MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Vermont
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Green Mountain 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
45+
VT BH Facilities
$0
Externship Cost
280+
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 Vermont
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 — Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital, UVM Medical Center Psychiatry, Brattleboro Retreat, Rutland Regional BH
- ✓ 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 Vermont
Vermont has 45+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Burlington/Chittenden County
Vermont's largest city with UVM Medical Center—state's academic center.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
UVM Medical Center Psychiatry (academic), Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (state—Berlin), Fanny Allen Behavioral, Northwestern Medical Center BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Howard Center (major CMH), Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity BH, Spectrum Youth & Family Services, NAMI Vermont
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Howard Center Recovery, Maple Leaf Treatment, Burlington Crisis Line, Howard Center Crisis
💡 Burlington has UVM Medical Center—Vermont's academic psychiatric center. Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (Berlin) is state facility. Largest job market in VT.
Montpelier/Central Vermont (Washington County)
State capital with Central Vermont Medical Center and regional behavioral health.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Central Vermont Medical Center Behavioral, Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital (nearby—Berlin), Gifford Medical Center BH, Porter Hospital BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Washington County Mental Health Services (major CMH), Capstone Community Action BH, Central Vermont Home Health BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Valley Vista, Central VT Recovery, Montpelier Crisis Line, WCMHS Crisis Services
💡 Montpelier is nation's smallest state capital. State government behavioral health jobs. Central Vermont has rural communities with behavioral health needs.
Rutland/Southern Vermont (Rutland, Bennington Counties)
Ski country with Rutland Regional and Brattleboro Retreat.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Brattleboro Retreat (historic—major), Rutland Regional Medical Center BH, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center BH, Grace Cottage Hospital BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Rutland Mental Health Services (major CMH), United Counseling Service (Bennington), Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (Springfield)
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Brattleboro Retreat Addiction, Rutland Recovery, Southern VT Crisis Line, Rutland MHS Crisis
💡 Southern Vermont has Brattleboro Retreat—historic psychiatric hospital with excellent reputation. Ski resort communities have seasonal behavioral health needs.
Northeast Kingdom/Upper Valley (Caledonia, Orange Counties)
Remote Vermont with Northeast Kingdom Human Services and Dartmouth access.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital BH, Valley Regional Hospital BH (NH—accessible), Dartmouth-Hitchcock BH (NH—accessible)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Northeast Kingdom Human Services (major CMH), Clara Martin Center, Upper Valley Services, North Country Hospital BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
NKHS Recovery, Northeast Kingdom Crisis Line, Upper Valley Crisis (NH accessible), Clara Martin Crisis
💡 Northeast Kingdom is remote with extreme shortages. Dartmouth-Hitchcock (NH) serves many Vermonters. Significant incentives available for rural behavioral health.
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 Vermont?
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 Vermont:
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