Behavioral Health Clinicians: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of behavioral health clinicians about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for behavioral health clinicians to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of behavioral health clinicians expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for behavioral health clinicians.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Behavioral Health Clinicians?
Do behavioral health clinicians need a degree? What kind of experience do behavioral health clinicians typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for behavioral health clinicians to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Behavioral Health Clinicians
Jobs Postings for Behavioral Health Clinicians By Education
- Master's degree: 22,590 (50%)
- No Education Listed: 12,403 (28%)
- Bachelor's degree: 4,939 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 3,844 (9%)
- High School or GED: 1,022 (2%)
A master's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of behavioral health clinicians. According to job data, a master's degree was required for 50% of positions. In 28% of job listings no education level was listed and in 11% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Behavioral Health Clinicians
Jobs Postings for Behavioral Health Clinicians By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 7,728 (41%)
- 2-3 Years: 9,176 (48%)
- 4-6 Years: 1,876 (10%)
- 7-9 Years: 137 (1%)
- 10+ Years: 61 (0%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for behavioral health clinicians. In 48% of job postings for Behavioral Health Clinicians, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 41% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 10% of job postings for behavioral health clinicians.
What Kind of Degree Do Behavioral Health Clinicians Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for behavioral health clinicians, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 18 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective behavioral health clinicians, and in 2023 a total of 265,358 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective behavioral health clinicians.
Top Degree Programs for Behavioral Health Clinicians
Top 5 Degree Programs for Behavioral Health Clinicians (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Social Work. | 58,001 |
| Public Health, General. | 25,431 |
| Human Services, General. | 11,590 |
| Health and Wellness, General. | 5,395 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | 143,660 |
| Social Work. | 58,001 |
| Public Health, General. | 25,431 |
| Human Services, General. | 11,590 |
| Health and Wellness, General. | 5,395 |
| Behavioral Sciences. | 4,777 |
| Public Health Education and Promotion. | 4,086 |
| Public Health, Other. | 3,119 |
| Health Services Administration. | 3,016 |
| Clinical/Medical Social Work. | 2,874 |
| Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling. | 2,374 |
| Social Work, Other. | 581 |
| Medical/Health Humanities. | 345 |
| Dental Public Health and Education. | 88 |
| Thanatology. | 8 |
| Forensic Social Work. | 6 |
| Medical Family Therapy/Therapist. | 5 |
| Hospice and Palliative Care. | 2 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Behavioral Health Clinicians
Leverage advances in positive psychology and executive coaching to impact the development of individuals, teams, and communities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Improve quality of life by removing barriers to healthcare, promoting wellness and reducing health disparities.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Earn a 14-month online Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a Specialization in Healthcare and gain interdisciplinary communication and decision-making skills alongside specialized knowledge on healthcare policies, operations and analytics.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Behavioral Health Clinicians Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by behavioral health clinicians to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for behavioral health clinicians, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Behavioral Health Clinicians
Based on 39,600 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Behavioral Health Clinicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 21,552 | 54% |
| Treatment Planning | 10,638 | 27% |
| Mental Health | 10,295 | 26% |
| Medical Social Work | 7,806 | 20% |
| Psychology | 7,580 | 19% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Behavioral Health Clinicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 11,470 | 29% |
| Planning | 5,915 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 5,456 | 14% |
| Advocacy | 5,103 | 13% |
| Management | 4,953 | 13% |
Based on 39,600 job postings related to behavioral health clinicians, social work was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 54% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for treatment planning, mental health, medical social work, psychology and crisis intervention were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for behavioral health clinicians, followed by planning, coordinating, advocacy, management and problem solving.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 21,552 | 54% |
| Treatment Planning | 10,638 | 27% |
| Mental Health | 10,295 | 26% |
| Medical Social Work | 7,806 | 20% |
| Psychology | 7,580 | 19% |
| Crisis Intervention | 7,457 | 19% |
| Case Management | 7,326 | 19% |
| Discharge Planning | 6,471 | 16% |
| Behavioral Health | 6,286 | 16% |
| Psychosocial Assessments | 5,397 | 14% |
| Psychiatry | 4,755 | 12% |
| Psychotherapy | 4,754 | 12% |
| Care Coordination | 4,201 | 11% |
| Family Therapy | 3,938 | 10% |
| Hospice | 3,489 | 9% |
| Clinical Social Work | 3,466 | 9% |
| Nursing | 3,349 | 8% |
| Patient Assistance | 3,341 | 8% |
| Medical Records | 3,284 | 8% |
| Home Health Care | 3,189 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 11,470 | 29% |
| Planning | 5,915 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 5,456 | 14% |
| Advocacy | 5,103 | 13% |
| Management | 4,953 | 13% |
| Problem Solving | 4,257 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,984 | 10% |
| Writing | 3,849 | 10% |
| Leadership | 3,500 | 9% |
| Computer Literacy | 2,912 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 2,704 | 7% |
| Organizational Skills | 2,545 | 6% |
| Research | 2,126 | 5% |
| Scheduling | 2,034 | 5% |
| Customer Service | 2,010 | 5% |
| Decision Making | 1,976 | 5% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,866 | 5% |
| Time Management | 1,855 | 5% |
| Multilingualism | 1,827 | 5% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,814 | 5% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about behavioral health clinicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for behavioral health clinicians.
What do behavioral health clinicians do?
How much do behavioral health clinicians make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.