Mental Health Technician

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Infinite Wellness Care

Where Every Mind Matters

Overview

Mental Health Technician Certification Course

Mental health technicians — also known as psychiatric technicians — are entry-level professionals who provide care and support for individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities. They play a vital role in both inpatient and outpatient settings, helping patients manage daily challenges while supporting treatment goals.

This Mental Health Technician Certification course is designed to take you from no prior experience to being fully qualified for an entry-level technician role. The program covers:

Core responsibilities of a mental health technician
Key processes and procedures used in psychiatric and mental health services
Approaches to supporting patients with common psychosocial needs
Practical, real-world assignments with direct instructor feedback

You will also complete a Medical Terminology course, which introduces essential medical vocabulary and the foundations of human anatomy. This ensures you can communicate effectively in clinical environments and understand the relationship between body systems in both health and disease.

Students with prior knowledge may choose to “test out” of the Medical Terminology course by scoring at least 80%.
This test-out option applies only to the online Medical Terminology course.

Upon completion, you will be prepared to sit for the Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC) exam offered by the National Career Certification Board (NCCB).

Important Disclaimers

State Restrictions: This course does not meet state requirements for students planning to work in Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), or Kansas (KS). Please confirm your state’s requirements before enrolling.
Funding Restrictions (WIOA): If you are receiving Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding, consult with your representative before attempting the Medical Terminology test-out option. Using the test-out feature without approval may affect your funding benefits.

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

Syllabus

Mental Health Technician Certification Course

I. Medical Terminology

Getting Started
How to Take This Course
Test-Out Exam 1: Lessons 1–Midterm Exam
Introduction to Medical Terminology and the Human Body in Health and Disease
The Musculoskeletal System
The Cardiovascular System
The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
The Respiratory System
The Digestive System
The Urinary System
Midterm
Test-Out Exam 2: Lessons 8–Final Exam
The Nervous System
Special Senses: The Eyes and Ears
The Integumentary System
The Endocrine System
Mental Health
Male and Female Reproductive Systems
Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, and Complementary Medicine
Final Exam

II. Mental Health Technician

Career Glimpse: The Mental Health Technician
Fundamentals of Mental Health
Patient Rights and HIPAA Fundamentals
Being a Professional
Communication Skills
Developing Cultural Competencies
Domains of Psychology
Mental Health Problems and Disorders
Common Psychosocial Problems
Therapies for Managing Patient Care
The Therapeutic Relationship and Assessment
Pharmacology Basics and Guidelines
Special Considerations in Patient Care
Record Keeping and Practice Settings
Examination and Intervention Skills
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 10.6 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.

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.

Instructor

Calissa Earle, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

Dr. Calissa Earle is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice and the founder of Infinite Wellness Care: Where All Minds Matter. In her practice, she provides psychotherapy and medication management for patients experiencing mental health disorders. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Earle has taught mental health courses and served as a mental health clinical instructor at Clemson University, ECPI University, and Greenville Technical College, where she continues to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.

FAQs

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 National Career Certification Board (NCCB) .

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.

Infinite Wellness Care

Where Every Mind Matters

Mental Health Technician Certification