MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Utah
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Beehive 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
140+
UT BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
780+
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 Utah
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 — University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute, Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Intermountain Behavioral Health
- ✓ 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 Utah
Utah has 140+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Salt Lake City Metro (Salt Lake, Davis Counties)
Utah's healthcare hub with University of Utah NPI and Intermountain behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Huntsman Mental Health Institute (U of U—premier), Intermountain Behavioral Health, University of Utah NPI, Salt Lake Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Centers:
Valley Behavioral Health (major CMH), Optum Behavioral Utah, University of Utah Outpatient, Volunteers of America Utah BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Odyssey House Utah, First Step House, Salt Lake Crisis Line (801-587-3000), Valley BH Crisis
💡 Salt Lake has Huntsman Mental Health Institute—Utah's premier academic psychiatric facility. Intermountain is major system. Competitive but excellent opportunities.
Provo/Utah County
BYU region with Intermountain Utah Valley and community behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Intermountain Utah Valley Behavioral, Provo Canyon Behavioral Hospital, Walden Behavioral (Provo), Mountain View Hospital BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Wasatch Mental Health (major CMH), Provo Counseling Center, Family Support & Treatment Center, BYU Counseling
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Cirque Lodge, Utah Valley Recovery, Utah County Crisis Line, Wasatch Mental Health Crisis
💡 Utah County is Utah's fastest-growing region. Young population with unique cultural considerations. Wasatch Mental Health is major CMH provider.
Ogden/Weber County
Northern Utah with McKay-Dee Behavioral and Weber Human Services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Intermountain McKay-Dee Behavioral, Ogden Regional Behavioral, Northern Utah Rehabilitation Hospital BH, Davis Hospital BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Weber Human Services (major CMH), Davis Behavioral Health, Bear River Mental Health, Northern Utah Community Health
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Maple Mountain Recovery, Northern Utah Recovery, Ogden Crisis Line, Weber Human Services Crisis
💡 Northern Utah serves Ogden and Logan regions. Weber Human Services is major CMH. Hill Air Force Base provides military behavioral health opportunities.
St. George/Southern Utah (Washington, Iron Counties)
Fastest-growing Utah region with Intermountain St. George behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Intermountain St. George Behavioral, Cedar City Hospital BH, Coral Desert Behavioral (Hurricane), Kane County Hospital BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Southwest Behavioral Health Center (major CMH), Red Rock Center for Independence, Family Healthcare Southern Utah
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Red Desert Recovery, Southwest Recovery, St. George Crisis Line, Southwest BHC Crisis
💡 Southern Utah is fast-growing with Zion National Park nearby. Southwest Behavioral Health Center serves region. Retiree population drives geriatric psychiatry needs.
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 Utah?
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 Utah?
Does Utah require MHT certification?
Can I get an externship at Huntsman Mental Health Institute?
What's unique about Utah's behavioral health job market?
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