Mental Health Technician (Online)

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.

This 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.

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

Outline

  • 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
  • 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