Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials
This comprehensive mental health training program is designed for aspiring mental health professionals and direct care providers who want to build a solid foundation in the field. The program covers essential topics and offers practical experience, enabling participants to deliver quality care confidently within a mental health and direct care provider setting.
Benefits:
- Led by experienced professionals
- Practical, real-world applications
- Flexible online learning
- Ensures that participants meet the necessary eligibility criteria and acquire the qualifications required to work effectively in the mental health industry as outlined in the Minnesota 245I statute.
- Successful program completers receive a Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials badge.
The Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials program is designed to offer employers a high quality, verifiable training source for new hires that meets the Minnesota Statue 245I.05, subd.3 initial 30-hour training requirements for non-licensed mental health workers thereby reducing costs and streamlining new hire onboarding. Review Minnesota Statute Requirements here.
About the course
This program fulfills the Minnesota State Statue 245I.05, subd.3 requirements for non-licensed mental health worker 30-hour new hire training spanning five topic areas:
- Mental illness
- Client/patient recovery and resiliency
- Mental health and de-escalation techniques
- Co-occurring disorders
- Psychotropic medications and medication side effects
The program covers essential topics and offers practical experience, enabling participants to deliver quality care confidently within a mental health and direct care provider setting.
Course Format
Training for Individuals
This 6-week hybrid training program includes 30 hours of training.
- Students will participate in both
- Asynchronous, self-paced and instructor facilitated online learning, and
- Weekly, 1-hour, synchronous online instructor led classroom learning.
- Each module includes 1-2 learning assessment activities and module exam.
- Students take a final exam online in week six (6).
Students successfully completing the course and all assessments at a rate of 80% or above will earn a Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials badge.
Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials badge holders who enroll in the Minneapolis College Human Services Diploma or A.S. Degree programs will earn six (6) college credits, equivalent to two (2) courses. This will accelerate their degree completion and reduce the time needed to graduate.
Customized Training Options for Employers
Also available in in-person classroom or hybrid delivery formats, the Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials training will ensure that non-licensed mental health workers in your organization have the knowledge base and skills needed to ensure quality client care.
Contact us at customized.training@minneapolis.edu or 612-659-6500 to learn about options to bring customized training to your group or organization.
Meet Your Instructor
Dung Mao
Dr. Dung Mao, who holds a Ph.D. in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota, serves as a faculty member at Minneapolis College. He develops and teaches courses designed to engage and inspire learners. With a background in education, research, and instructional design, he thoughtfully contributes to the academic community. His scholarly work, including publications on online learning and trauma-informed teaching, enhances his approach to classroom instruction. Additionally, as the Founder and CEO of Storyloon LLC, Dr. Mao empowers educators to create engaging online courses by utilizing innovative instructional design principles, learning research, and storytelling.
Prerequisites
This program is an excellent choice for non-licensed mental health workers and direct care providers. It caters to those working in mental health roles that require less than an associate's degree, as well as individuals in related fields who offer direct care or services to clients and other individuals.
Participants must have completed high school or have a G.E.D.
Program completers must be able to pass a criminal background study to gain employment in the field.
Cost
The cost of this training is $850 per participant. This includes class materials.
Payment Options
- Personal pay cash, check or credit card.
- The cost of the course may be covered by dislocated worker or WIOA funds. Please contact your local CareerForce Center to determine eligibility.
- Some employers may cover the cost for their employee’s training. Please contact us at 612-659-6500 or continuing.education@minneapolis.edu to learn more about third party payment options.
Job Outlook
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that approximate 52% of all mental health and counseling talent will need to be replaced by 2027.
- The median annual wage for mental health and counseling talent in Minnesota is $53,936.
FAQs
How do I sign up for training?
Four ways to register:
- Online: Visit our website for registration details.
- By Phone: Call 612-659-6500
- In-Person: Visit the Continuing Education office T4900 during business hours.
- If your company is covering the cost of your test, download the Third Party Contact Form and return your completed form to continuing.education@minneapolis.edu.
Who should take the Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials training?
This program is an excellent choice for individuals desiring work as a non-licensed mental health worker or direct care provider. It caters to those working in mental health roles that require less than an associate's degree, as well as individuals in related fields who offer direct care or services to clients and other individuals.
Is there a certification for this course?
Taking and passing this course does not result in certification. Upon successful completion, students earn a Mental Health Workers: 245 Essentials badge, which is different from a certification.
This badge can be shared on social media platforms, placed on your resume, and shown to prospective employers to verify your completion and competency in Minnesota Statute 245I 30-hour new hire training requirements and subsequently your eligibility for work.
Mental Health Worker: 245 Essentials badge holders who enroll in the Minneapolis College Human Services Diploma or A.S. Degree programs will earn six (6) college credits, equivalent to two (2) courses. This will accelerate their degree completion and reduce the time needed to graduate.
If someone already works as a non-licensed mental health worker or direct care provider, do they have to take this class?
Not necessarily, however mental health workers changing jobs may be asked by their new employer to complete the training.
This course is also a good option for annual continuing training required of all mental health workers in the field.
How long is the course good for? Will I need to repeat it?
There is no expiration date on the Mental Health Workers: 245 Essentials badge. Once a person has taken the course, they do not need to retake the course – unless, of course, their employers ask them to.
The mental health provider organization that employs the non-licensed mental health worker is responsible for documenting the completion of 30-hour initial new hire training. Minnesota law governs the qualifications and training required to work as a mental health worker in a mental health provider organization.