Professional Career Opportunities - Job Title Details

Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1, G-13

Occupation Group

Health and Human Services

Salary Information

Starting Salary

$46,529

Career Ladder Information

Salary Information for Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1
Title Grade Hiring Rate/yr Job Rate/yr
Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 1 13 $49,363 $63,169
Mental Health Program Specialist Trainee 2 14 $52,198 $66,634
Mental Health Program Specialist 1 18 $65,001 $82,656
Mental Health Program Specialist 2 23 $84,156 $106,454
Mental Health Program Specialist 3 25 $93,530 $117,875

All salary grades for trainees titles are non-statutory (NS) equated to the salary grade identified. These grade equations apply to the starting salaries in their respective salary schedule for the traineeship levels.

Job Description

Mental Health Program Specialists perform professional, administrative, and technical duties to promote the development, implementation, and evaluation of a mental health service delivery system and its component services. Employees may work for State operations, or local operations, or within a functional and/or geographic areas of responsibility. These positions are located in the Office of Mental Health.

Trainees will receive a combination of structured training, on-the-job training, and/or practical job performance to gain the knowledge and experience necessary to function at the full performance level.

Agencies with this Title

Minimum Qualifications

You must meet the requirements below to qualify for this title.

A bachelor's or higher degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education.

Advanced Placement

If chosen, you may, at the agency's discretion, be appointed to a higher level. You must inform the agency of any additional qualifications at your interview.

View Additional Qualifications

For Trainee 2 you must also have:

Either 1. One year of professional clinical* or administrative** experience in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program as described below.

2. A master's or higher degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education.

For the Full Performance Level you must also have:

Either 1. Two years of professional clinical* or administrative** experience in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program as described below.

2. A master's or higher degree in child and family studies, counseling and community psychology, creative arts therapy, criminal justice, health administration, hospital administration, marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, nursing, psychoanalysis, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, social work, sociology, or special education AND One year of professional clinical* or administrative** experience in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program as described below.

*Professional clinical experience is defined as the direct care, treatment, or instruction of patients in a federal or state operated, licensed, certified, or funded mental health program in the disciplines of psychology, counseling and community psychology, social work, nursing, recreation therapy, rehabilitation counseling, mental health counseling, psychoanalysis, marriage and family therapy, or creative arts therapy.

**Professional administrative experience is defined as mental health program experience in the areas of budgeting, fiscal, business administration, and/or administrative planning; OR quality management; program evaluation; or experience in federal, state, or local government focusing on the planning, development, oversight, coordination, and operation of mental health programs .

How to Apply

The November 2022 PCO Examination is closed, applications are no longer being accepted