Psychiatric Technician Program Ranked #1 in California for Passing Licensing Examination

San Bernardino—The Psychiatric Technician Program at San Bernardino Valley College was recently recognized by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians as the top-ranked school in percentage of students passing their licensing exams after completing their college coursework.

Sixteen San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) students who graduated in December 2011 from the SBVC Psychiatric Technician Program recently sat for the California Psychiatric Technician Licensing Examination and all 16 passed. According to the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians, the 100% pass rate represents the highest success rate of any school in California for the first reporting period of 2012. SBVC graduates also achieved a 100% pass rate during the third quarter of 2011, followed by a 93% passage rate in the fourth quarter of 2011.

The SBVC Psychiatric Technology (Psych Tech) program is a one-year certificate program that prepares students to monitor, provide care, and participate in the treatment of mentally and developmentally disabled clients. Graduates from psychiatric technician programs who pass the state exam are highly sought after by mental health facilities, the Department of Corrections, and other state agencies. Annual salaries (not including benefits) for entry-level psychiatric technicians usually start around $60,000 according to SBVC Psychiatric Technician Program Coordinator Dennis Jackson.

The year-long program requires 46 units (not counting prerequisites) and approximately 30 hours of classes (not including study sessions, homework, and travel to/from clinical assignments at local facilities).

“We tell students when they come in that they are ‘ours’ and that they’ll see their friends and family in a year,” said Jackson. “Students have to be committed and we’ve found that once they pass the prerequisites, they very rarely quit before completing the program.”

Upon receiving news about the 100% completion from the state licensure exam board, Jackson quickly spread the good news amongst the program’s current students, staff and faculty.

“I was thrilled and wanted everybody to know that we are all a part of this success. Everybody has been knuckling down to make it happen,” Jackson shared. “The faculty members are extremely proud because it is like a parent seeing their kids succeed and a confirmation that you are doing the right thing in your teaching since the whole point of the program is to get them prepared to pass the exam and into a job.”

For more information about enrolling in the SBVC Psychiatric Technician Program, contact Dennis Jackson at (909) 384-8934 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Read more about the SBVC Psychiatric Technician Program at www.valleycollege.edu/psychtech.