MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Illinois
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Prairie 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
520+
IL BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
2,800+
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 Illinois
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 — AMITA Behavioral Health, Northwestern Behavioral Health, Rush Behavioral Health, Elgin Mental Health Center
- ✓ 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 Illinois
Illinois has 520+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Chicago Metro (Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will Counties)
Nation's 3rd largest city with Northwestern, Rush, UIC, and extensive behavioral health network.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health, Rush Behavioral Sciences, UIC Neuropsychiatric Institute, AMITA Behavioral Medicine, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Centers:
Thresholds, Metropolitan Family Services BH, Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, Heartland Alliance Health, Chicago CRED
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Gateway Foundation, Haymarket Center, Rosecrance Chicago, TASC, Chicago Crisis Services (NAMI)
💡 Chicago has massive behavioral health market. Academic centers (Northwestern, Rush, UIC) offer prestigious training. County system (Cook County Health) serves underserved. Very competitive.
Springfield/Central Illinois (Sangamon, McLean Counties)
State capital with HSHS behavioral health and McFarland Mental Health Center.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
HSHS St. John's Behavioral Health, McFarland Mental Health Center (state), OSF St. Francis Behavioral, Carle BroMenn Behavioral
Behavioral Health Centers:
Memorial Behavioral Health, McLean County Center for Human Services, Heritage Behavioral Health, PATH Crisis Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Gateway Springfield, Addiction Recovery Services, Central Illinois Crisis Line, PATH Crisis Services
💡 Central Illinois has state capital with government behavioral health jobs. McFarland Mental Health Center is state facility. Less competitive than Chicago.
Rockford/Northern Illinois (Winnebago, Rock Island Counties)
Manufacturing region with OSF and SwedishAmerican behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
OSF St. Anthony Behavioral Health (Rockford), SwedishAmerican Behavioral Health, UnityPoint Trinity Behavioral, CGH Behavioral Health
Behavioral Health Centers:
Rosecrance, Robert Young Center, Sinnissippi Centers, Kreider Services BH, NAMI Northern Illinois
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Rosecrance Rockford (major addiction), Gateway Foundation Quad Cities, Northern Illinois Crisis Services, UnityPoint Crisis
💡 Northern Illinois serves Rockford and Quad Cities. Rosecrance is major addiction treatment provider. Quad Cities spans Illinois/Iowa. Cross-border opportunities.
Southern Illinois (St. Clair, Madison Counties)
St. Louis metro suburbs with HSHS and Memorial behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
HSHS St. Elizabeth's Behavioral Health, Memorial Behavioral Health East St. Louis, Gateway Regional Behavioral, Alton Mental Health Center (state)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Chestnut Health Systems, Centerstone Illinois, Call for Help Crisis, Human Support Services, Southwestern Illinois College BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Chestnut Health Systems (major), Gateway Foundation South, Southern Illinois Crisis Services, Metro East Crisis Line
💡 Southern Illinois is St. Louis metro—access Missouri behavioral health jobs. Alton Mental Health Center is state facility. Lower cost of living than Chicago.
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 Illinois?
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
Common questions about MHT externships in Illinois:
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