Behavioral Health Technician

Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) Academy Program

Valleywise Health

Begin Your Career in Behavioral Health!

No experience? No problem, start your journey in Behavioral Health with paid training and hands-on experience. Start your career in Behavioral Health and make a real impact from day one.

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) Academy at Valleywise Health is a structured, comprehensive 12-week paid training program designed to prepare first-time Behavioral Health Technicians for success in acute inpatient Behavioral Health settings.

The BHT is an entry-level position intended for employees to receive paid on-the-job training while caring for patients under Court Ordered Evaluation or Treatment due to mental illness. Services are provided at one of Valleywise Health's inpatient Behavioral Health facilities located in Phoenix, Mesa, and Maryvale.

The program is designed to support individuals transitioning into Behavioral Health career by building the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to thrive in a fast-paced clinical environment. There will be a strong focus on patient safety, therapeutic communication, teamwork, engagement, and readiness for the BHT role.

Participants receive hands-on clinical instruction under the direct supervision of experienced Behavioral Health staff and nursing personnel while working collaboratively with the interdisciplinary treatment team, patients, and families as a vital part of the therapeutic environment.

Compensation

• Hourly Pay Rate: $18.00/hr

Program Duration

• 12-week Academy program

Weekly Schedule

Participants will complete:

• Three (3) 12-hour clinical shifts per week on a Behavioral Health unit
• One (1) 4-hour classroom/didactic session weekly

Hourly Pay Rate: $18.00

Qualifications

Education:

• Requires a High School Diploma or GED.

Experience:

• This is an entry-level behavioral health position, no prior experience required.
• Prefer one year of work experience in a healthcare or behavioral health setting.

Specialized Training:

• Must be able to complete Crisis Prevention and Intervention Training upon hire.

Certification/Licensure:

• Requires BLS issued by the American Heart Association or completes BLS during NEO training.
• Valleywise Behavioral Health Center - Mesa Unit 2 Adolescent: Must have a valid fingerprint clearance card issued by the Arizona Department of Public Safety or submit completed application to the Arizona Department of Public Safety within seven days of hire date. Fingerprint clearance cards must remain valid for the entire period of issuance and must be renewed prior to expiration.
• Pursuant to Arizona Administrative Code R9-10-306 CHAPTER 10 of the Dept. of Health Services, personnel must be at least 21 years of age, or at least 18 years of age and licensed or certified under A.R.S. Title 32 and providing services within the personnel member's scope of practice.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must demonstrate the skills and knowledge to provide behavioral health services to adults, including those over the age of 65, adolescents, individuals with substance abuse, individuals who are seriously mentally ill, individuals who have co-occurring disorder, and/or individuals who may be victims or perpetrators of domestic violence.
• Requires basic computer word processing skills (e.g., formatting, editing, printing, composing email, internet searches, etc.) to be able to successfully navigate through an electronic medical record using a computer.
• Requires the ability to read, write, and speak effectively in English.