# Psychiatric Technician (Certificate of Achievement)

Yuba College · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Psychiatric Technician

Source: https://yc.yccd.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Yuba-College-Catalog-26.pdf#page=156

The Psychiatric Technology Program is a four-semester and single-summer session program offered at the Yuba College Campus. The program includes 558 theoretical hours of classroom education, correlated with 972 clinical practicum hours. The subject matter reflects the knowledge and skills specified by Board of Vocational Nursing Psychiatric Technology Education (BVNPTE) regulation, rules, and laws. All clinical practicums will be under the supervision of a licensed BVNPTE-approved clinical instructor. The curriculum may be periodically revised to reflect the evolution of the profession and BVNPTE laws and regulations.

Theory and clinical program content shall reflect the client and patient population that are normally associated with the licensed Psychiatric Technician which will include clients/patients with mental disorders, personality disorders, substance abuser, and developmentally disabled. Students will be admitted based upon date of special program application reflected to the program waitlist number. Call (530) 741-6742 to request additional information regarding the program. Application is on the Yuba Community College, Psychiatric Technician web page.

Students who complete this program should be able to:

1. Demonstrate basic assessment (data collection), participate in planning, execute interventions in accordance with the care plan or treatment plan, and contributes to evaluation of individualized interventions related to the care plan or treatment plan.
2. Demonstrate therapeutic communication skills to patient/client care and education.
3. Pass the California state board exam for licensure as a psychiatric technician after completing all required theory and clinical hours.

**Required courses**

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **First Semester** | |  |
| HLTH-10 | Principles of Nutrition | 3 |
| PSYCT-50 | Anatomy and Physiology | 3 |
| PSYCT-51 | Human Development | 2 |
| PSYCT-52 | Nursing Science A | 2 |
| PSYCT-55 | Pharmacology A | 2 |
| **Second Semester** | |  |
| PSYCT-53 | Developmental Disabilities A | 4 |
| PSYCT-54 | Nursing Science B | 5 |
| **Summer** | |  |
| PSYCT-56 | Nursing Science C | 5 |
| **Third Semester** | |  |
| PSYCT-57 | Psychiatric Disorders A | 7 |
| PSYCT-58 | Group Process | 2 |
| PSYCT-59 | Crisis Management | 2 |
| PSYCT-60 | Pharmacology B | 2 |
| **Fourth Semester** | |  |
| PSYCT-61 | Substance Abuse | 1 |
| PSYCT-62 | Psychiatric Disorders B | 4 |
| PSYCT-63 | Developmental Disabilities B | 5 |
| **Total units required for certificate** | | **49** |