EUGENE, Ore. — Lane Community College is participating in a new statewide pilot program to address Oregon’s critical shortage of behavioral health care providers. The initiative enables graduates of Lane’s Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Human Services to become QMHA-Registered professionals upon graduation.
Launched by the Oregon Health Authority and the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO), the Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) Pilot Program runs through spring 2029.
Traditionally, QMHA-R registration has required a bachelor’s degree or a combination of three years of education, training or experience in the field. The pilot program recognizes the rigorous coursework and supervised practicum provided through Lane’s AAS degree, allowing graduates to enter the mental health workforce more quickly and effectively.
“This pilot is about breaking down barriers,” said Susan Shipp, Human Services Program Coordinator/Faculty and Erin McGladrey, Co-Operative Education Coordinator. “By recognizing the strength of community college programs, we’re giving our graduates a direct path to employment and helping meet urgent community needs.”
Becoming QMHA-Registered upon graduation opens doors for Lane students to start their careers immediately in a field where their skills are urgently needed. It validates their education and hands-on experience, enabling them to provide essential behavioral health services in clinical, community, and residential settings. This recognition not only accelerates entry into the workforce but also empowers students to make a real impact on individuals and families across Oregon, particularly in areas facing severe provider shortages.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, the pilot has three major goals:
- Expand access to the behavioral health workforce by offering alternatives to the bachelor’s degree.
- Increase the number of QMHA-R certified professionals, especially in rural and underserved areas.
- Collect data to evaluate and support the development of a permanent certification pathway.
Lane’s Human Services program includes core instruction in psychology, counseling, ethics, crisis intervention and social work, along with 648 hours of supervised field experience in behavioral health settings. The program prepares students to provide direct services, advocate for clients, and support individuals with mental health needs.
Students who enroll now and complete the program by spring 2029 are eligible to take advantage of this opportunity.
For more information about the Human Services program at Lane, visit lanecc.edu/humanservices.
Lane Community College educates over 15,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $675 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 8,900 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.