, accurately, and appropriately.
- Applies de-escalation techniques to help manage client’s emotions, behavior and participation in treatment.
- Assists with unit cleaning, organization of new admits charts, discharge process, filing, etc. Initiates client/employee incident reports.
- Receives report from previous shift to utilize information in planning for shift and then provides an accurate and thorough report to oncoming shift.
- Serves as a resource for new clients introducing them to other clients and staff, explaining programs and encouraging participation. Orients clients to the activities program, explaining the benefits of activities.
- Maintains an awareness of client's needs and individual goals while motivating clients towards activities which are beneficial to them. Observes clients’ interest levels and behaviors.
- Assists with activity planning by offering new activity ideas and diverse therapeutic recreation program.
- Organizes and sets up the equipment that is used in recreational activities. Provides clients with activity resources and supplies, as needed.
- Enforces safety rules to prevent injury and modifies activities to suit the needs of specific groups.
- Helps to develop and maintain departmental resources, sharing the responsibility to monitor equipment and supplies.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- High school graduate or equivalent.
- Six months or more experience working with the specific population of the facility preferred.
- Knowledge of common psychiatric disorders and/or dual diagnosis and various treatment modalities of the population served preferred.
LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:
- CPR certification and de-escalation training required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
- First aid may be required based on state or facility requirements.
WORK LOCATION:
This position is onsite at the facility and is not a remote position.
SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS:
This position is an Individual Contributor.
Why The Farley Center?The Farley Center offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. The Farley Center is an EOE.Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.
See All 121+ 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
- Connections Health Solutions11
- Sentara6
- Bon Secours5
- HealthTrust Workforce Solutions5
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
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, Connections Health Solutions, and Sentara and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 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?
Richmond, Leesburg, and Fairfax 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 28% of behavioral health technician openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of October 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 121+ 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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