CCCS Internal Behavioral Health Pathways
Join this rapidly growing career field
The CCCS Behavioral Health program includes experiential learning, starting at the microcredential/certificate level and throughout the entirety of the pathways, ensuring students are gaining a unique education in which they obtain work experience, skill development, and social capital throughout their program. The Behavioral Health pathway serves student and employer needs, aligns with state and industry regulations and requirements, and includes five microcredentials, two associate degrees, and two bachelor’s degrees.
1 in 5
Coloradans lives with a mental health issue or substance use
30%
by 2030, demand for behavioral health counselors will grow 30%
Intro to a Career in Behavioral Health
CCCS provides multiple options to enter or expand a career in behavioral health, including microcredentials, two associate degrees, and two bachelor’s degrees. Through these Behavioral Health pathways, it is possible to begin work in a variety of roles and identify the best fit for you before investing time and money in pursuit of an advanced degree, certification, or licensure.
Behavioral health microcredentials are designed with input from behavioral health professionals and can be completed in a year or less. Once a learner completes training, a digital badge is issued, validating acquired skills and competencies. A microcredential in Behavioral Health provides the foundational skills needed to begin working and college credits that stack into Behavioral Health degree programs at CCCS colleges.
Microcredential Programs
The Behavioral Health Plus microcredential is completed within two courses and provides foundational behavioral health knowledge for diverse public-facing roles.
Program Details
The QBHA microcredential includes the two Behavioral Health Plus courses plus two additional courses. Completers are to serve on Medicaid-reimbursed care teams. Program Details
The Behavioral Health Assistant II microcredential includes the four QBHA courses plus two additional courses. Hands-on practice and cultural awareness instruction are included. Program Details
Addiction recovery training preparing students for entry-level support roles.
Program Details
Training to help patients navigate behavioral healthcare services and resources.
Program Details
The Associate of Applied Science degrees blend academic coursework with applied training to prepare graduates for positions in the field of behavioral health, and also provide a solid foundation for further education in behavioral health and related fields. Program Details
Degrees
The Behavioral Health Bachelor of Applied Science degrees build upon the Associate of Applied Science degrees and advances students’ knowledge and applied skills necessary in careers supporting individuals and communities facing behavioral health challenges. This program blends upper-division academic coursework with experiential clinical hours through practicums and internships to prepare graduates for positions in the field of behavioral health. Program Details
Degrees
Rural Mental Health Development Project
The Rural Mental Health Development Project strengthens Colorado’s rural behavioral health workforce by connecting on-campus support services, supervised work studies, and career-aligned training to build a sustainable pipeline of qualified behavioral health professionals.
Behavioral Health Programs At-A-Glance
Download a quick guide to behavioral health programs across the Colorado Community College System.
Aligning Partnerships and Data to Strengthen Colorado’s Behavioral Health Pathways
For the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and its colleges, alignment isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the key strategy behind
Employers Partner with CCCS to Shape the Future of Behavioral Health Education in Colorado
The behavioral health crisis facing Colorado and the nation is well documented. Individuals seeking care are often deterred by the
The Behavioral Health Momentum Summit: Boosting Connections, Sparking Ideas, and Confirming Commitment
Hosted by the Colorado Community College System (CCCS), this wasn’t just another meeting. It was an opportunity to take stock of how far the System, the colleges, their partner organizations—and…
Partner With Us
Interested in partnering with CCCS as an instructor or through a company training program? Share your interest and more information through our Employer Collaboration Form.
Colorado Invests in Behavioral Health Microcredentials
Senate Bill 22-181 allocated $15 million to CCCS to design a new stackable behavioral health training program that links the state’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs with certificate and degree programs offered at CCCS’s 13 community colleges.