Posted: August 30, 2017Written by: Lauren Milbourne

Tags: 2017, press release

Cuesta College’s Psychiatric Technician Program is currently accepting applications for classes that begin January 2018. Located at the Department of State Hospitals – Atascadero (DSH-Atascadero), the program offers one-year of training to become a licensed psychiatric technician, preparing students to provide nursing and therapeutic services for the mentally ill, emotionally disturbed or developmentally disabled. The deadline to apply is September 8.

The program gets support from nearly 100 clinical facilities and agencies throughout San Luis Obispo County allowing students to perform clinical practice within their facilities. The students also have the unique opportunity to be employed part-time at the DSH-Atascadero while they are in the program. “This allows our students to gain on-the-job training and work alongside experienced psychiatric technicians, Registered Nurses, physicians, and other mental health professionals,” said Psychiatric Technician Program Director Karen Boriack.

According to Boriack, the program consistently sees high passing rates on the California Psychiatric Technician Licensing Examination and, in the past, has tied for the top passing rate in California. The Psychiatric Technician program at DSH-Atascadero started in 1954 and has been affiliated with Cuesta College since 1970.

Psychiatric Technician classes begin three times a year, with program start dates in January, May and September. The program will hold Informational Sessions for those considering applying in the future from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on December 5 and from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on December 6 at DSH-Atascadero.

For information on how to apply to the program, visit the Psychiatric Technician web page, or call (805) 468-3175.