BEHAVIOR SUPPORT TECHNICIAN
Behavior Support Technician is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
Candidates need a bachelor's degree and 1 year of relevant experience. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $60,876 to $88,743, and state payroll currently lists about 55 people in the title, led by Human Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 2 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 2 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Behavior Support Technician appears on the State payroll at 2 departments, most of them at Department of Human Services.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | 30 |
| Department of Health | 25 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 55 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $72,280. The agencies employing the most are:
- Human Services (30)
- Health and Senior Services (25)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under general supervision of a Clinical Psychologist, Staff Clinical Psychologist, Behavior Analyst 2 or other supervisor in one of the institutions or community service components, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services, is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of designed activities for Behavior Support Programs; does related work as required.
Examples of work
- Under professional supervision, establishes behavior support programs for individual clients and provides leadership to therapy program assistants, technicians, and other paraprofessional employees engaged in carrying out these programs; instructs such employees in performing that portion of their jobs which relates directly to these individual behavior support programs.
- Instructs and trains personnel involved in various behavior support techniques and programs including self help skills, decrease of disruptive behavior, increasing positive social interaction, time out and differential reinforcement procedures, and reward systems; organizes, provides assistance to staff as needed to ensure the effectiveness of therapeutic procedures.
- Provides for and instructs staff in the application of crisis intervention techniques in treating clients whose behavior threatens their own safety or the safety of others.
- As required, requisitions, stores, safeguards, distributes, and records behavior support equipment, materials, and supplies; advises employees of their proper use.
- Takes the measures prescribed for the care, custody, welfare, and safety of residents; ensures that areas where behavior support interventions are carried out are maintained in a clean, neat, and safe condition.
- Maintains and submits essential records, files, and charts of the individual progress of each resident involved in behavior support programs.
- Prepares and submits factual reports of residents' participation, progress, and change to the immediate supervisor and appropriate evaluation and review committees.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- May be required to engage in lifting clients when working in a setting, which provides direct services to clients who are non ambulant, or who are semi ambulant and/or have severe physical handicaps.
Education
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Special Education, Sociology, Guidance and Counseling, Social Work, or other similar behavior science program.
Experience
One (1) year of experience working in rehabilitation or therapeutic treatment programs for the mentally ill or developmentally disabled involving behavior support or the successful completion of a one year training program as a Behavior Support Technician Trainee.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the problems encountered in performing behavior support work with persons confined in institutions for the mentally ill or developmentally disabled.
- Knowledge of the routine and programs of an institution and the practical problems involved in working with the mentally ill or developmentally disabled.
- Knowledge of the techniques, materials, and procedures used in behavior support work, and of the objectives and limitations of such activities.
- Ability to learn quickly from oral and written instructions and demonstrations.
- Ability to instruct staff in the application of crisis intervention techniques.
- Ability to comprehend the purposes of the behavior support program and the problems of residents confined in an institution.
- Ability to take the lead in a group of employees acting as assistants in a behavior support program.
- Ability to train personnel to assist in the utilization of behavior support techniques, including time out and differential reinforcement procedures, reward systems, and other measures.
- Ability to train personnel to assist in the conduct of programs of behavior support designed to foster self help skills, decrease disruptive behavior, and increase positive social interaction, or to modify other behavior which may be detrimental to the individual.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with supervisors, professional staff, work assistants, other employees, and residents.
- Ability to prepare accurate records of residents' progress, materials used, and other necessary reports.
- Ability to learn to utilize various type of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- CODE: 18/P19 - MER 07/31/2010
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
Ability to physically lift, move, and position clients as needed.
<b>SPECIAL NOTE:</b> A Certification as a Board Certified Associate Behavior Analyst issued by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board will be required to advance to the next level in the series.