Psychiatric Technician

The Psychiatric Technician Program is an intense forty-six week educational program. Approved by the State of California's Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT), this educational program prepares graduates for eligibility to take the State of California examination for licensure. As a Licensed Psychiatric Technician, the graduate is qualified to practice in a variety of health care settings providing patient care within the parameters of the Psychiatric Technician scope of practice. A San Joaquin Delta College certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the program.

St. Joseph's Behavioral Health Center, San Joaquin General Hospital, and San Joaquin County Mental Health Services are among the local health care facilities providing clinical learning sites as well as assistance with instruction and clinical training.

Admission Information

Additional information concerning requirements and applications for the Psychiatric Technician Program may be obtained from the Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences Division, Shima 114 or the Nursing Department, Locke 213.

Admission requires: 1) successful completion of prerequisite courses prior to submitting a Prerequisite Verification to the program; 2) completion of health and safety requirements including medical exam, immunizations, malpractice insurance and professional level CPR; and, 3) background clearance for criminal history.

Currently fifteen students are admitted each Spring semester. Admission is not guaranteed.

Prerequisite Course Information

Psychiatric Technician Program prerequisites include:

  • HS 036 (Medical Terminology); and,
  • HS/FCS 019 (Human Development); and,
  • PSYCH 001 (Introduction to Psychology); and,
  • BIOL 031 (Human Anatomy); or,
  • BIOL 033 (Anatomy and Physiology)**.

Effective September 1, 2006, Biology 011 is no longer accepted as a program prerequisite.

**This course requires completion of Chemistry 003A or one year of high school chemistry with a grade of "C" or better.

Prerequisite Verification Procedure

  1. Candidates must be admitted to San Joaquin Delta College or submit a College Application for Admission online at www.deltacollege.edu prior to submitting the Prerequisite Verification to the Psychiatric Technician program.
  2. Candidates must be at least 18 years of age. Proof of age must be provided by either a driver's license or birth certificate. This documentation must be submitted with the Prerequisite Verification.
  3. Candidates must be a high school graduate OR possess any one of the following:
    • Official General Education Development (GED) certification (in official, sealed envelope); or,
    • Official California High School Proficiency (CHSP) certificate (in official, sealed envelope); or,
    • Associate of Arts or Science Degree or higher. Official transcripts or certificates for any of the above must be submitted with the application. Official transcripts must be presented in official and sealed envelopes. *Foreign transcripts are not accepted for college course work.
  4. All candidates must satisfy the College assessment placement test requirements.
  5. All candidates must complete all prerequisite courses (or equivalent) with a grade of "C" or higher AND demonstrate a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 for program prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to submitting a Prerequisite Verification to the program.
  6. Prerequisite courses completed at U.S. regionally accredited colleges or universities other than San Joaquin Delta College must be comparable in theory and laboratory content, and hours of instruction to San Joaquin Delta College courses. Official transcripts for prerequisite courses taken at colleges other than San Joaquin Delta College must be submitted with the Prerequisite Verification along with course descriptions and outlines for these courses. Course comparability will be determined by the College evaluators. A grade of "C" AND a minimal cumulative grade point average of 2.5 is required for these courses.
  7. Prerequisite Verifications are accepted once a year during the period of September 1 to October 15. Students are accepted once a year with the program beginning in January and ending in December. Students admitted to the program are required to attend classes during the spring, summer, and fall terms.

    *B.S./B.A. degrees from foreign universities may meet high school requirements. Contact the Nursing Department office at (209) 954-5454 for more information.

Selection Procedure

Currently, fifteen (15) students are admitted by random selection from the pool of qualified candidates.

Criminal History Background Clearance

All students tentatively admitted to the psychiatric technician program must obtain background clearance for criminal history prior to final acceptance into the program. Candidates who cannot obtain clearance will not be placed in the clinical training sites and are therefore unable to meet program objectives. Information regarding the process and screening criteria is available in program information documents available in the nursing department and division offices and online at nursing.deltacollege.edu. Disclosure forms and detailed information including applicable fees are made available to applicants upon tentative acceptance into the program. Potential candidates are encouraged to review the screening criteria and review their personal background prior to submitting a Prerequisite Verification to the program.

For Additional Information

Information regarding program requirements, Prerequisite Verifications, and selection procedures is included in the program brochure available in the Family, Consumer, and Health Sciences Division Office, Shima 114 or the Nursing Department, Locke 213. Prerequisite Verifications are also available online at nursing.deltacollege.edu.

Recognition is given for prior education and training. Certified Nurse Assistants may be eligible to enter the program as an upgrade student. CNA-PT Prerequisite Verifications are available from the Nursing Department, Locke 213.

Students requesting transfer to the PT program from other psychiatric technician programs are directed to contact the director at (209) 954-5454. Transfer requests must be in writing. Official transcripts of course work completed in other programs in addition to detailed course syllabi, course outlines and objectives must be submitted for determination of acceptance and placement into the program.

Nursing Department Office

San Joaquin Delta College

Locke Center, Room 213

5151 Pacific Avenue

Stockton, CA 95207

Fax: (209) 954-5798

Telephone: (209) 954-5454

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