Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Program Overview

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-master’s Certificate program is a 20-credit hour program in which Registered nurses with a Master of Science in Nursing degree advance their skills to meet entry-level eligibility for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensure. Graduates are prepared to provide effective care to a diverse and growing population with mental and behavioral health needs.

Didactic courses are presented in an online format. Practicum courses are also presented virtually and through hands-on clinical experiences. Direct clinical practice hours are completed with individual preceptors in clinical settings.

The curriculum includes 70 indirect care hours and 750 direct care hours. Direct clinical practice hours are completed with individual preceptors in clinical settings. Graduates are qualified to apply to sit for the following certification examinations:

• American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Certification Exam (PMHNP)
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Exam (PMHNP)

The PMHNP Post-master’s certificate program is offered as a part-time program. The program does require specific sequencing in specialty courses.  All students are required to be advised before each semester by a graduate advisor.

PMHNP-PMC Program Outcomes

At the completion of the PMHNP Post-master’s Certificate program, graduates of the St. David’s School of Nursing will be able to:

1. Engage in advanced nursing practice through integration of scientific findings from nursing, humanities, and sciences into the delivery of psychiatric and mental health care to diverse patients, families, and communities. 
2. Participate in organizational and systems leadership through promotion of high quality, safe patient care which emphasizes ethical decision making, effective working relationships, and a systems-perspective.
3. Lead quality improvement processes to communicate effectively, evaluate health outcomes, and advocate for changes in the care environment to improve health outcomes.
4. Synthesize and critique research to integrate the best evidence to resolve practice problems, work as a change agent, and assist in disseminating findings into clinical practice.
5. Utilize healthcare technologies and informatics to analyze and evaluate data to promote safe practice environments, cost containment and health outcomes.
6. Demonstrate leadership in professional nursing practice through commitment to reflective practice, accountability, and maintaining active roles in health policy and professional organizations. 
7. Actively participates as a member and leader of interprofessional teams to promote safety, reduce risk, and address healthcare disparities for patients and populations.
8. Integrate clinical prevention and population health concepts, including global and social determinants of health, into the diverse psychiatric and mental health care needs of patients, communities, and populations.
9. Lead health education, treatments, and care through incorporation of biocultural perspectives of patients, communities, and populations as they relate to integrative healthcare practices in psychiatric and mental health care.
10. Practice as an advanced practice nurse using evidence based, cost effective integrative healthcare approaches to positively influence health outcomes of patients, families, and the global community.

Application Requirements

The items listed below are required for admission consideration for applicable semesters of entry during the current academic year. Submission instructions, additional details, and changes to admission requirements for semesters other than the current academic year can be found on The Graduate College's website. International students should review the International Admission Documents page for additional requirements.

• Bachelor of Science in nursing (B.S.N.) degree from a regionally accredited institution and from a nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or other nationally recognized nursing education accrediting body. The student's B.S.N. degree must be reflected on the transcript at the time of application

• Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree from a regionally accredited institution and from a nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or other nationally recognized nursing education accrediting body. The student's M.S.N. degree must be reflected on the transcript at the time of application

• official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted

• minimum 3.25 overall GPA or 3.25 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)  
• minimum 3.25 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale in nursing courses from an accredited college or university (plus any completed graduate courses)

• completed college course in statistics with a grade of C or higher. Course must be completed at the time of application and reflected on submitted transcripts

• current, valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Texas with date issued from the Board of Nursing and Nursys Report uploaded into the application system. Multistate licenses are accepted

• if applicant holds advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) license, applicant must submit copy of current, valid, unencumbered licensure in Texas with date issued from the Board of Nursing and Nursys into the application system 

• minimum of one-year full-time experience in the master’s prepared nursing role (i.e. APRN, nurse educator, nurse leader, etc.) prior to the application deadline for the program  

• minimum three years full-time experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) based on licensure issue date prior to the application period

• GRE is not required

Once a student has been admitted, additional criteria specific to the School of Nursing must be completed and met prior to the start of classes or due dates specified by the School of Nursing. See the Additional Requirements for more information. 

Note:  Applicants who are not licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners, will be required to take Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Health Assessments to meet the foundational pre-requisites and requirements of an APRN degree or certificate program. 

Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores

Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.

• official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
• official PTE scores required with a 52
• official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
• official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
• official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.

Additional Requirements 

1. Clear, current criminal background check (in addition to that on file at the Board of Nursing) and drug test.
2. Student liability insurance fee paid to Texas State University.
3. Health Certificate and exam completed and signed by a healthcare provider.
4. Currency and proof of all required immunizations.
5. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers.
6. Documentation of health insurance for each semester in the program.  Many resources to obtain health insurance are available on the Internet. It may also be obtained through Texas State University's Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan. 
7. Laptop requirements for the program (posted in pre-orientation class).
8. Essential Competency Requirements and attestation.
9. Completion of New Student Orientation as scheduled.

Certificate Requirements

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-master’s Certificate program is a 20-credit hour program.

Students enrolled in the PMHNP post master’s certificate program are required to earn a grade of at least 80% ("B" or higher) in all courses in the PMHNP post master’s certificate program curriculum. Graduate nursing courses are offered in a semi-lockstep sequence. Students may repeat or withdraw from one nursing course once during the duration of the program.

Students must maintain all pertinent admission requirements (e.g., RN licensure, APRN licensure, immunizations, BLS certification, clear background check, etc.) during the entirety of the program. 

Students who withdraw from the program for more than one semester may petition for re-entry. Re-entry is not guaranteed. Students who have not enrolled for more than one year must reapply using the standard application process and may be required to retake foundational courses in the NP programs to remain current. 

To graduate with a PMHNP post master’s certificate, a student must successfully complete all graduate nursing courses and requirements and maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in the graduate nursing program. Students have four (4) years to complete the certificate program.

The program can be completed as an Accelerated Online Program (AOP). 

Course Requirements