Mental Health Technician (Voucher Included)

Mental health technicians, also often referred to as psychiatric technicians, are entry-level mental health workers who care for patients with mental illness or developmental disabilities. These technicians play an important role in outpatient and inpatient clinics.

This Mental Health Technician Certification course will take you from no experience to being qualified for an entry-level mental health technician position. The course, which includes medical terminology, focuses on objectives that include the role and responsibilities of the technician, as well as important need-to-know processes and procedures, and how to identify and approach patients with common psychosocial needs. Real-world scenario assignments provide you opportunities to receive direct feedback from your instructor, so you can be ready to deliver proper assistance and tools when providing support and interventions for patients with mental health disorders.

The medical terminology course introduces key concepts of medical language and human anatomy, emphasizing the interconnectedness of body systems in health and disease. Students with prior knowledge can optionally test out by achieving a minimum score of 80%, replacing course content if desired. It is important to understand that this course feature only applies to the online Medical Terminology course.

Upon completion of the certified mental health technician training course, you will be prepared to sit for the Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC) exam offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA). Enrollment fees include a voucher for the MHTC exam. As a bonus, within this Mental Health Technician course, you will be able to apply to attend a Red Cross workshop to obtain your CPR/BLS certification.

This online mental health technician certification course does not meet state requirements for students intending to work in AR, CA, CO, and KS. Ensure that the Mental Health Technician course meets your state's requirements.

Funding Disclaimer: For Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded students, please consult with your funding source representative before taking advantage of the Medical Terminology test-out feature. Different funding programs may have specific requirements and/or restrictions. If you attempt the test-out feature(s) in the Medical Terminology course without getting approval, your funding benefits may be jeopardized.

What you will learn

• The role, responsibilities, and required skills of a mental health technician
• Relevant laws and policies regarding mental and behavioral health care
• The process and procedure for professionalism by technicians
• Professional communication skills with diverse populations
• Cultural competency in critical thinking and patient care
• Psychology domains and theories of human behavior
• Mental health problems throughout the life cycle
• Common psychological problems and mental health disorders
• Appropriate therapies to manage patient care
• Skills in fostering therapeutic relationships
• Mental-health assessments to understand patients
• Common psychotherapeutic drugs
• Key principles of pharmacology in mental health settings
• Patient care guidelines for effective pharmacology management
• Common types of facilities and their purpose
• Accurate patient charting protocols using electronic medical records
• Proper patient examination and intervention skills

How you will benefit

• Prepare for the Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC) exam offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA)
• Receive a voucher for the MHTC exam—included with your enrollment fees
• Strengthen soft skills such as communication, computer literacy, etc., which are integrated within the course
• Obtain your CPR certification from the Red Cross included in your course

1. Medical Terminology
1. Getting Started
2. How to Take This Course
3. Test-Out Exam 1: Lessons 1–Midterm Exam
4. Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body in Health and Disease
5. The Musculoskeletal System
6. The Cardiovascular System
7. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
8. The Respiratory System
9. The Digestive System
10. The Urinary System
11. Midterm
12. Test-Out Exam 2: Lessons 8–Final Exam
13. The Nervous System
14. Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
15. The Integumentary System
16. The Endocrine System
17. Mental Health
18. Male and Female Reproductive Systems
19. Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine
20. Final Exam
2. Mental Health Technician
   1. Career Glimpse: The Mental Health Technician
   2. Fundamentals of Mental Health
   3. Patient Rights and HIPAA Fundamentals
   4. Being a Professional
   5. Communication Skills
   6. Developing Cultural Competencies
   7. Domains of Psychology
   8. Mental Health Problems and Disorders
   9. Common Psychosocial Problems
   10. Therapies for Managing Patient Care
   11. The Therapeutic Relationship and Assessment
   12. Pharmacology Basics and Guidelines
   13. Special Considerations in Patient Care
   14. Record Keeping and Practice Settings
   15. Examination and Intervention Skills
   16. Course Reflections and Exam Preparation

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.
• To participate in the competency activities and receive feedback from your instructor, you will need to have access to a video camera (on the phone or other device of familiarity) and be able to upload the video as an .mp4 file to the assignment pages for review. These activities are required to pass the course successfully.

Software Requirements:

• PC: Windows 10 or later.
• Mac: macOS 12 or later.
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Microsoft Word Online
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment.

The following digital textbook for the Medical Terminology course is accessed via links in the course lessons:

• Comprehensive Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 1st Edition (eBook)

The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment the Mental Health Technician course:

• Foundations of Mental Health Care

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

Prerequisites:

To register for this course, you must be 18 years of age or older.

Certification Requirements:

Graduate from a training program, related to the exam you are applying for, taken at an AMCA Approved Test Site. Proof of course completion is required, and applicants must pass the exam within one year from the date of training completion.

State Requirements:

This program does not meet the educational requirements to apply for professional licensure or certification in the states of AR, CA, CO, and KS. Ensure that the Mental Health Technician course meets your state's requirements.

Each state’s licensure or certification authority is responsible for establishing the requirements for professional licensure or certification in its state. Completing this program does not guarantee professional licensure or certification. Eligibility may also depend on factors like work experience, professional examinations, passing a background check, and other criteria. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing authority to confirm the requirements for licensure or a certificate in the state where they live, work, or intend to live or work.

Heather Morton

Heather Morton, PhD is an educator and coach. She holds a PhD and Master's in psychology and a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. Over the years, Heather has developed and taught many healthcare and psychology learning programs. As an educator, she uses a variety of strategies to help each learner relate the content to their lives while providing constructive and positive feedback.

Gail Hubbard

Gail Hubbard, MSN, RN, RMA, has worked in the medical field for more than 30 years. Before earning her RN, she worked as a medical records technician, administrative and clinical medical assistant, EKG technician, and billing and coding specialist.

As an RN, Gail has worked in ICU/Stepdown, psychiatric mental health nursing, ambulatory surgery, infection control, and staff development. Gail has over ten years of experience teaching medical assisting, nursing, nurse assistant, EKG, and phlebotomy. After completing her master's degree in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University, Gail was the Nurse/Quality Improvement Manager for a Federally Qualified Healthcare Center.

Medical Terminology Instructors

Our medical terminology course section is taught by multiple experienced instructors. See here for a full list of these instructors.

What is a mental health technician?

A mental health technician, also often referred to as psychiatric technicians, are entry-level mental health workers who care for patients with mental illness or developmental disabilities. These technicians play an important role in outpatient and inpatient clinics.

What is the average salary of a mental health technician?

The current average mental health technician salary or psychiatric technician is $36,230, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What is the job outlook for a mental health technician?

The current job outlook is faster than average, with an increase of 9% expected through 2031.

How do I obtain my Red Cross CPR certification?

Within the course, you will have the opportunity to apply to attend a Red Cross workshop to obtain your CPR/BLS certification.

Does this course prepare you for a certification?

Yes. You will be prepared for the Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC) exam offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA).

Can I test-out of medical terminology content if I have previous knowledge of medical terminology?

Yes. This course includes two, optional, Test-Out Exam features that will allow you to test out of content and graded assessments if your score demonstrates the level of mastery required (80%). It does not count toward your overall score in this course if you do not achieve the minimum score required for mastery. Please note: Third party funded students may not be eligible.

When can I start this course?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

How long does it take to complete this course?

After you register, you will receive 12 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

What if I don't have enough time to complete the course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

What kind of support will I receive?

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

Am I guaranteed a job?

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.