Behavioral Health Studies

Students will have the opportunity to achieve training and certifications in Mental Health First Aid, Psychological First Aid, and Article 9. Other certifications will be available depending on courses from third-party organizations such as Living Works, the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine, Arizona Trauma Institute, and the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. All programs require a CPR and First Aid Certification.

Students are required to have active First Aid and CPR Certifications. NPC offers a half-credit course, EMT 104, for certification or students can demonstrate their certification through other training. 

The Behavioral Health Certificate of Proficiency (CP) and Certificate of Applied Science (CAS) require students to spend a minimum of 48 hours in a basic internship position in order to introduce and orient themselves to the field of behavioral health. Students can expect an experience consisting mostly of shadowing and observing and may be involved in some minor tasks to learn about the field. Students will be expected to converse with a location-specific supervisor and with their faculty advisor to assess their progress and experience.

The Behavioral Health Associates of Applied Science (AAS) requires students to complete the basic internship (48 hours) as well as a more advanced internship of 96 hours completing work in the behavioral health field, building career opportunities, and applying and gaining skills necessary for employment. In the advanced level of internship, students can expect to observe treatment and mental health presentations, assist in running skills groups, process clinical paperwork and assessments, and assist in lesson planning, case management, and documentation. Students will be expected to converse with a location-specific supervisor and with their faculty advisor to assess their progress and experience.

The need for behavioral health workers has been increasing and is projected to grow more as mental health disorders are becoming more common.

Job opportunities that can stem from this training program range from mental health organizations and children’s behavioral programs to state and county positions. They can include:

• Behavioral Technician (Specialist/ Paraprofessional, Certified Mental Health Technician, Psychiatric Technician, Counselor Aide, Direct Care Provider)
• Residential Technician
• Support Coordinator
• Registered Behavioral Technician 
• Substance Abuse Technician        
• Direct Care Worker
• Family Advocate
• Rehabilitation Services Technician 
• Parent/Community/Public 
• Health Educator
• Victim Services
• Department of Child Services Case Aide
• Life Skills Aide/Paraprofessional 
• Behavior Coach
• Crisis Advocate
• Case Manager

This program is designed to introduce students to fields such as substance abuse counseling, school counseling, social work, psychological assessment, therapy and counseling, clinical psychology, special education, and occupational therapy with the ability to pursue further education in these training areas with transferability to Arizona universities.