What is Occupational Licensing?
An “occupational license” is, put simply, government permission to work in a particular field. To earn the license, an aspiring worker must clear various hurdles, such as earning a certain amount of education or training or passing an exam. In the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed the government’s permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, that figure stands at almost one in four.
Psychiatric Technician Occupational Licensing
License required in 4 states
37th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$242
What They Do
Psychiatric technicians care for mentally impaired or emotionally disturbed individuals, following physician instructions and hospital procedures. They monitor patients’ physical and emotional well-being and report to medical staff. They may participate in rehabilitation and treatment programs, help with personal hygiene, and administer oral medications and hypodermic injections.
Psychiatric Technician Licensing Overview
Four states require a licence to work as a Psychiatric Technician. On average, these laws require $242 in fees, 255 days of education and about 1 exam. Psychiatric Technician Licenses have the 37th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
Where is a Psychiatric Technician the most regulated?
Out of the 4 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Psychiatric Technician has the highest burden in California. California requires $519 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 1530 clock hours education.
Where is a Psychiatric Technician the least regulated?
Out of the 4 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Psychiatric Technician has the lowest burden in Arkansas. Arkansas requires $51 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 900 clock hours education.
Where is a Psychiatric Technician license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Psychiatric Technician costs the most in California. California requires $519 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 1530 clock hours education.
Where is a Psychiatric Technician license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Psychiatric Technician costs the least in Arkansas. Arkansas requires $51 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 900 clock hours education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain a Psychiatric Technician license?
An occupational license for a Psychiatric Technician takes the longest to obtain in California. It takes 357 days (0 years and 27 days). California requires $519 in fees, 1 exams, no experience, and 1530 clock hours education.
Where is it fastest to obtain a Psychiatric Technician license?
An occupational license for a Psychiatric Technician takes the least time to obtain in Arkansas, Kansas (210 days).
What states require exams for a Psychiatric Technician license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Psychiatric Technician there is at least one exam required in: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas.
Five states license psychiatric technicians: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. All five require a high school diploma, and four of the five require an exam (only Missouri does not). There is significant variation in education and experience requirements, however: While Missouri requires 730 days (two years) of experience, Arkansas and Kansas require only about 210 days (900 hours) of education. Fees range from $0 in Missouri to $349 in California ($119 on average). These requirements are the 36th most burdensome of the 102 occupations studied here. However, because so few states license psychiatric technicians, the occupation ranks as only the 89th most widely and onerously licensed.
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022| Burden Rank | State | Occupations Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Arkansas | 72 | $51 | 210 | 900 clock hours | None | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 1 | California | 75 | $519 | 357 | 1530 clock hours | None | 1 | 12 | 18 |
| 2 | Colorado | 34 | $260 | 242 | 34.5 credit hours | None | 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 3 | Kansas | 35 | $138 | 210 | 900 clock hours | None | 1 | 12 | 0 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
View Report