Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
$65KHigh match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Master's Degree in Counseling or related field
- — State licensure as an LMHC
Live · Guide v1.091470 · Career GuideValidated · Lightcast Labor DataUpdated · Q2 20262026 Cohort Active
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USAF · 91470Career Guide · Medical · VWC.CG.91470.R.04
91470 · USAF · EnlistedMental Health Service
Mental Health Service
Technician.
Air Force 91470 (Mental Health Service Technician). 720 hours of formal training translate to 5 validated civilian career pathways with salary bands of $55K–$75K. Sourced from DoD training data and Lightcast labor signals.
Training hours720DoD pipeline
ACE creditACEUp to 9 semester hours recommended in Behavioral Sciences
Tech roles4mapped to your code
Civilian pathways5validated
Cert coverage2/6direct + partial
/ 01 · Tech Roles
Roles your code maps to.
Industry tech roles your 91470 background maps to — picked from BLS-anchored occupations using your training, cognitive skills, and systems experience.
Sort · Match descending
/ 02 · Skill Bridge
The gap, named.
What 91470 training already gave you, and the specific gaps to close — not a generic checklist.
Already have06
- 01AHLTA, CHCS, BHDP→ EHR systems, mental health data platforms
- 02Patient documentation and record keeping→ Data entry, data management, and documentation practices
- 03Mental Health Program Management→ Project coordination and resource allocation
- 04Interviewing patients→ Requirements gathering and user research
- 05Procedural compliance→ Adherence to testing protocols and documentation standards
- 06Rapid Prioritization→ Triage support requests and manage workload
To learn08
The concrete gap to bridge — specific to the roles above, not a generic checklist.
+SQL for data querying+Data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI)+IT support ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow, Jira)+Fundamentals of computer hardware and networking+HL7 and FHIR standards for healthcare data interoperability+HIPAA and other healthcare data privacy regulations+Test automation frameworks (e.g., Selenium, Cypress)+Programming fundamentals (Python or JavaScript)
How VWC fits
Vets Who Code is a free, full-time software engineering accelerator for veterans, active duty, and military spouses. We close the fundamentals — terminal, web platform, AI tooling, portfolio projects — so the rest of this list becomes specialization, not square one.
See VWC Programs →/ 03 · Civilian Pathways
Where your code lands.
Social Worker
$60KHigh match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)
- — State licensure (LCSW, LICSW, etc.)
Substance Abuse Counselor
$55KHigh match
Very high demand
Skills to develop
- — Certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor (e.g., CADC)
- — Knowledge of addiction treatment modalities
Human Resources Specialist
$62KGood match
Growing demand
Skills to develop
- — SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP certification
- — HR-related experience in a civilian setting
- — Knowledge of employment law
Healthcare Administrator
$75KModerate match
High demand
Skills to develop
- — Bachelor's or Master's degree in Healthcare Administration
- — Knowledge of healthcare regulations and compliance
- — Project management skills
/ 04 · Hidden Strengths
What the code built.
Cognitive skills your 91470 training built — and where they transfer in civilian work.
Situational Awareness
Constantly monitoring patient behavior, environmental cues, and interactions to anticipate potential crises or escalating situations within the mental health setting.
Transfers to
Quickly perceive and understand complex environments, including subtle changes and potential risks, to proactively address challenges.
Rapid Prioritization
Quickly assessing and prioritizing patient needs and requests in a fast-paced mental health environment, particularly in crisis situations where immediate action is required.
Transfers to
Efficiently identify the most critical tasks and allocate resources effectively, especially under pressure and in rapidly changing circumstances.
Procedural Compliance
Adhering to strict protocols and regulations related to patient confidentiality, treatment plans, and documentation to ensure quality care and legal compliance.
Transfers to
Meticulously follow established procedures, guidelines, and legal requirements to maintain accuracy, consistency, and accountability.
Resource Optimization
Managing mental health service resources, including supplies, equipment, and personnel, to maximize efficiency and ensure optimal patient care.
Transfers to
Effectively allocate and manage resources to achieve the best possible outcomes while minimizing waste and maximizing productivity.
/ 05 · Non-Obvious Matches
Roles the recruiter won't suggest.
Adjacent civilian roles your training maps to that conventional military-to-civilian advice tends to miss.
Victim Advocate
SOC 21-1099.00You've been trained to assess individuals experiencing crisis. You've already been performing needs assessments and helping people develop/execute care plans. You can use those same skills to help survivors of abuse as a Victim Advocate.
Adjacent · MatchHuman Resources Specialist
SOC 13-1071.00You've got experience managing patient records, coordinating with military and community agencies, and explaining complex information in an accessible way. You can use these skills to manage employee relations, resolve conflicts, and ensure compliance with HR policies.
Adjacent · MatchMediation Specialist
SOC 29-9099.00You've honed your skills in active listening, conflict resolution, and facilitating constructive dialogue in a mental health context. As a Mediation Specialist, you can leverage these skills to help parties find common ground and resolve disputes effectively.
Adjacent · Match/ 06 · Training & Certs
What you trained on.
Academy
Mental Health Service Apprentice Course
Sheppard Air Force Base, TX720hHours
18wkWeeks
ACECredit
Up to 9 semester hours recommended in Behavioral Sciences
Topics · 8
- Mental Health Principles and Practices
- Psychological Testing Administration and Scoring
- Clinical Interviewing Techniques
- Substance Abuse Counseling and Prevention
- Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention
- Patient Documentation and Record Keeping
- Group Therapy Facilitation
- Mental Health Program Management
Partial coverage · 2
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC)60%
Specific state regulations regarding substance abuse counseling, advanced counseling techniques, and supervised clinical experience hours.
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)40%
Formal medical assisting education covering phlebotomy, injections, and specific clinical procedures not fully covered in the military role.
Recommended next · 04
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)Adjacent
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)Adjacent
- Certified Mental Health Executive (CMHE)Adjacent
- Master of Public Health (MPH)Adjacent
/ 07 · Systems Translation
What you ran, in their words.
Military systems you operated and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application (AHLTA) | Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems like Epic or Cerner | Operations |
| Composite Health Care System (CHCS) | Hospital information systems for appointment scheduling and patient administration | Operations |
| Behavioral Health Data Portal (BHDP) | Mental health data analytics platforms | Operations |
| Air Force Drug Testing Program | Workplace drug screening programs | Operations |
| Traumatic Event Management System (TEMS) | Crisis management and incident reporting software | Operations |
| Aeromedical Evacuation (AE) procedures and equipment | Emergency medical transport protocols and equipment | Medical |
/ Translator · Live
Translate 91470 into a resume that ships.
Pair this guide with the VWC AI-powered translator: drop in your service record, get back ATS-optimized civilian resume language tuned to the tech roles above.