Mental Health Pathway
The Mental Health field is extremely broad, encompassing a wide variety of careers that focus on helping people meet their basic human needs including: social worker, counselor, health aid, and much more. Essentially, mental health careers focus on areas where people need help. The day in the life of someone in mental health could include: working with clients and other professionals, such as social workers, to develop a treatment plan and help clients complete paperwork to apply for assistance programs and researching services, such as food stamps and Medicaid, that are available to clients.
The Education Fund has partnered with educational providers to offer a wide variety of degrees and certificate programs to eligible members in Mental Health.
Why Choose Mental Health?
Employment in the mental health field is projected to grow 17 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.*
- The Human Services Certificate of Accomplishment offers greater work opportunities as social-service technicians, case management aides, mental health technicians, social worker, counselors and other human service careers.
- The Associate in Arts degrees offer individuals the opportunity to study a specialized area in mental health that can translate into a variety of careers within the mental health field.
- Mental Health workers across healthcare settings including hospitals, family services, nursing and residential care facilities, community and vocational rehabilitating services.
* Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook
Program Locations & Dates
Find your region below and click to expand and find out about start dates, program length and more:
Online - All regions
Provider: Capella University (Online)
Bachelor’s Degree: Psychology
Master’s Degrees: Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, Human Services, Social Work, Social Work Advanced Standing
Graduate Certificates: Counseling, Psychology
Application Deadlines:
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and programs start monthly.
Program Start Dates:
Program start dates vary depending on the degree/certificate.
Prerequisites: Vary depending on degree/certificate.
Northern California (Bay Area)
Provider: Coastline College Extended Learning Division (Online)
Associate’s Degree in Human Services (1 year)
Human Services Certificate (6 months)
Application Deadlines:
- May 30, 2022
- August 15, 2022
- October 10, 2022
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the program is offered each session.
Program Dates:
- June 13, 2022
- August 29, 2022
- October 24, 2022
Provider: Contra Costa College
Health & Human Services Associate Degree
Program Length: 60 units
Program Start Dates: Summer: June 13 – July, 2022
Prerequisites: None, degree requirements
Health & Human Services Certificate
Program Length: 24 units
Program Start Dates: Summer: June 13 – July, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Dual Diagnosis Specialization Certificate
Program Length: 51 units
Program Start Dates – Spring 2022: January 24, 2022 – May 20, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Peer Support Service Certificate
Program Length: 9 units
Program Start Dates: Summer: June 13 – July, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Psychosocial Rehabilitation Certificate
Program Length: 12 units
Program Start Dates: Summer: June 13 – July, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Substance Abuse Case Management Certificate
Program Length: 12 units
Program Start Dates: Summer: June 13 – July, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Northern California (Central Valley)
Provider: Coastline College Extended Learning Division (Online)
Associate’s Degree in Human Services (1 year)
Human Services Certificate (6 months)
Application Deadlines:
- May 30, 2022
- August 15, 2022
- October 10, 2022
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the program is offered each session.
Program Dates:
- June 13, 2022
- August 29, 2022
- October 24, 2022
Provider: Modesto Junior College
Human Services Associate Degree
Program Length: 60 units
Program Start Dates: Summer: May 2 – August 20, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Human Services Certificate
Program Length: 36 units
Program Start Dates: Summer: May 2 – August 20, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Southern California
Provider: Coastline College Extended Learning Division (Online)
Associate’s Degree in Human Services (1 year)
Human Services Certificate (6 months)
Application Deadlines:
- May 30, 2022
- August 15, 2022
- October 10, 2022
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the program is offered each session.
Program Dates:
- June 13, 2022
- August 29, 2022
- October 24, 2022
Provider: West Los Angeles College
Associate’s Degree in Addiction Studies (2 years), Addiction Studies Certificate (6 months)
Application Deadlines:
- May 20, 2022
- June 13, 2022
Program Dates:
- August 15, 2022
- August 29, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Provider: Moorpark College
Registered Behavior Technician
Program Length: 40 hours training
Program Dates: Fall 2022: August 12-December 15, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Provider: Ventura College
Social Work & Human Services
Program Length: 2 years
Program Dates: Fall 2022: August 12-December 15, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Provider: Oxnard College
Addictive Disorders Studies
Program Length: 2 years
Program Dates: Fall 2022: August 12-December 15, 2022
Prerequisites: None
Northwest (Washington and Oregon)
Provider: Clackamas Community College
Human Service Generalist Associate Degree
Program Length: 90-92 units
Program Start Dates: March 28, 2022 – June 11, 2022
Prerequisites: Complete Human Service Interview and Assessments
Provider: Clatsop Community College
Psychology Degree
Program Length: Two years
Program Start Dates: Spring 2022: April 4 – June 19, 2022
Prerequisites: Degree requirements
Provider: Portland Community College
Program Start Dates: Spring 2022: April 4 – June 19, 2022
Family & Human Service Associate Degree
Program length: 90 Units
Prerequisites: Complete with a C or better in College Composition. Complete with a C or better or a Pass in Math literacy or Introductory Algebra. C or better or a Pass in Career-Technical Computation or equivalent placement.
Addiction Counselor Associate Degree
Program length: 90 Units.
Prerequisites: Complete with a C or better in English Composition, Library Research & Beyond, Addiction, Theories of Counseling, and Basic Counseling Skills.
Foundations in Human Service Certificate
Program length: 13 units
Prerequisites: Complete with a C or better in Introduction to College Composition, College Reading or Introduction to College Reading and Composition and Fundamentals of Mathematics or equivalent placement
Addiction Studies Certificate
Program length: 44 units
Prerequisites: Complete with a C or better in English Composition, Library Research & Beyond, Addiction, Theories of Counseling, and Basic Counseling Skills.
Nevada
Provider: Coastline College Extended Learning Division (Online)
Associate’s Degree in Human Services (1 year)
Human Services Certificate (6 months)
Application Deadlines:
- May 30, 2022
- August 15, 2022
- October 10, 2022
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the program is offered each session.
Program Dates:
- June 13, 2022
- August 29, 2022
- October 24, 2022
Provider: College of Southern Nevada
Applied Psychology Associates Degree
Program Length: 24 months
Application Deadline:
- May 23, 2022
Program Start Dates:
- June 6, 2022
Prerequisite: None
Colorado
Provider: Coastline College Extended Learning Division (Online)
Associate’s Degree in Human Services (1 year)
Human Services Certificate (6 months)
Application Deadlines:
- May 30, 2022
- August 15, 2022
- October 10, 2022
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and the program is offered each session.
Program Dates:
- June 13, 2022
- August 29, 2022
- October 24, 2022
Provider: Arapahoe Community College
Associate’s Degree in Psychology
Program Length: 2 years
Application Deadline:
- May 17, 2022
Program Start Dates:
- May 31, 2022
Prerequisite: None
Provider: Community College of Denver
Associate’s Degree in Psychology
Program Length: 2 years
Application Deadline:
- May 17, 2022
Program Start Dates:
- May 31, 2022
Prerequisite: None
Get Started
If you’re interested, feel like you might be a good fit and are ready to get started, please schedule an appointment with a career counselor.
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