Due to that demand in the mental health care and treatment, VPCC’s Behavioral Health Technician Assistant program is designed to prepare students to start a career in one of the fastest growing industries. Equivalent roles include psychiatric technicians, behavior technicians, and mental health aides. The program focuses on providing foundational knowledge and practical skills in behavior interventions. You will learn observation skills, how to record and prepare data, ethical decision-making and protocols, learn common behavior and mental health disorders, learn medical terminology associated with mental health, protocols for crisis prevention, and how to reduce or increase behaviors by following a behavior intervention plan. This 40-hour certification program is delivered over five weeks through lecture, technology, case study, collaboration, and hands-on-training. Prerequisites: Students are at least 18 years of age and have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent. Students Requirements: Students must attend mandatory orientation and purchase the required textbook. Additional expectations prior to employment in a doctor’s office, hospital, or other mental health facility may be a criminal background check and tuberculosis screening.