Psych Tech 1 Year Accelerated Program same as LPN?

[allbetter]

Hello All;

I am totally confused. Due to my advanced age I thought I would go the LPN route, but like Psych studies very much and found this program at West Hills College in Coalinga, California, where I would have to move to go to school.

Anyone have any pro/con info on this school? Is it difficult to get into?

Will being a Psychiatric Techncian limit me? I'd like to work in counseling, but will settle to just be in the field as I have only a short time left to train.

Will this certification or license be worth it? Is there a psych job I could volunteer for to see if I really like this inpatient work first?

Or should I take a short Psych Tech Assistant/CNA type course, if they even exist, to get my feet wet to see if this is the way to go before I commit to the intensive accelerated course?

I will have to move to attend this school and to work at a state Hospital or Prison. Will this PT Certification help get a job in a Private Psych Hospital, Group Home or Drug, Alcohol Treatment facility?

I am "on my own" at a late age due to circumstances not of my making. Seems my 'stay at home' to take care of and raise everyone (and get them all through college!) career has ended in a dead end for me. I may be the oldest one here!

At the grocery store I find myself debating the various styles and sizes of grocery carts as I prepare to choose my own personal 'homeless person grocery cart'! I stay awake night's mentally loading it to see if it's doable.

After decades of making everything 'allbetter' for others, now I have to scramble to do the same for myself.

Love this site! Always wanted to be a nurse and have volunteered for 20+ years as a caregiver several days a week for Alzheimer's Patient's. For the last five years I have cared for a lovely elderly lady (who is 97 years old) in my home full time, on a volunteer basis. She is the relative of my close friend who met a tragic early death.

Her disease is progressing rapidly and she is nearing the end of her journey. I must say...it is the most difficult thing I have ever done. Could make no other choice as my friend always promised her great aunt (who stepped in to raise her when her own parents were died), that she would never send her to LTC. No one else would take her after my friend's sudden and tragic death, so I did.

Sadly, I will have no choice soon as we may both be homeless.

Thank You; 'allbetter'

[Kymmi]

Very sorry to hear about your friends aunt and I must say I admire you for stepping in and keeping your friend's promise to her aunt...that takes alot of courage and I admire and respect you for doing that.

LPN and psych tech is 2 different programs. I do not know alot about psych tech positions or programs however I would think that you'd have a larger array of job opportunities as a LPN maybe not in the psych field but at least in the nursing field. I believe LPN's can work in psych units or in LTC units that handle alot of the dementia patients and I also believe LPN's work in acute psych facilites however with a LPN license you'd also have the ability to work in medical facilites whereas with a psych tech certificate you'd be limited to psych facilities. Others might have a different perspective and like I said I am not familiar with psych tech positions.

Good Luck.

[tirzo13]

not sure of your age, but we had people in the middle 60's in both my LVN and RN programs.

LVN/LPN will give you a bit more avenues to pursue than a LPT, but if LPT is what you want to do, its not a bad choice.

THe prisons pay LPT more than LVN's, alot more actually.

LVN's have a easier path to get RN, though there is a LPT-RN program in the state i know of.

Most nursing programs, both LVN and RN are very hard to get into in the state, not sure of LPT programs.

Being that its in Coalinga, i can't imagine alot of people are trying to get into that program, so i bet you got a great shot.

I know they are having a hard time getting staff to go to Coalinga, so if you do move there and work at that facility, you should move up pretty quick.