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Army MOS · Medical

68X Behavioral Health Specialist

Current service use not established

This code is listed in the directory. Inclusion alone does not confirm current service use.

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Overview

A Behavioral Health Specialist assists with inpatient and outpatient mental health management and treatment under the supervision of qualified mental health professionals. They collect and record psychosocial and physical data and counsel or treat clients with personal, behavioral, or mental health problems.

Minimum ASVAB: ST 101

ASVAB policy: Not policy-reviewed · coverage unknown · as of 2026-10-18

Program scope has not been reviewed.

Policy applicability and coverage of the program's score routes have not been reviewed. Shown-route arithmetic is not an eligibility decision.

Source: smartbook-611-21-ch10c-fy2025 (source date 2025-12). Policy applicability has not been established.

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Core Skills

  • Psychosocial and physical patient data collection
  • Supervised patient counseling and treatment
  • Inpatient and outpatient mental health support

Civilian Career Paths

Career associations are editorial assessments of the cited evidence, not an official crosswalk unless the evidence explicitly says so. O*NET supplies civilian occupation information, not proof of a military match. Related experience does not confer civilian qualifications. Tasks and tools below describe civilian work, not military training.

Psychiatric Technicians

Supervised mental health treatment and collection of psychosocial and physical patient data transfer directly to psychiatric patient care support.

How to prepare: Have your documented military training assessed against the postsecondary psychiatric or behavioral health technician certificate typically needed for entry, then complete identified gaps and employer on-the-job training. Some states require technician licensure, which may include an accredited education program and an exam.

What the civilian work involves
  • Provide nursing, psychiatric, or personal care to patients with cognitive, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.
  • Lead prescribed individual or group therapy sessions as part of specific therapeutic procedures.
  • Monitor patients' physical and emotional well-being and report unusual behavior or physical ailments to medical staff.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • ADL Data Systems OptimumClinicals Electronic Health Record
  • Epic EpicCare Inpatient Clinical System

Mental Health Counselors

Experience counseling patients under clinical supervision and recording psychosocial data provides a foundation for further clinical counseling preparation.

How to prepare: Ask a counseling program to assess your documented education and military training against the master's degree and clinically supervised internship typically needed, identifying remaining gaps. All states require mental health counselor licensure, including a national examination and supervised clinical work under a licensed counselor.

What the civilian work involves
  • Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, helping them to develop insight into themselves or their relationships.
  • Counsel clients or patients, individually or in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, or making changes.
  • Fill out and maintain client-related paperwork, including federal- and state-mandated forms, client diagnostic records, and progress notes.
Civilian tools and software (examples)
  • Client information database systems

Notes & Sources

Evidence for this guidance (5 documents)
  1. Army COOL MOC feed: 68X Behavioral Health Specialist

    [1] data/authority/army-codes.json entry 68X (OSD COOL feed, fetched 2026-07-25); DB rank enlisted, authority codeType enlisted

    Supports: Psychosocial and physical patient data collection, Supervised patient counseling and treatment, Inpatient and outpatient mental health support, Psychiatric Technicians (O*NET 29-2053.00), Mental Health Counselors (O*NET 21-1014.00)

  2. O*NET: Psychiatric Technicians

    [2] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Psychiatric Technicians (O*NET 29-2053.00)

  3. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Psychiatric Technicians and Aides

    [3] How to Become; Education and Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations; updated August 27, 2026, checked September 23, 2026

    Supports: Psychiatric Technicians (O*NET 29-2053.00)

  4. O*NET: Mental Health Counselors

    [4] O*NET 30.3 occupational data

    Supports: Mental Health Counselors (O*NET 21-1014.00)

  5. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors

    [5] How to Become; Education and Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations; updated August 27, 2026, checked September 23, 2026

    Supports: Mental Health Counselors (O*NET 21-1014.00)

Defense contractor jobs for 68X

Predecessor codes

Historical codes with documented links to 68X. Each history page explains the change.

91X1Mental Health Specialist91X2Mental Health Specialist91X3Mental Health Specialist91X4Mental Health Specialist

Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.

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