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Psychiatric Technician Certificate Health Sciences Total Units: 55
This program is currently inactive. Catalog rights may apply, see a counselor for more information.

Term Effective: Fall 2008

Description:

The Psychiatric Technician Certificate of Achievement is 1,564 hours in length and is designed to be completed in three semesters with students spending approximately 35 hours per week in theory and clinical classes. The SRJC Psychiatric Technician program is accredited by the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technician Examiners (BVNPT). Successful completion of the program entitles the student to apply to take the Board of Vocational Nurse and Psychiatric Technician licensure examination.

Psychiatric Technicians perform services for the mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled. Under the direction of a physician, psychiatrist, or registered nurse, these services involve nursing and therapeutic procedures in the areas of interpersonal relationships, rehabilitation of the patient, and teaching social skills, as well as carrying out treatment measures prescribed by a physician or psychiatrist. Treatment measures include basic nursing care, administration of oral and injectable medications, use of specialized machinery and/or instruments and documentation of observations and care in nursing records.

Employment can be found at state developmental centers and psychiatric and correctional facilities. In addition, program graduates find opportunities in private institutions and county psychiatric and addiction treatment centers. There is a very good outlook for qualified job seekers.

Click here for more information about the program, or contact the Health Sciences Department.

Licensure Note:
In accordance with State law, the Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) may deny licensure for crimes substantially related to the practice of nursing. This includes convictions involving sex crimes, drug crimes (including DUI), and crimes of violence. It is the responsibility of the student to present sufficient evidence of rehabilitation to the BVNPT prior to licensure application.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this certificate, the student will be able to:

  1. Deliver high quality health care services within the standards of practice for a psychiatric technician;
  2. perform psychiatric technician job duties professionally and ethically;
  3. use effective communication skills;
  4. use critical thinking skills to analyze and resolve nursing issues in the care of individuals with developmental disabilities and/or mental illness;
  5. demonstrate leadership and team skills; and<
  6. demonstrate clinical competency of an entry-level psychiatric technician.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Psychiatric Technician Certificate program are:

  • Complete 55 units from
    • Psychiatric Technician Prerequisites
    • Psychiatric Technician Requirements

Psychiatric Technician Prerequisites - complete 2.00 units
ANAT 140Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology2.00
 
Psychiatric Technician Requirements - complete 53.00 units
FDNT 62Nutrition & Diet Therapy3.00
PSYCH 1AGeneral Psychology3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
PSYCH 4Child and Adolescent Psychology3.00
CHLD 10Developmental Stages of Childhood3.00
PSYT 71Fundamentals of Nursing9.00
PSYT 71LFundamentals of Nursing6.00
PSYT 74Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing8.00
PSYT 74LMental Health & Psychiatric Nursing - Clinical6.50
PSYT 75Developmental Disabilities - Theory8.00
PSYT 75LDevelopmental Disabilities Clinical6.50

Term Effective: Fall 2008

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Term Inactive: Spring 2011

Previous Versions:

Psychiatric Technician - effective Spring 2008
Psychiatric Technician - effective Spring 2007
Psychiatric Technician - effective Fall 1981

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.

Notes:

Prior to beginning clinical courses, students must submit documentation of a physical examination within the last year, current immunization records and CPR certification. This is a requirement of the clinical facilities.

All prerequisite and corequisite courses must be completed within 5 years of beginning the Psychiatric Technician Certificate Program at SRJC.

It is recommend that the required courses listed be taken in the following order if they are not completed prior to entering the program:
PSY 1A prior to or concurrent with PSYT 74/74L; PSY 4 prior to PSYT 75/75L; FDNT 62 may be taken any time during the program.
A certificate will be awarded upon fulfillment of all course requirements with a grade of C or better.

Contact
Information
Phone Email Website
(707) 522-2854
srjccertificate003030@santarosa.edu