Florida Certification Board

Certified Behavioral Health Technician

The purpose of a certification system for Behavioral Health Technicians is to:

Assure the public a minimum level of competency for quality service by addiction professionals.

Give professional recognition to qualified addiction professionals through a process which examines demonstrated work competencies.

Assure an opportunity for ongoing professional development by addiction professionals.

Enable addiction professionals to meet eligibility requirements for reimbursement for professional health care.

Definition of Behavioral Health Technician

The Behavioral Health Technician is often the primary person providing direct care to a person receiving substance abuse or mental health services. The role of the Behavioral Health Technician includes, but is not limited to:

Establishing a positive helping relationship with the person receiving services;

Implementing specific interventions according to an individualized treatment or service plan;

Monitoring and documenting client progress and protecting the privacy of clinical records;

Assisting persons receiving services to complete activities of daily living, access needed resources, and establish functional relationships; and

Ensuring the safety of the person receiving services in program and community settings.

FCB Sets Certification Standards

FCB recognizes that Behavioral Health Technicians work in a wide range of disciplines and have diverse educational and experiential backgrounds. The FCB’s certification process identifies and defines the core functions, responsibilities, knowledge, and skill areas required of Behavioral Health Technicians regardless of work setting, approach, and educational or professional training. This process does not endorse any one particular philosophy, treatment modality or service delivery approach. We encourage and require the development of professional skills and competencies for all Behavioral Health professionals.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to become certified as a Behavioral Health Technician in the State of Florida, you must:

meet specific competency and ethical conduct requirements;

possess minimum work experience requirements;

possess minimum education and training requirements; and

pass the written examination described in this document

Behavioral Health Technician Certification Process

The Behavioral Health Technician certification is a two-stage process. Applicants must:

Submit a complete Application Portfolio to the FCB, and

Pass the written exam.

The application portfolio consists of several documents that demonstrate the applicant’s competency in the knowledge and skills specifically related to the functions of the behavioral health technician. The components of the Application Portfolio are included in the FCB Application Package. An application request form is included on the last page of this brochure.

Please note that an applicant can not register for the written exam until his or her application portfolio has been approved by the FCB staff. For this reason, it is important that all applicants enter the certification process prepared to provide the required information on the proper forms.

Behavioral Health Exam

The Behavioral Health Exam ($40 fee) measures proficiency in the follwing areas:

Clinical Competency

Professional Responsibility

Safety

Administrative Responsibility

FCB Code of Ethics

The Florida Certification Board provides certification for substance abuse counselors, prevention specialists, behavioral health technicians, and criminal justice professionals in the State of Florida. FCB is dedicated to the principle that professionals in the field of alcohol and drug treatment must conform their behavior to the highest standards of ethical practice. To that end, the FCB has adopted this Certified Professional Code of Ethics (referred to herein as “the Code” or “the Code of Ethics”), to be applied to all professionals, certified or seeking certification. Applicants are required to acknowledge that they have read and will follow the FCB Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is available on the FCB website by clicking here. www.flcertificationboard.org/ethics/index.htm.

FCB may refuse to issue a credential to any applicant, may issue a reprimand, or suspend or revoke the credential of any certified individual who has been convicted of a felony, is found to have been in violation of the Code of Ethics, or falsifies any information on the application or in the Application Portfolio.

The Application for Certification in Behavioral Health requires applicants to indicate whether or not the applicant has ever been convicted of a felony. If the applicant indicates “yes” in this section of the application, applicants must provide FCB with any and all information concerning any arrest(s), convictions, indictments, suspensions, or revocations.

Eligibility Requirements

Fee Schedule

Request a certification application

Exam Dates