Qualified Mental Health Associate
Qualified Mental Health Associate Apprenticeship (QMHA)
Behavioral health workers who don’t have a Bachelor’s Degree and want to pursue QMHA-R certification now have a new path to pursue their goals! The QMHA Apprenticeship helps individuals with sufficient behavioral health industry experience achieve their QMHA-R certification without a Bachelor’s Degree, while continuing to work in the field (or in direct service).
Once certified, apprentices are eligible for advanced positions at their employer. Qualified Mental Health Associates provide behavioral health services, including client interaction, individual and group skill training, treatment coordination, crisis interventions, documentation, and feedback for therapeutic treatments and plans.
Related Training Instruction
The classroom component of the QMHA Apprenticeship is delivered asynchronously through the US Career Institute (USCI) and United We Heal staff. Over 18 months, apprentices progress through a set of introductory behavioral health curriculum:
- General Psychology (USCI)
- Introduction to Social Work (USCI)
- Health and Wellness (USCI)
- Abnormal Psychology (USCI)
- Law and Ethics for the Healthcare Professional (USCI)
- Drugs of Abuse Pharmacology (UWH)
- HIV/AIDS Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction (UWH)
- Advanced Ethics (UWH)
The courses are all self-paced, lasting about 10 weeks per course. Apprentices complete the work on their own schedule and at their own pace, earning a total of 29 quarter college credits (about 19 semester credits). Depending on prior work experience and related education, some apprentices will advance through the program without needing to complete all of the coursework.
On-the-Job Training
While engaged in the QMHA Apprenticeship, you will receive clinical supervision from your employer. You will receive on-the-job training from QMHA-certified colleagues. Certain positions/shifts may not be suitable for this activity, in which case, you may need to make a change to your current role to be eligible.
Your employer may also offer on-the-job learning or continuing education opportunities. These may help you complete your QMHA certification process more quickly.
Costs
Apprenticeship participants do not incur any costs! Through grant sources and other funding support, the education for the program is free to participants while they receive paid on-the-job training. Additionally, apprenticeship participants receive financial stipends and support throughout their time in the program.
Get Started
Take the first step and apply today!
To be eligible you must be:
18 years or older
A graduate of a high school, GED, or equivalent program
An active employee, in good standing, with one of our training partners
In a position considered an apprenticeable role: you work in a mental health program,
helping clients with treatment plans, case management, and their behavioral health
Our Programs
Our programs emphasize hands-on training through paid employment while participants learn new skills, achieve industry-recognized certifications, and advance their careers, while minimizing student debt.
Our programs are strategically designed to pave a path for folks who previously didn’t have opportunities/access to step into the healthcare workforce. This ensures that individuals who would not otherwise have had opportunities to advance into higher paid and licensed occupations can do so, and that this will positively impact the ability to provide care that resonates with clients needs.
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The QMHP Apprenticeship helps individuals working in behavioral health obtain their Master’s in Counseling degree for free while gaining their credential through on-the-job training.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
The CCMA Apprenticeship provides all of the education and training required to test for the CCMA exam.
These programs are funded in whole or in part by the U.S. Department of Labor. We are equal opportunity employers/programs. Auxiliary aides and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. The sponsor will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, or because they are an individual with a disability or a person 40 years old or older. The sponsor will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30.
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