Certificate Behavioral Health Aide (BHA)
Utqiagvik, USA
Advanced Certificate
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
About: The Behavioral Health Aide (BHA) certificate at Iḷisaġvik College, developed with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC), trains frontline providers to deliver behavioral health services that reflect Iñupiat culture and clinical practice in rural Alaska. It aligns with Community Health Aide Program Certification Board (CHAPCB) BHA curriculum requirements and Alaska occupational certifications. The certificate leads toward an Associate of Applied Science and pathways to bachelor's or master's degrees in social work or psychology.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work as Behavioral Health Aides, care coordinators, case managers, peer support workers, or behavioral health technicians, pursue social work or psychology.
Improve the overall mental health of your community!
The Behavioral Health Aide (BHA) program is the result of a collaboration between Iḷisaġvik College and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC).
A Behavioral Health Aide provides a wide range of frontline behavioral health services to rural communities in Alaska, in communities where they are often the top level of providers available.
This certificate program is the first step towards an Associate of Applied Science degree. Students graduating with the certificate are on a pathway to higher-level careers, such as a bachelor's and/or master’s degree in social work or psychology.
The Behavioral Health Aide program at ANTHC was formalized in 2008 and is the youngest of three Health Aide programs that serve on the frontline of healthcare in the Alaska Tribal Health System (the other two programs are Alaska Dental Therapy Education Program and Community Health Aide Program). Currently, there is a significant need for individuals in rural communities who are trained and prepared to provide and coordinate behavioral health services in a culturally and clinically-informed manner and certified through the Community Health Aide Program Certification Board. The BHA program has an established curriculum designed to do such. This Certificate plan has been designed to meet the CHAPCB BHA curriculum requirements and it is aligned with other Alaska-based occupational certifications.
