UPDATED CALIFORNIA PSYCHIATRIC
TECHNICIAN BOARD TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
During the recoil stage of trauma recovery, the victim is likely to display:
a. paralyzing fear.
b. periods of looking and acting normal. c. disbelief and confusion.
d. symptoms of depression - ANSWER-b. periods of looking and acting normal.
Psychiatric Technician observed the client pinching himself. Which of the following
would be appropriate Psychiatric Technician behavior? Verbal redirection and...
a. documentation of events.
b. restraints to prevent further injury.
c. call physician for further orders.
d. call a treatment team meeting. - ANSWER-a. documentation of events.
The Psychaiatric Technician walks in on a teenaged female who has a sharp object and
is cutting her arm, causing bleeding. Which of the following is the best initial response
for the Psychiatric Technician?
a. Stay with the client and direct her to put the object down.
b. Go back to the nurses's station and get assistance
c. Sit down and ask the client to join you for a talk.
d. Remind the client the she will not be eligible for a pass this weekend if she does not
follow the plan. - ANSWER-a. Stay with the client and direct her to put the object down.
The Psychiatric Technician's first assessment regarding a client's fearfulness about
going to sleep would be.....
a. to determine the onset, duration and intensity of the bothersome thoughts.
b. to find out previous experiences with progressive relaxation.
c. to get a history of previous medication.
d. to reassure the client the room is safe. - ANSWER-a. to determine the onset, duration
and intensity of the bothersome thoughts.
What is the first priority for a client experiencing extreme suspiciousness, panic anxiety
and command hallucinations?
a. Use medical restraints.
b. Closely observe the patient but avoid creating suspiciousness
c. Maintain low level of stimuli in clients environment and remove all dangerous objects
for the environment.
d. Administer a tranquilizing medication and call the physician. - ANSWER-c. Maintain
low level of stimuli in clients environment and remove all dangerous objects for the
environment.
,What is the first question to ask a client who has just walked into a crisis center for the
first time?
a. "What has happened that brought you here today?"
b. "I see you are anxious and upset, how long have you been this way?"
c. "You have scars on your wrists, have you recently attempted suicide?"
d. "I see that you have been depressed, do you want to tell me why?" - ANSWER-a.
"What has happened that brought you here today?"
What would be the best response to give to a client with an established relationship who
is reporting active hallucinations?
a. Change the subject and focus on activities the client enjoys.
b. Inform the client that you do not hear the voices.
c. Tell the client he/she only hallucinates during periods of stress so talking will help the
voices go away.
d. Tell the client he/she could not be hearing voices because the room is quiet. -
ANSWER-b. Inform the client that you do not hear the voices.
What would be the most important consideration for a client admitted with delirium
tremens?
a. Promote understanding of clients substance abuse and dependency.
b. Provide psychological support and promote a restful environment.
c. Encourage the client to participate in a 12-step treatment program.
d. Assess vital signs and observe for increase in heart rate and blood pressure. -
ANSWER-d. Assess vital signs and observe for increase in heart rate and blood
pressure.
Which of the following would be the most important priority when obtaining an
assessment intake with a homeless person?
a. Obtain a behavioral and needs assessment.
b. Involve a social worker for help in finding a place to live.
c. Check with an employment office to obtain suitable employment options.
d. Develop a care plan to meet client's needs. - ANSWER-a. Obtain a behavioral and
needs assessment.
The most effective treatment approach while caring for an elderly patient who is
depressed would include...
a. A combination of a group therapy and medication and a biological approach. b.
Behavioral management.
c. Peer social interaction.
d. Electroconvulsive therapy. - ANSWER-a. A combination of a group therapy and
medication and a biological approach.
You are interviewing a 16 year old female who is bipolar and 6 months pregnant. She
smokes and drinks alcohol daily. What is an important concept to remember?
a. Smoking and drinking may harm the unborn fetus.
,b. She should take her medication for her bipolar disorder to ensure her good mental
health throughout her pregnancy.
c. Respect each patent's personal values and cultural beliefs and respond in a
nonjudgemental manner.
d. Offer her substance abuse counseling and encourage her to understand her drinking
will interfere with treatment of her bipolar disease. - ANSWER-c. Respect each patent's
personal values and cultural beliefs and respond in a nonjudgemental manner.
The Psychiatric Technician wants to decrease the aggressive behavior exhibited by his
consumer. The first thing to do is:
a. to identify the behavior specifically.
b. to punish the consumer when aggressive behavior occurs.
c. take a baseline and to put the consumer in time out.
d. to apply response cost techniques. - ANSWER-a. to identify the behavior specifically.
The next step in a behavior plan after identifying the behavior to change would be to:
a. put the consumer on a deprivation schedule.
b. continuously sample the consumer's responses.
c. take a baseline of the consumer's behavior.
d. identify the consumer's reinforcement schedule. - ANSWER-c. take a baseline of the
consumer's behavior.
In order for secondary positive reinforcer to be effective Psychiatric Technician must
first:
a. establish a rapport with the consumer. b. use response priming.
c. remove all aversive stimuli.
d. provide reinforcement sampling. - ANSWER-a. establish a rapport with the consumer.
The Psychiatric Technician wants to decrease the consumer's "out of seat" behavior. To
accomplish this, the Psychiatric Technician should:
a. State in a firm manor and raised voice, " Be seated, now!"
b. Give the consumer attention when he is sitting nicely.
c. withhold afternoon treats if the consumer is non-compliant.
d. not allow the consumer to participate in his favorite class. - ANSWER-b. Give the
consumer attention when he is sitting nicely.
The consumer is always pestering the group leader for candy and can become
aggressive. In planning an intervention to decrease this "begging" behavior, the group
leader's best response would be:
a. give the consumer his final allotment of candy and say firmly "that's all for today".
b. ignore the begging behavior when it is inappropriate.
c. turn her back to the consumer and attend to another resident.
d. give a treat to all the other residents in her group who are "behaving" excluding the
consumer who is begging. - ANSWER-d. give a treat to all the other residents in her
group who are "behaving" excluding the consumer who is begging.
, Over a period of time, the group leader has observed that whenever the consumer
clenches his fist, shortly thereafter, he attacks staff or peers. Behaviorally, the fist-
clenching is:
a. an eliciting stimuli.
b. a respondent.
c. an antecedent
d. an aversive - ANSWER-c. an antecedent
The consumer's antecedent is clenching his fist prior to striking a peer. When this
behavior is observed the Psychiatric Technician's best response is to:
a. ignore the behavior.
b. firmly tell the consumer to stop it.
c. place the consumer in time out.
d. engage the consumer in another activity. - ANSWER-d. engage the consumer in
another activity.
The care plan for a consumer who pinches other clients is that the consumer will be
placed in "time out" to extingish the behavior. The consumer dislikes the "time out" yet
the pinching increases initially. The increase in the pinching behavior is
a. response hierarchy.
b. superstitious behavior.
c. chaining behavior.
d. generalized behavior. - ANSWER-a. response hierarchy.
When a response hierarchy occurs following the extinction of a behavior the best action
by the Psychiatric Technician is:
a. remove the consumer from the group.
b. continue with the planned program.
c. terminate the program and develop a new one.
d. punish the consumer's whenever the behavior occurs. - ANSWER-b. continue with
the planned program.
What behavior would be most appropriate to teach if you wanted to increase
socialization and would be incompatible with the behavior of pinching?
a. Smiling.
b. Hands in boxing gloves.
c. Hands in his pockets.
d. Good eye contact. - ANSWER-c. Hands in his pockets.
A 15 year old has been admitted following a suicide attempt. The Psychiatric Technician
knows that a suicide attempt by a teenager is usually which of the following?
a. An accident as a result of carelessness.
b. Attention seeking behavior.
c. Done as a dare by friends.
d. Indication of need for intervention. - ANSWER-d. Indication of need for intervention.
TECHNICIAN BOARD TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
During the recoil stage of trauma recovery, the victim is likely to display:
a. paralyzing fear.
b. periods of looking and acting normal. c. disbelief and confusion.
d. symptoms of depression - ANSWER-b. periods of looking and acting normal.
Psychiatric Technician observed the client pinching himself. Which of the following
would be appropriate Psychiatric Technician behavior? Verbal redirection and...
a. documentation of events.
b. restraints to prevent further injury.
c. call physician for further orders.
d. call a treatment team meeting. - ANSWER-a. documentation of events.
The Psychaiatric Technician walks in on a teenaged female who has a sharp object and
is cutting her arm, causing bleeding. Which of the following is the best initial response
for the Psychiatric Technician?
a. Stay with the client and direct her to put the object down.
b. Go back to the nurses's station and get assistance
c. Sit down and ask the client to join you for a talk.
d. Remind the client the she will not be eligible for a pass this weekend if she does not
follow the plan. - ANSWER-a. Stay with the client and direct her to put the object down.
The Psychiatric Technician's first assessment regarding a client's fearfulness about
going to sleep would be.....
a. to determine the onset, duration and intensity of the bothersome thoughts.
b. to find out previous experiences with progressive relaxation.
c. to get a history of previous medication.
d. to reassure the client the room is safe. - ANSWER-a. to determine the onset, duration
and intensity of the bothersome thoughts.
What is the first priority for a client experiencing extreme suspiciousness, panic anxiety
and command hallucinations?
a. Use medical restraints.
b. Closely observe the patient but avoid creating suspiciousness
c. Maintain low level of stimuli in clients environment and remove all dangerous objects
for the environment.
d. Administer a tranquilizing medication and call the physician. - ANSWER-c. Maintain
low level of stimuli in clients environment and remove all dangerous objects for the
environment.
,What is the first question to ask a client who has just walked into a crisis center for the
first time?
a. "What has happened that brought you here today?"
b. "I see you are anxious and upset, how long have you been this way?"
c. "You have scars on your wrists, have you recently attempted suicide?"
d. "I see that you have been depressed, do you want to tell me why?" - ANSWER-a.
"What has happened that brought you here today?"
What would be the best response to give to a client with an established relationship who
is reporting active hallucinations?
a. Change the subject and focus on activities the client enjoys.
b. Inform the client that you do not hear the voices.
c. Tell the client he/she only hallucinates during periods of stress so talking will help the
voices go away.
d. Tell the client he/she could not be hearing voices because the room is quiet. -
ANSWER-b. Inform the client that you do not hear the voices.
What would be the most important consideration for a client admitted with delirium
tremens?
a. Promote understanding of clients substance abuse and dependency.
b. Provide psychological support and promote a restful environment.
c. Encourage the client to participate in a 12-step treatment program.
d. Assess vital signs and observe for increase in heart rate and blood pressure. -
ANSWER-d. Assess vital signs and observe for increase in heart rate and blood
pressure.
Which of the following would be the most important priority when obtaining an
assessment intake with a homeless person?
a. Obtain a behavioral and needs assessment.
b. Involve a social worker for help in finding a place to live.
c. Check with an employment office to obtain suitable employment options.
d. Develop a care plan to meet client's needs. - ANSWER-a. Obtain a behavioral and
needs assessment.
The most effective treatment approach while caring for an elderly patient who is
depressed would include...
a. A combination of a group therapy and medication and a biological approach. b.
Behavioral management.
c. Peer social interaction.
d. Electroconvulsive therapy. - ANSWER-a. A combination of a group therapy and
medication and a biological approach.
You are interviewing a 16 year old female who is bipolar and 6 months pregnant. She
smokes and drinks alcohol daily. What is an important concept to remember?
a. Smoking and drinking may harm the unborn fetus.
,b. She should take her medication for her bipolar disorder to ensure her good mental
health throughout her pregnancy.
c. Respect each patent's personal values and cultural beliefs and respond in a
nonjudgemental manner.
d. Offer her substance abuse counseling and encourage her to understand her drinking
will interfere with treatment of her bipolar disease. - ANSWER-c. Respect each patent's
personal values and cultural beliefs and respond in a nonjudgemental manner.
The Psychiatric Technician wants to decrease the aggressive behavior exhibited by his
consumer. The first thing to do is:
a. to identify the behavior specifically.
b. to punish the consumer when aggressive behavior occurs.
c. take a baseline and to put the consumer in time out.
d. to apply response cost techniques. - ANSWER-a. to identify the behavior specifically.
The next step in a behavior plan after identifying the behavior to change would be to:
a. put the consumer on a deprivation schedule.
b. continuously sample the consumer's responses.
c. take a baseline of the consumer's behavior.
d. identify the consumer's reinforcement schedule. - ANSWER-c. take a baseline of the
consumer's behavior.
In order for secondary positive reinforcer to be effective Psychiatric Technician must
first:
a. establish a rapport with the consumer. b. use response priming.
c. remove all aversive stimuli.
d. provide reinforcement sampling. - ANSWER-a. establish a rapport with the consumer.
The Psychiatric Technician wants to decrease the consumer's "out of seat" behavior. To
accomplish this, the Psychiatric Technician should:
a. State in a firm manor and raised voice, " Be seated, now!"
b. Give the consumer attention when he is sitting nicely.
c. withhold afternoon treats if the consumer is non-compliant.
d. not allow the consumer to participate in his favorite class. - ANSWER-b. Give the
consumer attention when he is sitting nicely.
The consumer is always pestering the group leader for candy and can become
aggressive. In planning an intervention to decrease this "begging" behavior, the group
leader's best response would be:
a. give the consumer his final allotment of candy and say firmly "that's all for today".
b. ignore the begging behavior when it is inappropriate.
c. turn her back to the consumer and attend to another resident.
d. give a treat to all the other residents in her group who are "behaving" excluding the
consumer who is begging. - ANSWER-d. give a treat to all the other residents in her
group who are "behaving" excluding the consumer who is begging.
, Over a period of time, the group leader has observed that whenever the consumer
clenches his fist, shortly thereafter, he attacks staff or peers. Behaviorally, the fist-
clenching is:
a. an eliciting stimuli.
b. a respondent.
c. an antecedent
d. an aversive - ANSWER-c. an antecedent
The consumer's antecedent is clenching his fist prior to striking a peer. When this
behavior is observed the Psychiatric Technician's best response is to:
a. ignore the behavior.
b. firmly tell the consumer to stop it.
c. place the consumer in time out.
d. engage the consumer in another activity. - ANSWER-d. engage the consumer in
another activity.
The care plan for a consumer who pinches other clients is that the consumer will be
placed in "time out" to extingish the behavior. The consumer dislikes the "time out" yet
the pinching increases initially. The increase in the pinching behavior is
a. response hierarchy.
b. superstitious behavior.
c. chaining behavior.
d. generalized behavior. - ANSWER-a. response hierarchy.
When a response hierarchy occurs following the extinction of a behavior the best action
by the Psychiatric Technician is:
a. remove the consumer from the group.
b. continue with the planned program.
c. terminate the program and develop a new one.
d. punish the consumer's whenever the behavior occurs. - ANSWER-b. continue with
the planned program.
What behavior would be most appropriate to teach if you wanted to increase
socialization and would be incompatible with the behavior of pinching?
a. Smiling.
b. Hands in boxing gloves.
c. Hands in his pockets.
d. Good eye contact. - ANSWER-c. Hands in his pockets.
A 15 year old has been admitted following a suicide attempt. The Psychiatric Technician
knows that a suicide attempt by a teenager is usually which of the following?
a. An accident as a result of carelessness.
b. Attention seeking behavior.
c. Done as a dare by friends.
d. Indication of need for intervention. - ANSWER-d. Indication of need for intervention.
