Psychiatric Technician

Are you helpful, compassionate, and a good listener? If you want to help improve the quality of life for some of the most needy or vulnerable individuals in today’s society, consider the profession of Psychiatric Technician. Psychiatric technicians are active members of interdisciplinary healthcare teams in the forefront of care and treatment of individuals with mental illness or development disabilities.

Occupations

There is a shortage of trained and experienced psychiatric technicians in California, with constant demand in the public sector.  Most jobs are concentrated near state hospitals such as Napa State Hospital, but there are many other jobs available within prison systems, via county mental health services, in private mental health care facilities, and in acute and subacute hospitals with mental health units. Once certified and licensed, graduates can earn healthy entry-level pay, and advance further with additional certifications and/or degree completion.

• Psychiatric technicians
• Social and human services assistants
• Nurses
• Psychiatrists
• Special education teachers

Admissions Requirements

Psychiatric Technician-Three Semester Program

Admission to the Psychiatric Technician Program is competitive, and all program admission requirements must be completed prior to submission of the program application. Applications are accepted by Admissions and Records during designated application periods prior to each cohort start date. All new admission, re-admission, and advanced placement applicants must follow the current application procedures. For the most up-to-date information regarding admission requirements and application deadlines, please refer to the Health Occupations webpage.

Admission Requirements

1. Complete an application for admission to Napa Valley College online at www.napavalley.edu. This only needs to be completed once.
2. Submit proof of one of the following:
   • High school diploma
   • General Educational Development (GED)
   • California High School Proficiency Examination (CHSPE)
   • Associate degree or higher
3. Submit official transcripts (unopened) from high school and/or college institutions, if applicable.
   • Foreign transcripts must be officially evaluated through an approved International Evaluation Service prior to submission of the program application. Napa Valley College must receive an official evaluation report of all international coursework.
4. Complete College Orientation.
   • Please contact the Counseling Center at (707) 256-7220 for orientation information.
5. Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate/license in good standing, as issued by the California Department of Public Health.
6. Highly Recommended:
   • HEOC-171 Medical Terminology

Psychiatric Technician-Fast Track Program

The Department of State Hospitals (DSH) Napa Psychiatric Technician Apprentice Program provides individuals the opportunity to become licensed Psychiatric Technicians through a state-approved apprenticeship pathway. The apprenticeship includes:

• 3,000 hours of structured on-the-job training

• Classroom instruction in nursing science, developmental disabilities and neurodevelopmental differences, and mental health

Apprentices are compensated for 40 hours per week while attending class and working at the hospital. Apprentices assist medical and nursing staff in the care and treatment of individuals with serious mental illness. Upon successful completion of the program, apprentices are eligible to take the California Psychiatric Technician Licensure Examination. Because the Psychiatric Technician Apprentice classification is a State Civil Service position represented by the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians (CAPT), apprentices are covered under the CAPT contract, which outlines salary, health benefits, holidays, vacation accrual, and working conditions.

Fast Track Admission Requirements

Candidates for the Psychiatric Technician Apprentice Program must complete the same admission steps listed above under the Three-Semester Program. If an applicant completed high school outside of the United States, the applicant is responsible for obtaining a formal evaluation verifying U.S. educational equivalency. Applications for the Fast Track Program are submitted directly through the Department of State Hospitals – Napa. Additional information is available on the DSH Napa website.

DEGREES

• Psychiatric Technician-Three Semester (AS)

CERTIFICATES

• Psychiatric Technician-Fast Track (Certificate of Achievement)
• Psychiatric Technician-Three Semester (Certificate of Achievement)

COURSES

• Psychiatric Technician (PTEC)

DIVISION

Health Occupations
Building: 800, Office: 810
2277 Napa Vallejo Highway, 94558, Napa, CA
Phone: (707) 256-7600
Department Webpage
Division Webpage

DEAN

Robert Harris
Dean, Language & Developmental Studies, Arts & Humanities, and Health Occupations
Email: RHarris@napavalley.edu

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Eva Mijares
Administrative Assistant
Email: EMijares@napavalley.edu

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Andrea Ruybal
Instructor, Nursing
Email: Andrea.Ruybal@napavalley.edu

FACULTY

Jayzle Robinson-Piga
Professor, Psychiatric Technician
Email: Jayzle.Robinson-Piga@napavalley.edu