Mental Health Technology - Psychiatric Technician

Technology and Health Division
Mental Health Department
Completion of coursework leads to an Associate in Science degree. The Psychiatric Technology Program will prepare students to take the California State Licensure Examination for Psychiatric Technicians.

This degree requires the completion of General Education coursework plus the following:

Required Courses

Special Information

Additional general education courses needed for completion of the Degree requirements are listed in the Mt. San Antonio College Catalog, but are not required to qualify the student for the California State Board Examination.

To remain in the program, students must maintain a “C” or better grade in all courses.

The student will qualify to take the California State Board Examination upon completion of all the above courses, except MENT 82.

Mental Health Department Website

Admission

Special Information

Additional general education courses needed for completion of the Associate in Science degree requirements are listed in the Mt. San Antonio College Catalog, but are not required to qualify the student for the California State Board Examination.
To remain in the program, students must maintain a "C" or better grade in all courses.
The student will qualify to take the California State Board Examination upon completion of all the above courses, except MENT 82.

Entrance Requirements

In addition to meeting Mt. San Antonio College's academic standards for admission, applicants must be in good standing and satisfy the following requirements:

1. Be a high school graduate or equivalent. (All students who have taken coursework outside of the United States must have their transcript evaluated. Foreign transcripts will not be accepted without the evaluation.)

2. Be 18 years of age.

3. File a college application and be accepted as a student at Mt. San Antonio College.

4. Submit an electronic application (preferred) for the Mental Health/Psychiatric Technician Program to techandhealth@mtsac.edu or a paper application to the Health Careers Resource Center (HCRC) (909) 274-4788. All applications are dated upon receipt in the Health Careers Resource Center. A program begins each winter and summer intersession with mandatory orientations each fall and spring. Orientations are unique to each cohort, so if a student does not begin classes the intersession following the orientation, then a new orientation must be attended before starting. Students that do not attend the mandatory orientation will not be eligible to start the following intersession even if an orientation had previously been attended.

5. PSYC C1000 is a co-requisite for courses within the program. If you have already taken PSYC 1A or PSYC C1000 at Mt. SAC, or an equivalent course at another institution within the past five years this may be waived. If PSYC C1000 (or equivalent course) was taken at another institution, send an official transcript from the institution where it was taken to Admissions and Records Office at Mt. SAC. An additional set of transcripts (may be unofficial) must be delivered to the Health Careers Resource Center. If there is no previously-approved course deemed as equivalent by the Psychology Department at Mt. SAC, the student may submit the “Course Equivalency and Program Course Substitution” form to the Psychology Department at Mt. SAC.

6. Forward official transcripts of all coursework completed (high school, nursing school, other than those courses taken at Mt. San Antonio College) to the Health Careers Resource Center.

   EXAMPLE:
   Mt. San Antonio College
   Health Careers Resource Center
   Psychiatric Technician Program
   1100 North Grand Avenue
   Walnut, CA 91789-1399

7. A physical examination showing proof of specific immunizations (including seasonal influenza as appropriate), and consent/disclaimer for Hepatitis A/B vaccine is required of all candidates prior to beginning classes. Students must provide proof that he/she does not have tuberculosis. These requirements are in accordance with the healthcare agency policy that insure that students are in good health and free from communicable disease and able to perform their training functions. Drug testing may also be required as part of this physical examination. Proof of high school graduation or GED is required. Malpractice insurance may also be required.

8. Certain convictions may prevent a candidate from being licensed as a Psychiatric Technician. Certain facilities require Live Scanning (both Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)). Live Scans are unique to each facility. Multiple Live Scans will be required throughout the program. Clinical facilities have the right to exclude students from attending clinical at their site based on Live Scan results. The program cannot guarantee that an alternate clinical site will be available for the student to meet clinical hour obligations.

9. All students may be required to pass an additional background check prior to entering the clinical education phase.

Selection Procedure

The College will make every effort to notify the applicant of acceptance by mail no less than one month prior to the beginning of the program. All applicants are required to meet the Essential Functions for Success in the Mental Health Technology - Psychiatric Technician Program (listed below).
Essential Functions for Success in the Mental Health Technology-Psychiatric Technician Program:

Physical Demands:

• Perform prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing, walking, lifting positioning, pushing, and/or transferring patients
• Possess the ability to perform fine motor movements with hands and fingers
• Possess the ability to lift and carry at least 125 pounds
• Perform considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching

Sensory Demands

• Color vision: ability to distinguish and identify colors (may be corrected with adaptive devices)
• Distance vision: ability to see clearly 20 feet or more
• Depth perception: ability to judge distance and space relationships
• Near vision: ability to see clearly 20 inches or less

Hearing: able to recognize a full range of tones

Working Environment

• May be exposed to infectious disease, without prior notification
• Regularly exposed to the risk of blood borne diseases
• Exposed to hazardous agents, body fluids, and wastes
• Exposed to odorous chemicals and specimens
• Subject to hazards of flammable, explosive gases
• Subject to burns and cuts
• Contact with patients having different religious, culture, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, psychological and physical disabilities, and under a wide variety of circumstances
• Handle potentially dangerous emergency or crisis situations or patients
• Subject to many interruptions
• Requires decisions and actions related to end of life issues
• Exposed to products containing latex
• Requires judgment and/or action which could affect the life or death of a patient.

English Language Skills:

Although proficiency in English is not a criterion for admission into the Mental Health Technology - Psychiatric Technician Program, students must be able to speak, write, and read English to ensure patient safety and to complete classes successfully.

Accreditation

The Mental Health Technology - Psychiatric Technician program is accredited by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians.

Contact:

CA Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians
2535 Capital Oaks Drive, Suite 205
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-7800
bvnpt@dca.ca.gov

Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, a student will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to provide client care, within scope of practice, to safely practice as an entry-level licensed psychiatric technician.
• Demonstrate nursing skills, within scope of practice, to safely practice as an entry-level licensed psychiatric technician.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully intervene at all levels of client escalation/de-escalation, within scope of practice, to safely practice as an entry-level licensed psychiatric technician.
• Demonstrate the ability to support client efforts to achieve and maintain optimal mental health, within scope of practice, to successfully practice as an entry-level licensed psychiatric technician.
• Demonstrate the ability to safely administer medications, with scope of practice, to safely practice as an entry-level licensed psychiatric technician.
• Demonstrate the ability to participate in all areas of treatment plan development, within scope of practice, to safely practice as an entry-level licensed psychiatric technician.
• Demonstrate the ability to develop and achieve entry-level professional goals.

Review Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for this program.