MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Montana
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Treasure 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
55+
MT BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
340+
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 Montana
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 — Montana State Hospital, Billings Clinic Psychiatric, St. Patrick Hospital BH, Shodair Children's Hospital
- ✓ 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 Montana
Montana has 55+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Billings/Eastern Montana (Yellowstone County)
Montana's largest city with Billings Clinic and St. Vincent behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Billings Clinic Psychiatric Services, St. Vincent Healthcare Behavioral, Rimrock Foundation, Montana VA Healthcare BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center (major), Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Mental Health Center, South Central MT Regional MHC
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Rimrock Foundation (major addiction), Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County (Bozeman accessible), Billings Crisis Line
💡 Billings has Montana's largest behavioral health infrastructure. Rimrock Foundation is major addiction provider. Serves vast eastern Montana region.
Missoula/Western Montana (Missoula County)
University of Montana region with Providence St. Patrick behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Providence St. Patrick Hospital Behavioral Health, Community Medical Center BH, Montana State Hospital (Warm Springs nearby), Western Montana Mental Health Center
Behavioral Health Centers:
Western Montana Mental Health Center (major), Missoula Indian Center BH, Open Aid Alliance, Partnership Health Center BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Recovery Center at St. Patrick, Turning Point Recovery, Missoula Crisis Line, Western MT Crisis Services
💡 Missoula has University of Montana. Providence St. Patrick serves western region. Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs is state psychiatric facility.
Great Falls/North Central (Cascade County)
Malmstrom AFB region with Benefis Health System behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Benefis Health System Behavioral, Great Falls Clinic BH, Montana VA (Fort Harrison accessible), Peace Hospice BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Center for Mental Health (major), Opportunities Inc, Malmstrom AFB Mental Health, Gateway Community Services
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Gateway Community Services, North Central Recovery, Great Falls Crisis Line, Center for MH Crisis Services
💡 Great Falls serves north central Montana. Malmstrom Air Force Base provides military behavioral health. Center for Mental Health is major community provider.
Bozeman/Southwest Montana (Gallatin County)
Fast-growing resort region with Bozeman Health Deaconess behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Bozeman Health Deaconess Behavioral, Shodair Children's Hospital (Helena), St. James Healthcare BH (Butte), Barrett Hospital BH (Dillon)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Gallatin Mental Health Center, Southwest Montana Community Health Center, HRDC BH, Alcohol & Drug Services of Gallatin County
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Alcohol & Drug Services Gallatin, Bozeman Crisis Line, Southwest MT Crisis Services, Gallatin County Crisis
💡 Bozeman is Montana's fastest-growing city. Ski resorts and outdoor recreation create unique behavioral health needs. Significant shortages with premium wages.
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 Montana?
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 Montana?
Does Montana require MHT certification?
What's unique about Montana's behavioral health job market?
Is there demand in Montana resort towns?
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