MHT EXTERNSHIP
Mental Health Technician Externship in Virginia
Your complete guide to gaining hands-on behavioral health experience across The Old Dominion. 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+
VA 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 Virginia
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 — UVA Psychiatry, VCU Psychiatry, Inova Behavioral Health, Eastern State 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 Virginia
Virginia has 380+ behavioral health facilities including psychiatric hospitals, treatment centers, and community mental health programs. Here are potential externship sites by region.
Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, Prince William Counties)
DC suburbs with Inova Behavioral Health and federal behavioral health opportunities.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Inova Behavioral Health (major), Dominion Hospital, HCA Reston Behavioral, Virginia Hospital Center Psychiatry, George Mason Community BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Fairfax-Falls Church CSB (major), Arlington CSB, Loudoun County Mental Health, Prince William CSB, NVFS BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Inova Kellar Center, Fairfax Detox, NOVA Crisis Line, Fairfax CSB Crisis
💡 Northern Virginia is DC metro with federal behavioral health jobs. Inova dominates. Very competitive but abundant. High cost of living but premium wages.
Richmond Metro (Richmond City, Henrico, Chesterfield Counties)
State capital with VCU Psychiatry and major health systems.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
VCU Psychiatry (academic), HCA Chippenham Behavioral (Tucker Pavilion), Bon Secours Behavioral, Central State Hospital (state—Petersburg)
Behavioral Health Centers:
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (major CSB), Henrico Area Mental Health, Chesterfield CSB, St. Joseph's Villa BH
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
The McShin Foundation, Richmond Recovery, Richmond Crisis Line (804-819-4100), RBHA Crisis
💡 Richmond has VCU Psychiatry—major academic center. Central State Hospital nearby. State capital has government behavioral health jobs. More affordable than NoVA.
Hampton Roads (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton)
Military region with Sentara Behavioral and Eastern State Hospital.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Eastern State Hospital (state—Williamsburg), Sentara Behavioral (Virginia Beach, Norfolk), Riverside Behavioral, Hampton VA Medical Center BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Virginia Beach CSB, Norfolk CSB, Colonial Behavioral Health (Williamsburg), Western Tidewater CSB
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center, Farley Center, Hampton Roads Crisis Line, Virginia Beach CSB Crisis
💡 Hampton Roads has massive military presence (Naval Station Norfolk, Langley). Sentara dominates civilian care. Eastern State Hospital serves region. Veteran mental health focus.
Southwest Virginia (Roanoke, Lynchburg, Bristol)
Appalachian region with Carilion Behavioral and regional community services.
Psychiatric Hospitals:
Carilion Roanoke Behavioral Health, Centra Lynchburg Behavioral, Ballad Health Behavioral (Bristol), Salem VA Medical Center BH
Behavioral Health Centers:
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare (major CSB), Horizon Behavioral Health (Lynchburg), Mount Rogers CSB, New River Valley CSB
Substance Abuse/Crisis:
Carilion Recovery, Blue Ridge Recovery, Southwest VA Crisis Line, BRBH Crisis Services
💡 Southwest Virginia has Appalachian communities with significant behavioral health needs. Carilion and Centra are major employers. Rural shortages with incentive packages.
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 Virginia?
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 Virginia?
Does Virginia require MHT certification?
Can Virginia residents access DC/Maryland behavioral health jobs?
What's unique about Virginia's behavioral health job market?
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