MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in North Carolina
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Tar Heel 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
380+
NC BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
1,950+
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 North Carolina
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 — Duke Psychiatry, UNC Psychiatry, Wake Forest Baptist BH, Atrium Health Behavioral
- ✓ 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 North Carolina
North Carolina has 380+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Charlotte Metro (Mecklenburg, Cabarrus Counties)
North Carolina's largest city with Atrium Health and Novant behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Atrium Health Behavioral (Carolinas Medical, Mercy), Novant Health Behavioral, HCA Behavioral (Presbyterian), Daymark Recovery Charlotte
Behavioral Health Centers:
Cardinal Innovations Healthcare, Monarch, Partners Behavioral Health, Thompson Child & Family Focus
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Anuvia Prevention & Recovery, Charlotte Rescue Mission, Charlotte Crisis Line, Atrium Crisis Services
💡 Charlotte is NC's largest city with Atrium and Novant competing for talent. Cardinal Innovations is major LME-MCO. Fast-growing market.
Research Triangle (Wake, Durham, Orange Counties)
Duke, UNC, and major research institutions anchor behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Duke Psychiatry (academic), UNC Psychiatry (academic), WakeMed Behavioral Health, Central Regional Hospital (state), Holly Hill Hospital
Behavioral Health Centers:
Alliance Health (major LME-MCO), Duke Outpatient Psychiatry, UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health, Southlight Healthcare
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Duke Addiction Services, UNC Horizons, Triangle Crisis Line, Alliance Crisis Services
💡 Research Triangle has Duke and UNC—top academic psychiatric programs. Very competitive but excellent training. Growing tech population increases mental health awareness.
Piedmont Triad (Guilford, Forsyth Counties)
Greensboro and Winston-Salem with Wake Forest Baptist and Cone Health behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Wake Forest Baptist Behavioral Health, Cone Health Behavioral, Novant Health Triad BH, High Point Regional BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Sandhills Center (LME-MCO), Triad Behavioral, RHA Health Services, Family Services of the Piedmont
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Fellowship Hall, Insight Human Services, Triad Crisis Line, Sandhills Crisis Services
💡 Piedmont Triad has Wake Forest Baptist academic medicine. Cone and Novant compete for talent. More affordable than Charlotte or Triangle.
Coastal North Carolina (New Hanover, Cumberland Counties)
Wilmington and Fayetteville with NHRMC and Cape Fear Valley behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
New Hanover Regional Behavioral (Wilmington), Cape Fear Valley Behavioral (Fayetteville), Vidant Behavioral (Greenville), Brynn Marr Hospital (Jacksonville)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Trillium Health Resources (LME-MCO), Coastal Horizons, Cape Fear Mental Health, Eastpointe
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Wilmington Treatment Center, Cape Fear Recovery, Coastal Crisis Line, Trillium Crisis Services
💡 Coastal NC has military influence (Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point). Beach communities have tourism impact. Veterans mental health focus.
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 North Carolina?
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 North Carolina:
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