Best certificate/degree for psychiatric technician

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I wasn't really sure who to ask this, so I came to this site. I want to become a psychiatric technician, not a nurse, but there's not much info out there on becoming one. I looked into what certificates/degrees are out there but I can't figure out what the best ones are. Right now I am looking at the one by AAPT because it allows me to study at home and then take the test. But I don't want to get that certification just to find out that it's not what employers want. Could anyone help me?

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

I am a nurse on a locked psych facility. We hire Psych Techs but prefer they come from a school that gives them a hand's on experience. You can find the program you need at most Community Colleges.

Good Luck to you

Hppy

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Like previously stated, you need to attend a program that will give you clinical experience. Mission College in Santa Clara CA used to offer clinical placements at Agnews State Hospital (developmentally disabled population) before it closed several years ago. One semester actual nursing, same program as vocational nurses, to learn medication administration and other nursing subjects, two semesters directly pertaining to the psych population, acute mentally ill, developmentally disabled. This basically described the program several years ago. Unfortunately, if you go to the college website it states that the Psych Tech program is temporarily suspended this year due to planned curriculum changes and revisions. You would need to find something similar to get a good education that will not only prepare you for your licensing exam but will help you get hired. Stay away from the program you describe. In CA, if you go to the website of the BVNPT, you can find a list of 14 approved programs, all associated with community colleges where you can earn associate degrees or certificates in the psych tech field. If you have an interest in the adult male offender population, Cuesta College's PT program apparently provides clinical placement at Atascadero State Hospital. Look on the CA state employment website and you will see that one can earn quite a nice living with a nice benefits package by working with that particular population. Just an example. A search should be able to give you appropriate examples elsewhere if you do not live in CA. HTH

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4 hours ago, caliotter3 said:

Like previously stated, you need to attend a program that will give you clinical experience. Mission College in Santa Clara CA used to offer clinical placements at Agnews State Hospital (developmentally disabled population) before it closed several years ago. One semester actual nursing, same program as vocational nurses, to learn medication administration and other nursing subjects, two semesters directly pertaining to the psych population, acute mentally ill, developmentally disabled. This basically described the program several years ago. Unfortunately, if you go to the college website it states that the Psych Tech program is temporarily suspended this year due to planned curriculum changes and revisions. You would need to find something similar to get a good education that will not only prepare you for your licensing exam but will help you get hired. Stay away from the program you describe. In CA, if you go to the website of the BVNPT, you can find a list of 14 approved programs, all associated with community colleges where you can earn associate degrees or certificates in the psych tech field. If you have an interest in the adult male offender population, Cuesta College's PT program apparently provides clinical placement at Atascadero State Hospital. Look on the CA state employment website and you will see that one can earn quite a nice living with a nice benefits package by working with that particular population. Just an example. A search should be able to give you appropriate examples elsewhere if you do not live in CA. HTH

5 hours ago, hppygr8ful said:

I am a nurse on a locked psych facility. We hire Psych Techs but prefer they come from a school that gives them a hand's on experience. You can find the program you need at most Community Colleges.

Good Luck to you

Hppy

Thank you both. I found some stuff at my nearby community college. I sent an email asking them a few questions about their program including whether they provide hands on experience.

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