MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in South Carolina
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Palmetto 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
210+
SC BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
1,100+
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 South 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 — MUSC Psychiatry, Prisma Health Behavioral, G. Werber Bryan Psychiatric Hospital, Palmetto 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 South Carolina
South Carolina has 210+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Charleston Metro (Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester Counties)
MUSC Psychiatry and Trident Health behavioral services anchor coastal region.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
MUSC Institute of Psychiatry (academic), Trident Behavioral Health, Roper St. Francis Behavioral, East Cooper Behavioral
Behavioral Health Centers:
Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center, MUSC Outpatient Psychiatry, Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health, Carolina Youth Development Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Palmetto Lowcountry Addiction, MUSC Addiction Services, Charleston Crisis Line, CDMHC Crisis Services
💡 Charleston has MUSC Institute of Psychiatry—South Carolina's academic psychiatric center. Growing market with excellent training opportunities.
Columbia Metro (Richland, Lexington Counties)
State capital with Prisma Health Behavioral and state psychiatric facilities.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Prisma Health Baptist Behavioral, G. Werber Bryan Psychiatric Hospital (state), Prisma Health Richland BH, Three Rivers Behavioral (UHS)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Columbia Area Mental Health Center, Lexington County Mental Health, SCDMH Central Office, Epworth Children's Home BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Morris Village Addiction, Lexington Recovery, Columbia Crisis Line, CAMHC Crisis Services
💡 Columbia has G. Werber Bryan—state's primary psychiatric hospital. Prisma Health dominates. State capital has government behavioral health jobs.
Upstate South Carolina (Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson Counties)
BMW country with Prisma Health Upstate and regional behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Prisma Health Behavioral North (Greenville), Spartanburg Medical Center Behavioral, AnMed Behavioral (Anderson), Marshall I. Pickens Hospital
Behavioral Health Centers:
Greenville Mental Health Center, Spartanburg Area Mental Health, Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Mental Health, Phoenix Center
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Serenity Place, Phoenix Center Recovery, Upstate Crisis Line, GMC Crisis Services
💡 Upstate SC has strong economic growth with BMW, Michelin manufacturing. Prisma Health dominates. Growing population drives behavioral health demand.
Myrtle Beach/Pee Dee (Horry, Florence Counties)
Beach tourism and agricultural region with Tidelands and McLeod behavioral services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Tidelands Georgetown Behavioral, McLeod Behavioral Health (Florence), Conway Medical Center BH, Lighthouse Behavioral (UHS—Conway)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Pee Dee Mental Health Center, Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, Santee Wateree Mental Health (Sumter), Circle Park Behavioral
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Shoreline Behavioral Health, Myrtle Beach Crisis Line, Pee Dee Crisis Services, Waccamaw Crisis
💡 Myrtle Beach has tourism economy with seasonal fluctuations. Hurricane preparedness part of crisis work. Growing year-round population.
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 South 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 South Carolina:
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