MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Pennsylvania
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Keystone State. Build clinical skills, make a difference in patients' lives, and connect with employers in mental healthcare.
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Flexible
Hours
40-80
Hours Recommended
580+
PA BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
3,100+
Annual Openings
Why Get an MHT Externship?
A Mental Health Technician externship gives you real-world behavioral health experience that employers value. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychiatric technicians earn a median salary of $38,000+ with faster-than-average job growth due to increased mental health awareness.
An externship helps you:
- ✓ Practice patient observation, de-escalation, and therapeutic communication in real settings
- ✓ Build professional references from behavioral health supervisors
- ✓ Discover which setting fits you best (inpatient, residential, crisis, substance abuse)
- ✓ Convert your externship into a job offer — behavioral health has high demand
New to behavioral health? EHired offers free training to prepare you for AMCA MHT certification. An externship is optional but highly recommended for building confidence and making a real difference in patients' lives.
⚠️ Important: EHired does NOT place, arrange, or supervise externships. You contact facilities directly to arrange your own placement. This self-managed approach gives you flexibility to choose sites near your home and build direct relationships with potential employers.
How to Find an Externship in Pennsylvania
Follow this step-by-step process to secure a behavioral health externship.
Identify Potential Sites
Look for facilities that employ Mental Health Technicians:
- ✓ Psychiatric hospitals — Inpatient behavioral health units
- ✓ Behavioral health centers — Penn Psychiatry, UPMC Western Psychiatric, Jefferson Behavioral Health, Sheppard Pratt Pennsylvania
- ✓ Residential treatment — Long-term mental health facilities
- ✓ Substance abuse centers — Detox and rehab facilities
- ✓ Crisis stabilization units — Short-term crisis care
- ✓ Community mental health — Outpatient behavioral health
- ✓ VA medical centers — Veterans mental health programs
Prepare Your Approach
Get ready before contacting sites:
- ✓ Update your resume — Include EHired training, any healthcare/human services experience
- ✓ Prepare a pitch — "I'm completing MHT training and seeking hands-on behavioral health experience"
- ✓ Highlight your qualities — Patience, empathy, communication skills, reliability
- ✓ Be flexible — Behavioral health is 24/7; offer evening/weekend availability
- ✓ Expect background check — Most behavioral health facilities require this
Make Contact
Reach out to facilities directly:
- ✓ Call first — Ask for the unit manager, nurse manager, or HR department
- ✓ Email HR — Many behavioral health facilities prefer email inquiries
- ✓ Explain the arrangement — Unpaid, flexible hours, eager to learn and help
- ✓ Emphasize commitment — Mental health work requires dedication
- ✓ Follow up — If no response in 1 week, call again politely
Complete Your Externship
Make the most of your experience:
- ✓ Track your hours — Log date, hours, and experiences
- ✓ Learn actively — Observe de-escalation, ask questions appropriately
- ✓ Maintain boundaries — Professional relationships with patients always
- ✓ Practice self-care — Behavioral health work can be emotionally demanding
- ✓ Ask about openings — Express interest in future employment
Sample Script: Calling a Behavioral Health Facility
"Hi, my name is [Your Name]. I'm completing a Mental Health Technician training program and I'm looking to gain hands-on experience in behavioral health through an externship. I'm passionate about helping people with mental health challenges and I'm wondering if your facility might have room for an extern? I'm flexible with scheduling, including evenings and weekends, and I'm prepared to complete any required background check. Would it be possible to speak with someone in HR or a unit manager about this opportunity?"
Key points to emphasize: You're trained, you're passionate about mental health, you're flexible with scheduling (24/7 field), and you understand the importance of the work. Behavioral health facilities value dedication and empathy.
Where to Find Externships in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 580+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Philadelphia Metro (Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware Counties)
Penn Medicine, Jefferson, and Temple behavioral health systems anchor region.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Penn Psychiatry (academic), Jefferson Behavioral Health, Temple Behavioral Health, Einstein Behavioral (Jefferson), Sheppard Pratt Philadelphia
Behavioral Health Centers:
Community Behavioral Health (Philadelphia DBH), PMHCC, Resources for Human Development, Horizon House, Mental Health Partnerships
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Gaudenzia, Livengrin Foundation, Philadelphia Crisis Line (215-685-6440), CBH Crisis Services
💡 Philadelphia has Penn Psychiatry—Ivy League academic excellence. Jefferson and Temple compete. CBH manages city behavioral health. Very competitive but abundant.
Pittsburgh Metro (Allegheny, Westmoreland Counties)
UPMC Western Psychiatric and Allegheny Health Network behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (premier academic), AHN Behavioral (Jefferson, Forbes), Excela Behavioral, St. Clair Behavioral
Behavioral Health Centers:
Allegheny County Behavioral Health, UPMC Community Care, Mercy Behavioral Health, Familylinks, Glade Run Lutheran Services
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Gateway Rehabilitation, Pyramid Healthcare Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Crisis Line (resolve Crisis Services), UPMC Crisis
💡 Pittsburgh has UPMC Western Psychiatric—one of nation's top academic psychiatric facilities. AHN competes. resolve Crisis Services is innovative model.
Central Pennsylvania (Dauphin, Centre, Lancaster Counties)
State capital and Penn State region with Penn State Hershey and regional behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Penn State Hershey Psychiatry (academic), UPMC Harrisburg Behavioral, WellSpan Behavioral, Geisinger-Holy Spirit BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Dauphin County MH/ID, PA Psychiatric Institute, T.W. Ponessa & Associates, Philhaven (Lancaster), Community Services Group
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Caron Treatment Centers, Gaudenzia Harrisburg, Central PA Crisis Line, Dauphin County Crisis
💡 Central PA has Penn State Hershey academic psychiatry. Lancaster County has Philhaven. Lower cost of living than Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
Northeastern Pennsylvania (Lehigh, Lackawanna Counties)
Lehigh Valley and Scranton with St. Luke's and Geisinger behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
St. Luke's Behavioral (Allentown, Bethlehem), Geisinger Behavioral (Scranton), Lehigh Valley Health Network BH, Moses Taylor BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Lehigh County Behavioral Health, Lackawanna County Office of MH, KidsPeace, Northeast Counseling Services
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Pyramid Healthcare NEPA, Treatment Trends, Lehigh Valley Crisis Line, Lackawanna County Crisis
💡 Northeastern PA serves growing Lehigh Valley. Geisinger expanding behavioral services. Lower cost of living with access to NYC and Philadelphia.
What You'll Learn During Your Externship
A behavioral health externship exposes you to real patient care in mental health settings. Here are skills you'll develop:
Patient Observation
Monitoring patient behavior, mood changes, and safety. Documenting observations accurately for clinical staff.
De-escalation Techniques
Learning verbal and non-verbal strategies to calm agitated patients. Crisis prevention and intervention basics.
Therapeutic Communication
Active listening, empathetic responses, and appropriate boundaries. Building rapport with patients in distress.
Documentation
Recording patient behaviors, incidents, and progress. Understanding behavioral health charting requirements.
ADL Assistance
Helping patients with daily activities—hygiene, meals, medication reminders. Supporting patient independence.
Safety Monitoring
Conducting safety checks, understanding suicide precautions, and maintaining secure environments.
Ready to Start Your MHT Career in Pennsylvania?
Free to enroll. Free to learn. Pay $650 only when you're ready to certify.
No credit card required • No FAFSA • No obligation
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find MHT externship sites in Pennsylvania?
Does Pennsylvania require MHT certification?
Can I get an externship at Penn or UPMC Western Psychiatric?
What's unique about Pennsylvania's behavioral health job market?
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