Schools for Mental Health Technicians

Aspiring mental health technicians study psychiatric disorders, violence/abuse and addiction. Licensure might also be required to enter the field.

What Education Do I Need to Work as a Mental Health Technician?

Mental health technicians are also known as psychiatric aides, direct care service workers or direct care support workers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), you'll need at least a high school diploma or GED to gain entry-level work as a psychiatric aide. You can find training at the high school, trade school and community college levels.

Undergraduate certificate programs for prospective mental health technicians generally take less than a year to complete, and some are designed to meet criteria for state licensure. Through a combination of lectures and experiences in clinical settings, you'll learn to provide support services to patients with psychiatric illnesses or disorders, such as depression, anxiety or substance abuse.

At the associate's degree level, you could earn an associate's degree in mental health and human services or mental health services with a mental health technician emphasis. An associate's degree program can train you to deliver specific and comprehensive health services to mental health patients.

What Schools Offer Certificate Programs for Mental Health Technicians?

Certificate programs for mental health technicians can be found in mental health work and human services. These are basic programs that prepare students for entry-level positions.

• San Diego City College offers a Certificate of Performance: Mental Health Work and a Certificate of Achievement: Behavioral Sciences - Mental Health Work
• The College of Southern Maryland has a Human Services: Mental Health Technician Certificate program
• Auburn University offers a Mental Health Technician Certificate program

Schools Offering Associate's Degrees for Mental Health Technicians

Associate's degree programs for mental health technicians are available in a variety of ways, including tracks in other branches of counseling. Students can choose areas like behavioral sciences and human services.

• City College offers an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree program in Mental Health Technology
• Glendale Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Advanced Behavioral Sciences (A.A.S.) degree program with a track in Grief and Bereavement Recovery and a track in Violence and Abuse Prevention
• Wallace State Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Human Services (A.A.S.) degree program with options in Mental Health Technician Associate, Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling and Social Work Associate

What Might I Learn?

Certificate and associate's degree programs for aspiring mental health technicians cover a range of topics that can prepare you to work with patients, medical doctors, nurses and psychiatrists. Some of the topics you'll likely learn about include:

• Psychological disorders
• Health care trends
• Human behavior
• Legal considerations
• Developmental disabilities
• Counseling

Do I Need to Earn Licensure?

Some states have licensing requirements for mental health technicians. Qualifications might include a high school diploma or the equivalent and completion of a mental health technology training program, as well as passage of a written exam. Additionally, some states require that mental health technicians hold certification as a nurse assistant. To gain employment, you also might need to undergo a criminal background check and physical assessment.

Mental health technicians typically will need to study at the associate's level. Certificate programs are also available.