School of Nursing (SON) Information
The role of the Psychiatric Mental Health Practitioner (PMHNP) is unique and on the cutting edge of mental health care. Credentialed to practice in a collaborative relationship with the psychiatrist and other mental health team members to treat patients across the life span, PMHNPs synthesize and apply theoretical and scientific contemporary clinical knowledge to medical, pharmacological and psychotherapeutic intervention in acute, crisis and chronic persistent situations, as well as to disease prevention and health maintenance planning. Full utilization of PMHNPs has the potential of extending mental health services in a cost-effective manner, and nurse practitioners with this credential are highly valued and frequently sought out.
Graduates of the post-graduate certificate program are qualified to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification examination.
The certificate may be earned in conjunction with a degree program or as a stand-alone credential. (Students pursuing a stand-alone credential are not eligible for federal financial aid and may not participate in Commencement.) After the student applies for graduation, the certificate is posted to the student’s official transcript and an official diploma stating the area of the certificate is issued.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Post-Graduate Certificate program is available to certified licensed nurse practitioners seeking licensure as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners.
The following are required:
- Master of Science in Nursing from a regionally accredited institution with an overall GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale
- Current unencumbered license as a nurse practitioner (in a specialty other than the discipline to be studied)
- Current unencumbered RN license in the United States
Transfer of Credit
Transfer/waiver of credit is not permitted for the Post-Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate program.
