Certificate Programs
Mental Health Technician Certificate
Flexible, Online, Mental Health & Psych Tech Courses
Mental Health Technician Certificate
Start your Path to Becoming a Mental Health Technician, a Career Helping Others
Those with substance use, mental and emotional disorders, or who are experiencing domestic violence, abuse, or trauma frequently need mental health care services and interventions by a spectrum of health providers. Mental health technicians are needed in various settings to work alongside other professionals, clients and families with compassionate care.
You may be considering a path to a professional career in mental health: start now by taking a vital role as a psychiatric technician.
- 16 semester hours of college-level credit
- 100% online
- Eligible for Financial Aid
Provide Services that Make a Difference
Our Mental Health Technician Certificate Program prepares you to assist with the health needs of patients with emotional or mental disorders or challenges. You'll learn skills to support individuals' emotional and psychological well-being professionally and ethically.
Some of the settings where you may find mental health technicians include hospitals, human service agencies, schools, and any other clinic or organization that provides emotional or mental health care. Agencies are looking for entry-level professionals who can understand care plans and know how to communicate and interact with their diverse teams.
Stackable Credits
Use the credits you've earned to continue your career path toward an associate or bachelor's degree program, such as in Behavioral Science, Psychology, or a healthcare-related degree. You may be able to shorten the time it takes to finish your degree.
Find your path to a fulfilling career in the field of mental and behavioral health. Request more information for the Mental Health Technician Certificate Program today.
The Cohort Advantage
Take one course at a time in a highly interactive learning environment as you move through the certificate program together. Team up with fellow cohort members for support as a community of peers.
Faculty
David Hoppe, Program Director
Associate Professor, MHR, BA, AA, LADC
Hoppe has been a college professor for over 25 years. Currently he serves on the Human Service Advisory Board for a local community college and has served on the Nebraska Council on Problem Gambling including as the president of the Board. In addition, he has worked as a patient counselor at a mental hospital, as the Clinical Director of a home for chemically dependent adolescents, served as the Program Director for a family counseling program, founded a counseling agency with 6 counselors on staff, and maintained a private counseling practice for over 12 years.
Gary Stessman, Faculty
Assistant Professor, MS, BA, LIMHP, PLADC
Stessman has over 30 years’ experience working in the helping professions with children and families. He has been a licensed practitioner in Nebraska for over 14 years with specialties in human services, child protection/juvenile justice, treatment foster care, mental health therapy, trauma-informed care, substance use counseling, training, consultation, and staff evaluation. Besides professional positions in many related human service agencies, Stessman has had a role as Adjunct Professor at Bellevue University for over 13 years. He is a Board Member of Remedy Road.
Courses
Mental Health Technician Certificate Courses
Current students please login to BRUIN and select “Academic Progress” for your curriculum requirements.
Requirements (16 credit hours)
What You’ll Learn:
- Gain knowledge of policies and best practices for mental health agencies and individual staff serving patients and their families.
- Apply the skills of communication, care planning, and collaboration with other mental health professionals to assist patients and families.
(Click a course name below to view course details)
This course emphasizes the skills and knowledge needed to successfully work with mentally challenged, emotionally disturbed, or psychiatric patients. The concepts of informed consent, basic patient’s rights, confidentiality, documentation, professional communication, and best practices are explored. Course Prerequisites: None
This course examines the characteristics of patients with psychiatric disorders. Students will learn about effective communication and ethical behavior with patients and their families as well as service agency staff. Prerequisites: HS 110
This course introduces students to crisis intervention, therapeutic communication, reporting potentially dangerous behavior, and implementing recommendations from interdisciplinary teams working with patients and their families. Prerequisites: HS 110 and HS 111
This course focuses on the daily administration of providing patient care. Students will learn about assisting with rehabilitative activities, developing communication and human relations skills, fulfilling environmental and legal responsibilities, understanding advanced care directives, and discharge planning. Prerequisites: HS 110, HS 111, HS 220
This certificate program is not designed or intended to lead to or qualify students for any type of professional licensure or certification.
University Accreditation
Bellevue University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org).
Whether a college, university, or program is accredited is important to students with financial aid, employers who provide tuition assistance, donors, and the federal government.
Students applying for professional license or certification should verify the University’s offerings meet the requirements with the professional organization.
*Consult with an admissions counselor to determine your eligible credits, as well as to verify minimum graduation requirements for this degree. Transfer credits must be from a regionally accredited college or university. Bellevue University makes no promises to prospective students regarding the acceptance of credit awarded by examination, credit for prior learning, or credit for transfer until an evaluation has been conducted.
Format
100% Online learning that works for your life and your goals.
Our flexible online courses are designed to bring quality learning into a format that fits your schedule, without sacrificing meaningful faculty feedback and collaboration with peers across the country. Stay on track with the help of your Student Coach — with you from day one to graduation.
Tuition & Financial Aid
2024 / 2025 Academic Year
$449 Online Cost Per Credit $250 Military Preferred Cost Per Credit
(Additional fees may apply to individual courses within your major requirements)
Admissions
Removing barriers to the education you deserve.
College is challenging, but getting in shouldn’t be. We have simplified our requirements for admission and we do not require entrance exam scores like the ACT or SAT—so you can get on track to achieving your goals. Here’s how it will go:
To be admitted to Bellevue University, provide proof of high school completion. We accept the following forms of documentation:
- Official high school transcript
- GED certificate
- Homeschool letter of completion
- Certificate demonstrating that the student has passed a state authorized examination recognized by the state in which it is awarded — equivalent to a high school diploma.
- Self-certification on application.
You’ll just need to complete the application and submit the following:
- Official high school transcripts or proof of high school completion
- If applicable, official transcripts from any college or university you previously attended
- A one-time $50 application fee
- Note:
- International students must provide a few extra documents. See international student bachelor admissions details.
- Students applying for a cohort-based major must possess an associate degree or 60 semester hours completed with a grade of "C-" or higher from an accredited institution of higher learning. If you do not meet this requirement, you can build your credits directly with Bellevue University.
Short on time? You can start the application and save your progress as you go. Start your application >
You'll just need to create an account and complete a pre-application to Bellevue University through Guild. Once you receive confirmation that your pre-application to Bellevue University has been approved, you'll need to complete the required steps to get fully accepted and registered. These include:
- Submitting transcripts from past institutions
- Completing the FAFSA, per your employer's benefit requirement
If you’re transferring from another institution of higher education, you must submit an official transcript from each accredited institution you previously attended. Here are a few details to note:
- A transcript can be emailed securely to [email protected] or by mail. It is required to be sent directly from the issuing institution to Bellevue University's Office of the Registrar to be considered an official document. Please check with previous institution for available sending options.
- Applicants who submit an official transcript which reflects a two-year degree from a regionally accredited postsecondary institution are not required to show proof of high school completion.
- Transcripts must be submitted even if credits were not earned at the previous institution or if transfer credit is not granted.
Ready to get started?
Reach out to admissions.
- Get your questions answered about the Mental Health Technician Certificate
- Understand your financial aid and scholarship options
- Map out a schedule that fits with your priorities
