Post Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs Online
Finding a great online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Masters Certificate program is the first step for NPs who wish to enter this unique area of care. For those interested in switching to this specialty, we have analyzed and ranked the best online PMHNP Post-Masters Certificate programs below. Browse to find a great program option, or visit our Methodology page to find out more about how we develop our rankings.
1.Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
Overview:
Florida States post-masters certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health is available to NPs who wish to advance their nursing careers in this specialty. The program covers comprehensive and integrative psychiatric health care. Its theory-based courses are delivered online, and supervised clinicals across three psychotherapeutic modalities must be completed in person.
Highlights:
Doctor Of Nursing Practice
DNP programs are the doctorate level programs that prepare nurses to be NPs. In these programs you will be trained to provide nursing care at the expert level and will also be able to teach in most universities. DNP programs are becoming more popular as the entry pathway into becoming an NP. Program length varies from 3 to 5 years depending on whether or not you already have your masters. The eligibility requirements vary a little between the BSN to DNP and MSN to DNP programs.
BSN to DNP: These programs are for bachelors level trained nurses.
- You must be a licensed Alabama nurse and have had a GPA of at least 3.0 or better.
- The BSN to DNP programs will take about 5 years depending on the university.
- Your application will need to include GRE scores, letters of recommendation, previous transcripts, and more.
- You will need to complete 1000 hours of supervised clinical experiences.
- Some programs will require you to have nursing experience.
MSN to DNP: These programs take into account that you are already a nurse trained at the masters level. Depending on the program you may be required to already be an NP in Alabama.
What Are The Admissions And Certification Requirements
Admissions requirements for most psychiatric nurse practitioner programs include:
- BSN or higher from an accredited university
- Active, unencumbered RN license
- 1 or more years of clinical experience may be required
- Official transcripts from all schools attended
- Reference letters
Certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner can be obtained through the American Nurses Credentialing Center . Eligibility requirements include:
- Must hold a current, U.S. RN license
- Graduate of an accredited psychiatric nurse practitioner program
- Must have completed clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities
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University Of South Alabama Online Nurse Practitioner Programs
The University of South Alabama College of Nursing offers three online graduate nursing programs with nine specializations, six subspecialties, and two dual options. The first is a Master of Science in Nursing for registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or a non-nursing bachelors degree. The second is a Doctor of Nursing Practice with BSN and MSN entry points . The third is a Post-Masters Certificate. The University of South Alabama is sometimes referred to as the USA.
USA offers the following advanced practice registered nursing specializations:
- Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Womens Health Nurse Practitioner
- Dual Family and Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP
- Dual Family and Emergency NP
Adding to the great flexibility of pathways to pursue, USA also offers what are called subspecialties for nursing students. Subspecialties may be added to most NP or CNS programs.
Options include:
- Nurse Educator
- Palliative Care
If students want to complete these subspecialties as stand-alone additions to their nursing education, they must contact the graduate advisor for the MSN program through the College of Nursing to learn how to proceed.
Is University Of South Alabama Ccne Accredited

University of South Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges, according to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation is granted by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for the College of Nursing which houses the online Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
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Student Debt Of Nursing Graduates With A Bachelors Degree
While getting their bachelors degree at USA, nursing students borrow a median amount of $21,500 in student loans. This is not too bad considering that the median debt load of all nursing bachelors degree recipients across the country is $23,387.
The typical student loan payment of a bachelors degree student from the nursing program at USA is $223 per month.
Rn To Msn Psychiatric
RN to MSN PMHNP programs are tailor-made for working RNs who have a diploma or an associates degree and want to pursue an MSN or MS to become a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner . There are also RN to MSN PMHNP programs for RNs with a bachelors degree in a field other than nursing.
In our directory, youll spot:
- Concentration/Track: RN to MSN Nurse Practitioner programs with a concentration or track in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty. These are the most popular offering, and you can have your pick of on-campus or online programs.
- Family PMHNP: Programs that have titles such as Psychiatric Family Nurse Practitioner or Family Psychiatric Mental Health NP. These titles are a hangover from when the ANCC offered a FPMHNP certification. Nowadays, any Family PMHNP curriculum should prepare you for PMHNP certification. If you have concerns, talk to the program coordinator.
- Dual Concentration: RN to MSN programs that allow you to tackle two NP specialties during graduate school. There are dual focus FNP/PMHNP degrees out there , but they are rare. And many schools will expect you to have a BSN before you can apply.
- Sub-Specialty: RN to MSN PMHNP programs that give you the chance to focus on a particular area of interest .
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University Of South Alabama
University of South Alabama Online Graduate Nursing Degree Pathways | |
---|---|
Current Degree | |
MSN to DNP Adding New Specialty Certification | DNP |
MSN to DNP for Advanced Nursing Practice Roles | DNP |
*All of the pathways above require students to hold an active RN license. The University of South Alabama also offers an Accelerated BSN/MSN Pathway for students with a bachelor’s degree who would like to enter the field of nursing. |
What Is The Quickest Way To Become A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The typical educational pathway to becoming a PMHNP involves earning a BSN and an MSN in six years from start to finish. Online, bridge, direct-entry, or other accelerated programs may lead to a degree in approximately two years, depending on an applicants previously earned college credits or RN experience.
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Master Of Science In Nursing Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the masters in nursing online program, graduates should be able to:
- Integrate advanced knowledge, evidence, and theories from nursing and related disciplines into a specialized area of advanced nursing practice through the use of scholarly writing.
- Demonstrate competence in advanced nursing roles to meet current and emerging health needs of a global changing society.
- Use scientific inquiry to identify problems and individualize patient care designed to improve care outcomes.
- Apply advanced knowledge of leadership and management to influence health policy to transform care delivery systems and improve healthcare quality.
- Contribute to the focus and direction of the nursing profession.
Schools That Offer Nurse Practitioner Programs In Alabama
Becoming a nurse practitioner in the state of Alabama means being able to practice in many different specialty disciplines including psychiatric/mental health, neonatal, oncological, adult gerontological, women’s health, family health, and others. Within the state of Alabama there are six different universities with nursing schools that offer MSN and DNP programs. Depending on the university program, credits can be either obtained traditionally in a classroom setting, or they can be earned online. Additionally, some nursing schools in Alabama offer students a blend of the two to earn their non-clinical didactic classroom unit hours.
Find Nurse Practitioner Programs By City:
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What Is A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
PMHNPs are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses that provide mental health care for people. As a PMHNP you will assess, diagnose and treat people with mental illnesses. According to the American Psychiatric Nurses Association some of your duties may include providing individual or group counseling, or prescribing psychiatric medications. You can work with people throughout their lifespan in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Master Of Science In Nursing

If you are pursuing a career in psychiatric mental health, you may be aware of the national need for mental health professionals. In fact, AUs graduate program in mental health is one of only two such programs in South Carolina. Our program is distinctive because it will prepare you both professionally and spiritually for the challenging and rewarding field of mental health.
Our professors are all practicing nurses, who view their work as more than a job its a mission field and a calling. In our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, you will learn a holistic approach to patient care. You will learn to ask good questions, notice important aspects of patient appearance, and read body language to find the root cause of symptoms.
Our MSN programs enable you to start your program with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Follow the link below to review the course sequence youll need to earn your degree.
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The 24 Most Affordable Online Pmhnp Programs
Online PMHNP programs prepare registered nurses with a BSN for a challenging, rewarding, rapidly expanding career as an advanced practice nurse. Holistically caring for patients with mental health needs calls for adaptive leaders with mountainous clinical experience. Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner programs online are becoming more and more readily available to registered nurses seeking their MSN, providing the opportunity to build the skills and experience necessary to become a practicing PMHNP.
Online PMHNP programs are designed to give you the flexibility to work while you learn, expanding your real-world experiences and making your professional development more accessible. ZipRecruiter reports that psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners earn a median annual salary of $142,454. Take into account the Bureau of Labor Statistics which predicts a 45% job outlook for nurse practitioners in various areas of medicine, and youve got one of the best paying, promising professional careers a NP can pursue.
Least Expensive: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center ~$15,192Most Expensive: Ohio State University ~$72,701.30
Paying For The University Of South Alabama Online Nursing Programs
The graduate nursing courses cost $594 per credit plus fees. Tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Note that travel costs for the intensives are not included in tuition costs. Interested students should contact the USA College of Nursing for current tuition and fees.
USA graduate students may be eligible for unsubsidized federal Stafford Loans and Graduate PLUS loans by applying through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . Other funding options may include employer tuition reimbursement programs, private loans, and organizational or community grants and scholarships. Financial aid questions can be directed to the USA Office of Financial Aid.
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
This program prepares students to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental healthcare to those who are symptomatic in need of psychiatric services. Care continuum sites for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner practice includes ambulatory care settings, acute care, long-term care, and community health facilities.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners provide psychiatric services to children, adolescents, adults as well as mature adults experiencing a continuum of psychiatric illnesses.
All students in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty are required to attend a virtual mandatory Clinical Skills Intensive session during the fall term in which they are registered for CMN 548 and CMN 551. Students have the opportunity to request their preferred session on a first come, first serve basis through the simulation department after the request is sent out during the spring term. Various clinical skills workshops will be held during the orientation.
Please note the dates listed are for Simulation Intensives only. The coordinator for each specialty track will provide full orientation dates:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric NP Clinical Skills Intensive Session Dates:
Please note the dates listed are for Simulation Intensives only. The coordinator for each specialty track will provide full orientation dates:
University Of South Alabama Nursing Programs
The University of South Alabama proudly offers a variety of nursing programs including Nurse Practitioner in a number of areas. The degrees are made available in both on-campus and online formats.
The school also provides various nursing programs such as Accelerated BSN, Accelerated MSN, APRN Certificate, Bachelor, BSN to DNP, Master, MSN to DNP and Post Master’s NP Certificate level degrees.
Most of the degrees here too have pre-professional and professional phases, and the students have to apply for the latter by themselves upon the fulfilment of the course criteria.
The University of South Alabama offers bachelor’s courses designed to bring out the best in the students. E.g. the traditional BSN program comprises the first two years spent in meeting general university requirements with courses in science, math, arts and humanities. In comparison, the last two years are focused on professional preparation in nursing, thereby preparing nurses who are academically well rounded in both liberal arts and the hard sciences. .
The University of South Alabama prepares critical thinkers, professionals, and care providers every step of the way, and they pave the way from BSN to Doctorate level nurses themselves.
The nursing school at University of South Alabama is a public institution located in Mobile, Alabama. Its nursing programs are accredited by ACEN, ACME, CCNE and COA.
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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Credentials
All NPs must get national board certification in their chosen specialization. Specializations include adult-gerontology, acute care, family practice, among others.
PMHNPs must be certified in their chosen specialty: psychiatric mental health. While all registered nurses must pass the NCLEX-RN to receive state licensure, an equivalent national exam does not exist for NP licensure. In most states, board certification serves as a requirement for state licensure. For PMHNPs, these two credentials together demonstrate mastery of advanced nursing skills and clinical experience.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Nurse Practitioner In Alabama
How much time it takes to become an NP in Alabama really depends on your background. Depending on the path you take it will be 2 to 4 years of education before you can become a Certified Nurse Practitioner. If youre already an RN it can take as little as 2 years by earning your MSN. If you are not an RN some direct entry programs are as short as 2 years as well. If you already have your MSN but are not an NP you can do a DNP program in 2-3 years and become and NP while also earning your doctorate.
Here are examples of how long it will take you to become an NP depending on what degree you are starting with:
Starting Degree |
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Online Bsn To Dnp Pathway
Program OverviewProgram Specialty: Adult Gerontology – Acute Care Nurse PractitionerDegree Type: DNP Program Structure: Online instruction with limited on-campus visits with clinical hours requirements
Clinical Hours Requirements: 1140 hours needed to graduateNumber of Credits Required: 69 credits needed to graduateNumber of Campus Visits Required: 1
Program OptionsCurriculum Options: Full-time and Part-timeProgram Length: Full-time program can be completed in 3 to 4 years Part-time program can be completed in 4 to 6 years Program Start Date: Fall and Spring admissionNumber of Terms: Full-time: 9 to 11 Semesters Part-time: 12 to 16 semesters
Requirements and TuitionApplication Requirements: BSN required current RN license with no restrictions 2 years of clinical experience before enrolling in NP clinical coursesGPA: Minimum GPA 3.0
Clinical Hours Requirements: 1140 hours needed to graduateNumber of Credits Required: 60 to 69 credits needed to graduateNumber of Campus Visits Required: 1
Program OptionsCurriculum Options: Full-time and Part-timeProgram Length: Full-time program can be completed in 3 years Part-time program can be completed in 4 to 6 years Program Start Date: Fall and Spring admissionNumber of Terms: Full-time: 9 to 10 Semesters Part-time: 12 to 16 semesters
Eligibility Restrictions: Program does not currently accept students from New York and South Dakota
Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

The role of a Nurse Practitioner specializing in Acute Care Pediatric Nursing is offered as an online program at the University of South Alabama. The MSN program prepares graduates for advanced Nursing Practice and Doctoral Study. Graduates of the program are able to synthesize and apply advanced knowledge to care for pediatric patients with complex, acute, or injuries and function as leaders in practice.
All students in the Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty are required to attend a mandatory Clinical Skills Intensive provided by the USA Simulation Program on the USA campus during the fall term in which they are registered for MCN 558 and MCN 571. Students have the opportunity to request their preferred session on a first come, first serve basis through the simulation department after the request is sent out during the spring term. Various clinical skills workshops will be held during the orientation.
Please note the dates listed are for Clinical Skills Intensives only.
Pediatric Acute Care NP Clinical Skills Intensive Session Dates:
Session 1
Optional NRP education provided Tuesday, August 31, 2021 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Optional NRP education provided Wednesday, September 1, 2021 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Clinical Skills Intensive will take place at USA Simulation on the main campus. You will receive more information as the date approaches via your JAG e-mail. Please make plans to attend.
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