2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
Health Care
Article 42 - Psychiatric Technicians
§ 12-42-111. Accredited psychiatric technician educational program

(1) (a) Any institution within the state of Colorado desiring to conduct an accredited preservice psychiatric technician educational program may apply to the board and submit evidence that it is prepared to carry out a psychiatric technician curriculum that contains theoretical content and clinical practice to prepare the psychiatric technician student to care for clients with developmental disabilities or mental illness in institutional and community settings.

(b) Content in a psychiatric technician educational program shall include but shall not be limited to:

(I) Fundamental nursing principles and skills;

(II) Growth and developmental and other physical and behavioral skills;

(III) Mental retardation theory and rehabilitation nursing principles and skills if the technician is to be licensed to care for clients with developmental disabilities; and

(IV) Psychopathology and psychiatric nursing principles and skills if the technician is to be licensed to care for clients with mental illness.

(2) A survey of the institution and its entire psychiatric technician educational program shall be made by the executive secretary or other authorized board employee. Such survey may be conducted in conjunction with an authorized consultant appointed by the board. The persons making such survey shall submit a written report of the survey to the board. One or more board members may participate in any such survey.

(3) If the requirements of this article for an accredited psychiatric technician educational program are met, the institution shall be accredited as a psychiatric technician educational program for psychiatric technicians for work with patients with mental illness or developmental disabilities, for so long as such institution meets the requirements of this article.

(4) The board shall examine, from time to time, the accredited psychiatric technician educational programs of all institutions in the state having such programs. Such examinations shall be made by the executive secretary or other authorized representative of the board, and the results thereof shall be submitted to the board in the form of written reports. If the board determines that an institution having an accredited psychiatric technician educational program is not maintaining the standards required by this article, notice thereof in writing specifying the defect shall be served on such institution by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. If the institution receiving such notice fails within one year after mailing of such notice to correct the conditions complained of therein, its authority to conduct an accredited psychiatric technician educational program shall be revoked by the board. An institution shall have the right, at any time before the expiration of one year from the date it receives such notice, to demand and be granted a hearing before the board. In case of such demand, no action shall be taken by the board until after the hearing.