HI 7400
Mental Health and Personal Caregiver
Learn the responsibilities of a Professional Caregiver and a Mental Health Support Specialist, offering holistic, person-centered support in just 19 weeks.
Program Overview
Certifications earned
What Does a Mental Health and Personal Caregiver Do?
Personal Care and Mental Health Aides assist clients with activities of daily living (ADLs), provide companionship and help create safe, therapeutic environments. In behavioral and mental health settings, they support psychiatrists, nurse practitioners and therapists with patient care involving psychiatric and substance use disorders. Responsibilities may include taking vital signs, assisting with intake and crisis care, encouraging participation in therapeutic activities and aiding in discharge planning. They serve as a vital communication link between the client and their care team, accurately documenting observations and contributing to the overall treatment plan. While unlicensed, these professionals are essential to the continuity and quality of care, supporting clients through all phases of treatment and life transitions with empathy, respect, and a deep commitment to their well-being and dignity. They offer holistic, person-centered support across a variety of care settings such as private homes, group homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, long-term care facilities, correctional institutions and behavioral health centers.
- Explain the role of the mental health supportive staff as members of the mental health team
- Recognize psychology and substance use terminology and use accurately where applicable to psychiatric team communication
- Distinguish intake, crisis care, inpatient care and discharge duties
- Perform essential caregiving tasks, such as assisting with personal hygiene, mobility support, and meal preparation, following established protocols
- Acquire foundational skills to care for individuals across the lifespan, from pediatric to geriatric clients
- Maintain client confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA and HITECH privacy and security laws
What You’ll Learn – HI 7400 Mental Health and Personal Caregiver
The Mental Health and Personal Caregiver program delivers an innovative online training experience for individuals aspiring to provide essential care in diverse settings, including homes, hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and more.
This program prepares students to assist with daily living activities, such as meal preparation, light housekeeping, mobility support and personal care. Students are also trained to provide limited medical assistance, including monitoring vital signs and offering medication reminders. The training emphasizes developing interpersonal skills, such as empathy, effective communication and active listening – which are critical for delivering high-quality care.
Students will perform clinical demonstrations using 3D technology, covering essential skills like obtaining vital signs and performing CPR, to enhance real-world readiness. Through role-playing and simulation scenarios, learners develop the interpersonal and behavioral skills needed for success as caregivers. Virtual clinical training includes screen-based simulations that challenge students to practice procedural knowledge and select the correct tools for caregiving tasks. Learners also interact with AI-driven virtual patients to practice communication, empathy, and problem-solving in realistic caregiving settings. The program incorporates “Industry Insights” video interviews with professionals, providing learners with a glimpse into the caregiving field and practical career advice. These videos offer a real-world perspective on what graduates can expect on the job.
At the completion of the Mental Health and Personal Caregiver program, students will be prepared to take the Mental Health Technician – Certified (MHTC) exam issued by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA) and the Certified Home Health Aide (CHHA) exam issued by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). MedCerts covers the cost of both of these exams.
Earning the CHHA credential does NOT qualify students/graduates to be licensed as a Home Health Aide in any state. Each individual state issues its own requirements to be licensed or certified as an HHA or CNA. The CHHA certification validates the knowledge and skills required for caregivers, direct care workers and home health aides – increasing job opportunities and earning potential, but is not meant to serve as a prerequisite for state licensure.
IMPORTANT: If the end goal is to obtain status as a Certified Nursing Assistant or licensed Home Health Aide, the program must be completed through a partner organization/employer. Under such a partnership, MedCerts delivers the “didactic” portion of the CNA or HHA program, and the employer/partner must agree to host clinicals/labs onsite (CNA) or provide any required supervised practicum component (HHA). This is done to satisfy state-specific requirements related to an “approved” CNA or HHA program within which the candidate intends to work.
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Find your next careerSome MedCerts programs are restricted in certain states or regions. Please review our State Restriction page to see what restrictions there may be in your state/region or residence of employment to ensure you are eligible for enrollment.
These restrictions may not apply to students taking programs through an employer, academic or government-sponsored model – including MyCAA, GI Bill® Reimbursement and Army, Air Force or Coast Guard Credentialing Assistance. To determine eligibility, please confirm with your sponsor or review our military spouse MyCAA-approved or Military Credentialing Assistance-approved programs
Program Details
American Medical Association (AMA) Collaboration
MedCerts has integrated the AMA’s Blood Pressure Measurement Series into our allied health programs, so you’re trained in the most current, evidence-based techniques for accurate blood pressure measurement.
- High School Diploma or GED
- Web browser with internet connection
- Course registration & payment
- English language proficiency
- Suitable vision & hearing (normal or corrected)
- Suitable psychomotor skills, hand-eye coordination, finger agility
- Ability to stand for an extended period of time and physical stamina for long shifts
- Expert-led video based training
- Competency assessments
- National Certification exam fee
- Mosby’s Textbook for Nursing Assistants (Elsevier 10th Edition, Copyright 2021)
- Foundations of Mental Health Care 8E (Elsevier Copyright 2023)
*The cost of all materials needed for this program are covered by MedCerts. They are not included in the tuition costs and are provided at no additional cost to students. However, students have access to these materials for a limited time frame aligned with their program. Access to these materials outside of this period is not guaranteed, and students may be responsible for costs associated with any extended access.
- Dedicated Student Success Advisors
- Tailored support based on performance & behavior
- Exam preparation process
- 1 yr. post-program access to Career Center & Career Coaches
Career Outlook
Mental Health and Personal Caregiver
Job Opportunities
openings in the US
potential
Tuition Cost
Mental Health and Personal Caregiver Training Online
Monthly, weekly and bi-weekly payment plan options are available. These payment plans include a 3.5% fee per transaction. Students who choose to pay in full will not be charged the transaction fee.
Active Duty Military Grants
MedCerts accepts education benefits from the Department of Defense for Active Duty Army, Coast Guard and Air Force and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs for GI Bill® Reimbursement.
Military Spouse Grants
Spouses of Active Duty Service Members in certain ranks may be eligible for assistance up to $2,000 per fiscal year or reimbursement for training.
Workforce Grants
MedCerts partners with American Job Centers in 30+ states and accepts Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and other workforce grant funding.
Veteran Grants
Veterans, active-duty service members and eligible dependents can enroll in select MedCerts training programs and receive reimbursement through the GI Bill® upon successful completion.
FAQs
Disclaimers
- Most states require additional agency-directed training of employees after they are hired. This training course is not intended as a substitute for the additional agency-directed training required by a state. Students are responsible for determining the training and competency requirements of employers in the states in which they wish to be employed.
- While MedCerts training and related target certifications may be accepted and/or approved by your state of residency, employers reserve the right to dictate prerequisite education, experience, or certification/licensure requirements for their positions. We strongly advise students to research target job posts from area employers and relevant state requirements, barriers, or restrictions prior to enrollment to ensure eligibility upon graduation.
