The world of behavioral health careers in primary care has a number of different career paths, each requiring varying levels of training. Learn more about these career options by reviewing our career ladder for behavioral and mental health professionals in primary care.
Integrated Care Career Ladder
Healthcare C-Suite
You can grow your career by serving on your organization’s C-Suite and/or Executive team. Developing skills in building a strong organizational culture via employee engagement is paramount as well as having knowledge and skills related to quality improvement, operations, financials, and more.
Director of Behavioral Health Integration
You can grow your career by directing a PCBH and/or CoCM program, whose directors are often a part of senior leadership within their organizations.
Consultants
You can grow your career by providing consulting services to help other entities develop integrated care programs (such as by joining CFHA’s consultant pool).
Clinician
You can grow your career by providing services in the PCBH or CoCM models. Within these roles there are also opportunities for leadership in particular areas such as pediatrics. If you are a medical provider, you can grow your career by providing consulting psychiatry services to one or more clinics.
Care Manager
You can grow your career by providing brief intervention and registry-based oversight of a population of patients. This level of service my or may not require a degree.
Care Team Member
The term “care team member” refers to a number of different positions including Peer Support Specialists, Care Coordinator, Case Manager, Promotoras, or Health Coach. You can grow your career by obtaining a certificate in a given area and then providing supportive services to patients with different life experiences and health concerns. This level of service does not require a degree, but often involved a certificate and on-the-job training.
