Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician (MHRT I)
Learn more about the MHRT I certification process by selecting the tabs below.
Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician (MHRT I) provide daily living supports to persons with severe and persistent mental illness in residential settings. The MHRT I has two levels of certification: provisional and full. In order to qualify to apply for MHRT I certification you must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or a GED. You must have a provisional certification before you deliver MHRT I services.
ATTENTION AGENCY CONTACTS: We now have a booklet to assist you with the MHRT I certification process. Download: Simple Steps to MHRT I Certification. (UPDATED June 9, 2026)
When you become employed by a mental health agency as a Mental Health Support Specialist, your supervisor will ask you to complete the Provisional Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician I (Provo-MHRT I) Handbook (pdf). The Handbook is a brief version of the MHSS training required for full certification. Reading this handbook will help you learn about the role of the MHRT I.
Once you have read the handbook, your supervisor will submit a request to the Center for Learning for your provisional MHRT I certification. When the Center for Learning receives this request from your supervisor, they process, co-sign, and mail your provisional MHRT I certificate back to your agency.
Once you have earned your MHRT I provisional certification, you will have one year to work toward full MHRT I certification.
Within one year of receiving your provisional MHRT I certification, you will complete the two trainings required for full certification. Agency providers offer some of these trainings, or they may help guide you to other training offerings in your community.
The two trainings required for full MHRT I certification are:
Clicking on a requirement above will take you to a resource page for where to take that training.
* MHSS Substitutions:
You are not required to take the MHSS training if you have one of the following:
- Current Full Mental Health Rehabilitation/Community (MHRT/C) Certification (one year Pathway B or two-year Full) with a future expiration date
- Master’s Degree in Social Work; Master’s Degree in Counseling, Community Mental Health or other Master’s level education that reflects a counseling concentration;
- License as one of the following Master’s Level Clinicians: LMSW; LMSW-CC; LCSW, LCPC-CC; LCPC; APRN, CCS (Certified Clinical Supervisor);
- Psy. D/Ph.D. Psychologist; or MD/DO Psychiatrist
You must successfully complete both trainings and earn full MHRT I certification within one year of receiving your provisional MHRT I. No MHRT I requirements can be waived, except for the MHSS course (see above).
To receive full MHRT I certification, all of the following must be received:
An application cover letter with the applicant’s current return address, email address, and a phone number at which the applicant can be reached during normal business hours;
Legible photocopies of current certificates (or official transcripts if using a degree) for completion of:
1) Mental Health Support Specialist training; OR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
- Full (and current) Mental Health Rehabilitation/Community (MHRT/C) Certification;
- Master’s Degree in Social Work;
- Master’s Degree in Counseling, Community Mental Health or other Master’s level education that reflects a counseling concentration;
- One of the following Master’s Level Clinician Licenses: LMSW; LMSW-CC; LCPC-CC; LCPC; APRN,CCS (Certified Clinical Supervisor); Psy. D/Ph.D. Psychologist; or MD/DO Psychiatrist
2) Accepted Behavioral Intervention Training, dated within one year of the date of application.
If using a degree, do not email us your official transcript as email is not secure. Instead order an electronic transcript, which your school will send to us by secure link OR submit by regular mail (slow).
Submit the above information to the address or email below:
Trainings posted here are not required for the MHRT I certification, but may be of use to MHRT I staff.
Last updated June 10, 2025
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training
Skill Development for Work in Residential Settings
Introduction to Substance Use Disorders in the Direct Service Worker Trainings
Maine’s Mental Health System 101
Certified Residential Medication Aide (stand-alone credential required only for staff who are passing medications)