specialized Program
Mental Health Technician
Work alongside mental health professionals providing compassionate support and promoting safe recovery environments.
8–16 weeks · Hybrid · Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC)
Duration
8–16 weeks
Schedule
Day & Evening
Learning Format
Hybrid
Certification
Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC)
Overview
Your path into healthcare.
Mental Health Technicians work alongside psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, providing compassionate support, monitoring patient behavior, and promoting a safe environment for recovery.
What you'll learn
- Crisis Intervention
- De-escalation
- Therapeutic Communication
- Behavior Monitoring
- Patient Advocacy
- Documentation
Curriculum
How the program is structured.
Common diagnoses, symptoms, and how treatment teams approach recovery.
De-escalation, recognizing warning signs, and keeping patients and staff safe.
Active listening, building trust, and interacting with patients in distress.
Supporting group sessions, activities, and the therapeutic plan set by clinicians.
Patient rights, confidentiality, and the legal boundaries of the role.
Behavior observations, incident reports, and accurate charting.
Hands-On Training
Learn by doing.
Every skill in this program is practiced through guided role-play and realistic crisis scenarios with instructor feedback — so by your first shift, de-escalation already feels familiar.
Certification
Graduate ready to certify.
Coursework is built directly around the Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC) exam blueprint, administered by AMCA. Structured review sessions run throughout the program, not just at the end.
- Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC)
- AMCA-accredited curriculum
- Exam offered on campus
Pearson VUE
Authorized on-campus testing site.
NGHI Prep
Your training continues beyond the classroom.
AI Tutor
NGHI Prep AI
Mock Exams
Your mock score
43 / 50
Flashcards
Video Lessons
EKG Lead Placement
Module 3 · EKG Technician
Readiness Score
This week
Why NextGen
Why train here.
[01]
Hands-On Training
- Real clinical equipment from week one
- Small class sizes, hands-on labs
- Supervised clinical externship
[02]
Industry Instructors
- Lead instructors still work in the field they teach
- Small student-to-instructor ratios
[03]
Certification Preparation
- AMCA-accredited curriculum
- Coursework built around your exam blueprint
- Pearson VUE testing site
[04]
Career Support
- Job search and placement assistance
- 30+ years training Texans for healthcare careers
Get Started
Schedule & admissions.
Schedule
Choose a schedule that fits.
Admissions
What you'll need to enroll.
- 18 years or older on your program's start date
- High school diploma or GED
- Valid government-issued photo ID
- Brief admissions interview with an advisor
- Background check and health screening before your clinical externship
Student Experience
“The crisis-intervention practice gave me the calm I needed for my first shifts on a behavioral health unit.”
Mental Health Technician Graduate
Questions
Frequently asked questions
8–16 weeks, depending on the track you choose.
This program is hybrid — a mix of on-campus labs and online coursework.
No prior healthcare experience is required — this program is built for career-changers starting from scratch.
You'll prepare for the Mental Health Technician Certification (MHTC), administered by AMCA.
We don't guarantee job placement, but advisors provide job search and placement support after graduation, and graduate employment rates run around 95%+.
Yes — payment plans are available for students who qualify, alongside Pell Grants and federal loans.
The next cohort starts October 15, 2026.