The Mental Health Program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to assist mental health professionals in caring for individuals with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities. The program focuses on both theoretical and practical aspects of psychiatric care, preparing students to support patients in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, residential care facilities, and outpatient clinics.
Mental Health at a Glance
Dallas College offers many different ways to reach your career goals. Whether you want to jump into the workforce quickly or spend more time building advanced skills, we have the programs that fit your needs and timeline.
Certificate Programs
Estimated total tuition cost2:
$1,782-$2,970
Estimated time to complete1:
2 months-1 year
- All Locations3
Which Degrees and Certificates are Right for Me?
Workforce Training
Dallas College offers fast, flexible credentials designed with local employers to help you quickly start or advance your career.
Estimated tuition total: $2,880 for in-county residents
Estimated time to completion: 2 months for full-time students
Learn more about Psychiatric Technician I Continuing Education Skills Award (CESA)
Can I Get a Job?
Dallas College offers a variety of certificates and degrees to help you gain the skills you need to start working right away.
- These credentials are often considered Career and Technical Education (CTE).
- These credentials are established with the assistance and cooperation of representatives from local business, to meet local and regional employment needs.
- Higher-level certificates and degrees will typically lead to a higher salary in the workforce.
- Workforce (CE) certificates can often be completed faster than traditional credit certificates but typically do not offer college credit.
- Level 1, Level 2, Enhanced Skills certificates and others offer college credit and are often stackable to help you build skills as you work toward an associate degree.
- Workforce credentials may give you college credit at Dallas College, but they may not transfer to other colleges or universities.
If you're unsure if this is the right path for you, you can talk to a pathway specialist for advice.
Pathway Specialist
- 972-669-6400
- AskSOHS@DallasCollege.edu
Credit Certificates
Dallas College offers credit certificates that provide focused, career-ready skills recognized by employers.
Estimated tuition total: $2,970 for in-county residents
Estimated time to completion: 1 year for full-time students
Learn more about Behavioral Health Care Management Advanced Technical Certificate
Estimated tuition total: $1,782 for in-county residents
Estimated time to completion: 8 months for full-time students
Can I Get a Job?
Dallas College offers a variety of certificates and degrees to help you gain the skills you need to start working right away.
- These credentials are often considered Career and Technical Education (CTE).
- These credentials are established with the assistance and cooperation of representatives from local business, to meet local and regional employment needs.
- Higher-level certificates and degrees will typically lead to a higher salary in the workforce.
- Workforce (CE) certificates can often be completed faster than traditional credit certificates but typically do not offer college credit.
- Level 1, Level 2, Enhanced Skills certificates and others offer college credit and are often stackable to help you build skills as you work toward an associate degree.
- Workforce credentials may give you college credit at Dallas College, but they may not transfer to other colleges or universities.
If you're unsure if this is the right path for you, you can talk to a pathway specialist for advice.
Pathway Specialist
- 972-669-6400
- AskSOHS@DallasCollege.edu
Questions About Degrees and Certificates?
We know applying to college can be confusing. If you are not yet a Dallas College student, you have a whole team of recruitment coaches to help guide you through programs and the enrollment process.
Current students, contact your success coach (advisor) who can answer any questions you have about Mental Health programs and your degree and certificate options.
Contact a Recruitment Coach
What Can I Earn? Will There Be Plenty of Jobs?
Mental Health Counselors
Median Salary
Job Openings
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Service Orientation
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
Psychiatric Aides
Median Salary
Job Openings
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Coordination
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Psychiatric Technicians
Median Salary
Job Openings
Projected Outlook
Top Skills:
- Social Perceptiveness
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Coordination
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
- Instructing
- Writing
All jobs data gathered for Dallas/Fort Worth. Source: Dallas College Labor Market Intelligence and Lightcast4.
The Mental Health program has its own admissions process, timeline and requirements. Visit the School of Health Sciences Information Packets and Sessions page to view the Mental Health information packets.
Find Out More About Dallas College
Sign up to receive additional information about Dallas College or call 972-669-6400.
School of Health Sciences
- 972-669-6400
- AskSOHS@DallasCollege.edu
Dallas College
- 972-669-6400
- Text College to 214-978-6457
- StudentHelp@DallasCollege.edu
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1Length of time is based on catalog degree plans. Prerequisites may be required, which are not included in this estimate. For most programs, full-time student status is assumed, a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester.
2Cost for credit courses is based on tuition rates for program hours for Dallas County residents. The price of most required learning materials (books, software, supplies, etc.) is included with the price of tuition. Certain programs may have additional costs above the standard tuition. Continuing Education and Ed2Go courses may vary by program. Please review the Area of Study Overview and/or the Health Information Packets for additional costs and details. Visit our Paying for College site to learn more about cost, financial aid, scholarships and more.
3Each location offers a unique combination of certificate and degree options. Not all degree and certificate offerings are available for admission/start at all campuses every semester.
4A portion of Lightcast’s data comes from O*NET Online by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Lightcast has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.