Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Graduate Certificate is designed to prepare nurses to provide a wide range of mental health services through a bio-psychosocial model of care in community, acute care and telemental-health settings. It includes the study and application of evidenced-based diagnostic and treatment modalities, theories and approaches to practice for patients with common and complex mental health conditions throughout the lifespan.
Post Masters Pmhnp Certificate Programs Online Accreditation
Accreditation is very important in the healthcare industry. Regionally accredited colleges and universities are considered to be credible, as they meet or exceed national education standards.
Third-party accrediting organizations determine whether schools are meeting quality education practices based on various standards. The US Department of Education offers information on regionally accredited schools as well as recognized accrediting agencies.
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Nursing programs can also seek programmatic accreditation. Two main accrediting agencies for nursing programs include the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing .
School accreditation is important for establishing credibility. Licensure and certification boards also require candidates to complete PMHNP training through an accredited institution.
Nursing & Organizational Leadership
WSUâs Nursing & Organizational Leadership and Practice & Leadership Innovations program emphasis curriculums meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and District of Columbia.
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Practice & Leadership Innovations
WSUâs Nursing & Organizational Leadership and Practice & Leadership Innovations program emphasis curriculums meet state educational requirements for APRN licensure or certification in the states/jurisdictions of: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and District of Columbia.
Expand Your Patient Care With Libertys Postgraduate Certificate In Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Due to the high volume of interest in the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, the Liberty University School of Nursing is only taking applications for the Fall 2022 semester at this time.
As a nursing professional, you know that a holistic approach is often needed for a persons healing. We strive to help nursing professionals get the specialized mental health training necessary to minister to all of their patients needs. Thats why Liberty University developed the 100% online Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
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Postgraduate Certificate In Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Potential Career Options
Successfully passing your Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification may open the door to increased opportunities and marketability. You can become qualified to work as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner in the following settings:
- Behavioral health clinics
- Inpatient or outpatient psychiatric facilities
- Mental health agencies
- Veteran psychiatric facilities
Take the next step towards your personal and professional goals with a Postgraduate Certificate in Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Liberty University.
Additional education or training may be required for some jobs or occupations. Conferral of a certificate does not guarantee job placement.
Licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your states requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, masters degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and the post-graduate APRN certificate program at Liberty University School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education .
Schedule And Application Deadline
- English proficiency for non-native speakers
Required Prerequisite Coursework
Prior coursework in the following areas is required by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to be eligible for the PMHNP certification exam.
Three separate, comprehensive graduate-level courses in:
- Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, including general principles that apply across the life span
- Advanced Health Assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts and approaches
- Advanced Pharmacology, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents
In addition, applicants must have completed content in:
- Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
- Differential Diagnosis/Disease Management
PLEASE NOTE: Students whose previous graduate programs did not include the courses specified above must complete them before applying to sit for PMHNP board certification.
The following external institutions offer non-matriculated courses: Purdue Global
To review information from one of our recent information sessions, you can access the Powerpoint presentation. In addition, you can watch a recording of the Nov. 9, 2021 information session.
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What Can You Do With A Post Masters Pmhnp Certificate
Most professionals who earn a post-masters PMHNP certificate go on to become psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.
Psych NPs can work in a variety of mental healthcare settings. They might work in behavioral health clinics, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, or private practice. Psychiatric nurse practitioners often conduct psychotherapy, assess and diagnose mental health disorders, and perform behavioral and mental health patient care.
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Some professionals who earn a PMHNP certificate pursue related roles, such as a registered nurse, mental health or substance abuse counselor, or correctional treatment specialist.
At Fnu You Can Add A Certification In One Of The Following Specialties:
- Nurse-Midwife
- Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
In Frontier Nursing Universitys Post-Graduate Certificate program, you will expand your scope of practice while building skills in leadership, clinical scholarship, evidence-based practice and clinical evaluation. The PGC is an excellent option if you wish to specialize in an area not obtained in your original graduate studies.
Affordable
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How Long Does It Take To Get A Post Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Online
Post graduate PMHNP certificate programs can vary in length depending on the college or university. Some schools offer PMHNP certificate programs that take as little as 1 year to complete.
The time it takes to complete a PMHNP certificate program largely depends on how many credit hours are included and whether you intend to be a part-time or full-time student. Some programs include as many as 40 credit hours, while others have less than 20. Overall, most post masters psychiatric NP certificate programs take 1 to 2 years to complete
Meet Pmhnp Graduates Althea Graham And Wendy Gibson
Althea Graham and Wendy Gibson live a combined 1,225 miles from the campus, but theyve come to love Washburn University as students in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
I really enjoy this program, said Graham, a family nurse practitioner in Maryland. The professors are excellent. As an online experience, Washburn has been great. I 110 percent recommend this school to anyone who wants to come here.
The completely online program is flexible and works with students to find clinical placements close and convenient to them. The post-graduate certificate prepares students to evaluate and treat people with psychiatric disorders.
Washburn has a really strong reputation here in Kansas, said Gibson, a healthcare professional in Salina. Something that was really important to me is that the instructors are currently working in their fields, so their knowledge is current.
Both students learned about Washburn from coworkers.
One of the nurses we hired in the emergency department where I worked was exceptional, Gibson said. I thought to myself, if I can be half the nurse that she is, then I want to go where she went.
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Whats The Difference Between Masters Degree Vs Post Masters Certificate In Pmhnp Programs Online
A Master of Science in Nursing and a post-masters PMHNP certificate program can have some overlapping subject matter, but they have some distinct differences.
Master of Science in Nursing | Post-Masters Certificate in PMHNP |
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If you didnt concentrate in the psychiatric-mental health field when earning your MSN, a PMHNP certificate program can help you prepare for NP certification in mental health.
Christine E Lynn College Of Nursing

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This concentration provides graduates with advanced knowledge and skills to assume the role of a PMHNP. Assessment, diagnosis and treatment of adults, children and families across the lifespan with psychiatric mental health needs are the foci of the concentration. This concentration is offered as a Post Graduate Certificate of BSN-DNP.
The PMHNP Post Graduate Certificate requires a total of 22 credit hours and a 3-credit core course in Advanced Caring Science. The program of study is offered online. The curriculum contains a total of 600 hours of required clinical practice. Attainment of competencies may require more than 600 hours. Clinical placements may occur in acute care settings, private practice offices, substance treatment centers, community-based health centers, and other settings providing mental health care.
Graduates of the program are eligible for the Psychiatric Mental health Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the American Holistic Nursing Credentialing Corporation Advanced Holistic Nursing examination.
The application deadline for the Post Graduate certificate option for the fall 2022 cohort is February 15, 2022 and the application deadline for the BSN to DNP program is February 1, 2022 for summer applications.
- Public Health Facilities
- Private Practice
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What Will You Learn In Our Postgraduate Certificate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program
Like other online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs, our certificate can provide you with advanced, doctoral-level coursework and training. You can learn about nursing-oriented mental health approaches to neurological conditions and mental disorders. Your courses will emphasize treatment and practical application of psychiatric theory.
Our program differs from others because we are committed to biblical principles. Our program can prepare you to be a nurse practitioner who practices Christian ethical standards when providing mental health services to patients across the lifespan.
Your training will culminate in a comprehensive exam that can ensure you are prepared to provide mental health support in the field of nursing. This exam can also determine if you are equipped to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification.
Please note: In support of students and in compliance with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education requirements, Liberty University School of Nursing DNP and APRN Certificate programs work with students to provide precepted practicum placements. During this time of COVID 19, many hospitals and clinics have closed their sites to nurse practitioner and DNP students. This may lead to sites being unavailable to students for a time. This inability to place students in practicum sites may delay enrollment in practicum courses and ultimately graduation.
Required Courses
Program Benefits Of The Online Postgraduate Certificate In Psychiatric Mental Health Np
As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.
Heres what sets us apart:
- We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility. Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank among Niche.coms top 5 online schools in America. Earning your online Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health NP from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- Tuition for all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs has not increased in 7 years.* While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university.
- This training culminates in a comprehensive exam that will equip students to sit for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification.
- You may apply many credits earned in this certificate toward a relevant doctoral degree.
- You can complete this Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health NP in 1 year.
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post
Why choose the UMass Amherst PMHNP Online Certificate?
There is a great need for more advanced practice PMHNPs in the United States to meet the needs of the community by offering treatment for mental health and substance disorders.
The UMass Amherst Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Online Certificate prepares nurses to obtain psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification. This accelerated online program is designed for nurses who have completed a Master’s degree and who wish to expand their scope of practice to include the care of individuals, families and groups with psychiatric and mental health needs. Preference is given to nurses with experience in psychiatric mental health nursing.
The program may be completed in as few as two years, with individualized plans of study which recognize each student’s clinical practice experience. Students benefit from the College of Nursing’s focus on integrated mental health care and from classes taught by the Elaine Marieb College of Nursing’s expert faculty. Students are expected to find their own clinical preceptors. Please review the graduate clinical placement page to read more about what types of preceptors you will need.
This certificate will prepare students to:
Objectives for PMHNP Post Masters Certificate
Provide the instructional foundation for students to obtain professional certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Build Your Clinical Expertise
In this online post-masters PMHNP certificate program, youll acquire the advanced-practice nursing skills and clinical judgment to make comprehensive mental health assessments on patients of all ages. Learn to provide holistic mental health services and lead mental health wellness efforts for individuals, groups, and families. Explore the use of research in creating, assessing, and refining health promotion materials that best resonate with the populations in your community.
This certificates content is consistent with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties standards for psychiatric-mental health nursing programs.
Walden field experience coordinators are available to assist you in meeting your practicum requirements and you can view this FAQ document for answers to some of the most common questions.
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Certification State Board And National Board Exams
Certain state certification and licensure boards have specific educational requirements for programs to lead to a license or nongovernmental certification that is a precondition for employment in a recognized occupation.
Unless otherwise specified, Purdue Global’s programs are not designed to meet any specific states licensure or certification requirements. If certain licensed occupations, vocations, or professions are not explicitly listed, Purdue Global has not reviewed the licensure or certification requirements of those occupations, vocations, or professions, nor intended the program to meet such requirements. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states please see Purdue Globals Program Availability Information to determine enrollment eligibility.
You are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. Such requirements may change during the course of your program. You are not automatically certified in any way upon program completion. Although certain programs are designed to prepare you to take various optional certification exams, Purdue Global cannot guarantee you will be eligible to take these exams or become certified. Your eligibility may depend on your work experience, completion of education and/or degree requirements, not having a criminal record, meeting other certification requirements, or the program or the University itself having appropriate accreditation or licensure.
Program Frequently Asked Questions
The quality of the program, and the opportunity to prepare students to be strong nurse leaders.
Applicants must have an RN license and a graduate degree to apply to the graduate certificate program.
Students typically complete the program in 5 semesters.
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Pmhnp Licensure And Certifications
Earning a PMHNP certificate does not equal licensure. A PMHNP certificate shows that you have studied psychiatric nurse practitioner coursework, which could qualify you to take the board certification exam for psych NPs.
Here are some common requirements to become a certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner:
- Hold a valid and unencumbered RN license
- Have a Master of Science in Nursing
- Complete accredited PMHNP coursework
- Submit and pass state and federal criminal background checks
- Pass board certification exam for PMHNPs
After obtaining PMHNP certification, you can apply for nurse practitioner licensure to have the right to practice in your state or select states. Licensure requirements can vary by state, but most require national certification.
Career Information And Technical Skills

The role of the PMHNP is to assess, diagnose and treat the mental health needs of patients. Many PMHNPs provide therapy and prescribe medications for patients who have mental health disorders or substance abuse problems. PMHNPs may also provide physical and psychosocial assessments, emergency psychiatric care and treatment effectiveness evaluations. This program will prepare the PMNP to work in a variety of settings including hospitals, primary care, schools, telemedicine, public health, substance abuse clinics, outpatient psychiatry, correction facilities, and private practice. The program is offered in an online format with direct clinical experiences and three immersive experiences. Students will complete a total of 22-25 credit hours and 500 direct clinical hours.
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