A behavioral health assistant supports individuals receiving mental health and substance use services, working alongside social and human service providers on community integration, case management, skills development, peer support, and family psycho-education. InterCoast Colleges offers this Behavioral Health Assistant certificate online, accredited by ACCET and approved to operate by BPPE.
The curriculum covers the core knowledge and practical skills employers look for in entry-level candidates.
A behavioral health assistant is a paraprofessional who supports individuals receiving mental health and substance use services, working under the direction of clinicians and social and human service providers. Day to day, the role can involve community integration support, case management tasks, skills development, peer support, and family psycho-education. Behavioral health assistants typically work in settings such as community clinics, residential programs, and outpatient behavioral health services, supporting people of many ages and backgrounds as part of a treatment team.
The Behavioral Health Assistant certificate sits within InterCoast's broader behavioral health and addiction studies program family. Students exploring related paths can compare the Alcohol and Drug Counseling Studies certificate, the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Substance Use Disorder Counseling, and the Bachelor of Applied Science in Addiction Studies. The Bachelor of Applied Science in Addiction Studies is not approved for Title IV federal financial aid but is approved for Veterans education benefits.
In California, behavioral health assistants and related paraprofessional roles are part of the behavioral health workforce that supports licensed clinicians across public and community-based settings. State and county behavioral health systems rely on support staff to help extend services to the people they serve, and training programs prepare students to enter these support roles. This program does not lead to clinical licensure, which requires graduate-level education and supervised experience.
A certificate from this program does not constitute clinical licensure.
This certificate prepares students to provide support services under the direction of licensed clinicians and social and human service providers. Coursework covers therapeutic communication, crisis identification, documentation, care coordination, and trauma-informed approaches, framed as preparation for entry-level support roles rather than clinical practice. The program does not lead to clinical licensure such as LCSW, LPCC, or MFT, which require graduate-level education and supervised hours. InterCoast Colleges is accredited by ACCET and approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. InterCoast does not guarantee employment, licensure, or any specific outcome.
Graduates of this program may pursue entry-level positions with titles such as:
These roles are found in settings such as community clinics, residential programs, and outpatient behavioral health services, where behavioral health assistants support licensed clinicians and treatment teams.
No specific employment outcome is guaranteed. Labor market conditions vary.
A high school diploma or GED is required for enrollment. Students who do not hold a diploma or GED may qualify under the Ability-to-Benefit (ATB) alternative — speak with an admissions advisor to determine eligibility.
This program is eligible for Title IV federal financial aid. Financial aid is available to those who qualify — not all students will qualify for all types of aid. Contact the financial aid office for a complete picture of your options.
Behavioral Health Assistant — Online/IDL Performance Fact Sheet (PDF)
Yes. The Behavioral Health Assistant program is offered entirely online, making it accessible to students throughout the country.
No. This is a certificate program for entry-level support roles. Clinical licenses (LCSW, MFT, LPCC) require graduate education and are not offered at this level.
Yes. This program is Title IV eligible. Eligible students may qualify for federal financial aid.
The Behavioral Health Assistant program is 42 weeks and includes 720 clock hours of online instruction.
A behavioral health assistant supports individuals receiving mental health and substance use services, working under the direction of clinicians. The role can involve community integration support, case management tasks, skills development, peer support, and family psycho-education.
Behavioral health assistants typically work in community clinics, residential programs, and outpatient behavioral health settings, supporting licensed clinicians and treatment teams.