Mental Health Technician 600 Clock Hours

5.5 Months/22 Weeks

Method of Delivery: Hybrid / Residential

Theory hours may be completed online or on campus or in hybrid format. Labs and Externships must be completed on campus or at the externship facility.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVE:

Upon successful completion of the Mental Health Technician Diploma Program, students will possess foundational competencies in behavioral health support, crisis response, therapeutic communication, and multidisciplinary team collaboration. Graduates will demonstrate the ability to identify phases of crisis, apply intervention strategies, recognize signs of substance abuse and suicidal ideation, and engage in patient-centered care across inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings. The program is designed to prepare individuals for entry-level employment in mental health facilities, rehabilitation centers, and allied health environments, contributing to improved patient outcomes and continuity of care.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The Mental Health Technician Diploma Program equips students with the essential skills and knowledge required to provide effective support in behavioral health settings. Through a combination of theoretical instruction and hands-on training, students learn to assist in crisis intervention, therapeutic communication, and care coordination across diverse patient populations. The curriculum emphasizes the identification of mental health disorders, substance abuse indicators, and suicide risk factors, preparing graduates to contribute meaningfully within inpatient units, outpatient clinics, residential care facilities, and rehabilitation centers. This program is tailored for individuals seeking entry-level positions in the mental health field and offers a strong foundation for continued professional growth in allied health environments.

PROGRAM OUTLINE

PROGRAM BREAKDOWN BY COURSE

Course Number

Course Title

Theory Hours (Online/Hybrid/On Ground)

Lab Hours (On Ground)

Total Hours

HSC321

Introduction to Health Care

90

0

90

NAO122

Medical Terminology, Medical Law & Ethics

10

0

10

NAO123

Advance Nursing Assistant Skills

10

0

10

NAO124

Personal Care & Treatments

8

0

8

NAO125

Nutrition & Therapeutic Diet

10

0

10

NAO126

Body Mechanics/Lifting Transfer/Warm & Cold Applications

10

0

10

NAO127

Patient Charts/Admissions/Discharge/Transfers

10

0

10

NAO128

Pre-Op and Post-Op Nursing Care

5

0

5

NAO129

Anatomy & Physiology/Age Related Changes

5

0

5

NAO130

Childhood Illness/New Born Care

5

0

5

NAO131

Care of the terminally III patient, Geriatric Nursing, Aging Person

5

0

5

NAO132

Home Health Aide/Long Term Care

5

0

5

MHT280

Introduction to Psychodynamics/ (OSHA/HIV AIDS 4 clock hours)

28

0

28

MHT281

Physical & Behavioral reaction to Medications

49

0

49

MHT282

Group re-motivation, & Drug and Substance Discussions

33

0

33

MHT283

Lab 1-Group Discussion

0

33

33

MHT284

Emergency Services Through Crisis Intervention Techniques

43

0

43

MHT285

Planning and Implementing treatment for Individual Patients

28

0

28

MHT286

Counseling

23

0

23

MHT287

Lab 2-Team Conference

33

33

33

MHT288

Human Relations Skills

23

0

23

MHT289

Therapeutic Community & Patients Government Groups

28

0

28

MHT290

Individual groups, re-mediation, family & drug discussions group to facilitate patients’ rehabilitation

53

0

53

MHT291

Recognize Behavioral Patterns

53

0

53

TOTAL:

534

66

600

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

Upon successful completion of the program the student will receive a Mental Health Technician Diploma.

 

EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURE:

Mental Health Technician program does not have a certification requirement. Students may begin working in their field of training as soon as a diploma is received.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

HSC321 – Introduction to Health Care (90 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Introduces students to the foundational principles of healthcare delivery, patient safety, infection control, basic anatomy, and scope of practice within allied health professions. Emphasizes professional conduct, terminology, and workplace expectations in behavioral health environments.

 

NAO122 – Medical Terminology, Medical Law & Ethics (10 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Covers essential healthcare vocabulary and introduces students to legal and ethical considerations including HIPAA, patient rights, informed consent, and confidentiality within behavioral and mental health settings.

 

NAO123 – Advanced Nursing Assistant Skills (10 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Provides instruction in enhanced nursing assistant procedures such as patient mobility, personal care techniques, vital signs monitoring, and observation documentation.

 

NAO124 – Personal Care & Treatments (8 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Explores hygienic practices, comfort interventions, and routine treatments including skin care, grooming, and therapeutic assistance for daily living tasks.

 

NAO125 – Nutrition & Therapeutic Diet (10 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Introduces nutrition fundamentals, therapeutic diet planning, and dietary support for patients with mental health diagnoses and chronic medical conditions.

 

NAO126 – Body Mechanics/Lifting Transfer/Warm & Cold Applications (10 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Teaches safe patient handling, transfer techniques, body mechanics, and therapeutic temperature interventions using warm and cold applications.

 

NAO127 – Patient Charts/Admissions/Discharge/Transfers (10 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Focuses on documenting patient activity, completing intake and discharge procedures, and maintaining accurate records compliant with behavioral health standards.

 

NAO128 – Pre-Op and Post-Op Nursing Care (5 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Introduces basic principles of surgical care, including emotional support and monitoring for patients with co-occurring medical and mental health conditions.

NAO129 – Anatomy & Physiology/Age-Related Changes (5 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Covers body structure and function with emphasis on age-related physiological changes impacting behavior, cognition, and treatment considerations.

 

NAO130 – Childhood Illness/Newborn Care (5 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Explores developmental health conditions and early behavioral indicators in infants and children, relevant to mental health technician roles.

 

NAO131 – Geriatric Nursing, Terminal Illness, Aging Person (5 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Provides an overview of care techniques for aging populations, palliative support, and mental health considerations for geriatric and end-of-life patients.

 

NAO132 – Home Health Aide/Long-Term Care (5 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Prepares students for behavioral health support in long-term and home care environments, focusing on patient independence, observation, and family engagement.

 

MHT280 – Introduction to Psychodynamics / OSHA / HIV/AIDS (28 Theory hours) (Theory hours may be done online)

Introduces psychological theories of behavior, OSHA standards for safety, and HIV/AIDS awareness with behavioral implications in care settings.

 

MHT281 – Physical & Behavioral Reaction to Medications (49 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Explores pharmacological principles and behavioral responses to common psychotropic medications, with emphasis on monitoring and documentation.

 

MHT282 – Group Remotivation & Substance Abuse Discussion (33 Theory hours) (Theory hours may be done online)
Covers strategies for group engagement, motivational interventions, and structured substance use dialogues to promote rehabilitation and recovery.

 

MHT283 – Lab 1: Group Discussion (33 Lab hours)

(Lab hours done on campus)
Provides a simulated environment for practicing therapeutic group leadership, role modeling, and peer engagement in mental health care contexts.

 

MHT284 – Emergency Services & Crisis Intervention Techniques (43 Theory hours) (Theory hours may be done online)
Prepares students to respond to psychiatric emergencies through de-escalation methods, safety protocols, and crisis stabilization techniques.

MHT285 – Planning & Implementing Individual Treatment (28 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Teaches treatment planning concepts, goal-setting strategies, and implementation of personalized care plans for patients with behavioral health needs.

 

MHT286 – Counseling (23 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Introduces basic counseling techniques including active listening, empathy-based engagement, and non-clinical support for mental health patients.

 

MHT287 – Lab 2: Team Conference (33 Lab hours)

(Lab hours done on campus)
Simulates interprofessional case conferencing with emphasis on care coordination, documentation standards, and clinical communication skills.

 

MHT288 – Human Relations Skills (23 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Focuses on workplace communication, professional boundaries, cultural sensitivity, and relational dynamics in behavioral health care settings.

MHT289 – Therapeutic Community & Patient Government Groups (28 Theory hours) (Theory hours may be done online)
Explores structured therapeutic communities, patient-led governance groups, and democratic engagement methods to promote responsibility and socialization.

 

MHT290 – Individual Groups: Remediation, Family, & Drug Discussions (53 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Covers facilitation of small groups focused on behavioral modification, family reintegration, and substance use recovery processes.

 

MHT291 – Recognizing Behavioral Patterns (53 Theory hours)

(Theory hours may be done online)
Equips students to identify psychiatric symptoms, behavioral cues, and psychosocial stressors across diverse care populations.