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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate

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Earn Your Certificate as Early as:
Admissions Requirements
Courses
Ways to Save on Tuition
Career Outcomes
12
Total Courses
$420
Cost per Credit
1.5 years
Average Completion*
15–18 Hours/Week
Course Effort

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Online Certificate Overview

It’s time to earn your next credential and advance your career as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Be ready to make an impact in one of the most critical areas of health care.

  • Create real career opportunities — with the shortage of psychiatrists along with an increased demand for mental health care, the nation is facing an urgent need for nurses equipped to provide such services.
  • Take courses online while balancing your nursing career.
  • Prepare for opportunities in both virtual or in-person mental health services.
  • Gain hands-on experience through a local clinical experience with a qualified preceptor.
  • Prepare to sit for industry certification exams.

Gain the Expertise That Employers — and Your Patients — Need

  • Assess, diagnose, monitor, treat, and manage psychiatric mental health disorders, organic brain disorders, substance abuse problems, and complex co-occurring diseases.
  • Collaborate with the individual and other health care professionals to provide high-quality, holistic care.
  • Advocate for people as they interact with the health care system.
  • Practice safe, effective psychiatric mental health care by managing both health and illness states.
  • Provide care that is responsive to each client's cultural and spiritual beliefs.

Review College Scorecard data for this program.

Note: At this time, residents of the following states and territories may not enroll in this program: District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Guam. In addition, international students are not eligible to enroll in the program.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

CCNE Accredited logo

CCNE Accredited

The postgraduate APRN certificate programs at Purdue Global is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.CCNEAccreditation.org).

Clinical Practice Experience

Gain valuable experience by applying what you learn in a real-world setting. You’ll participate in a series of clinical practice sessions at a local health care facility or clinical site as part of the program.

Contact an Admissions Advisor for more information about the number of hours needed to complete the clinical requirement.

Purdue Global Is Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission

The HLC (HLCommission.org) is an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

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What Courses Will I Take?

The online PMHNP Postgraduate Certificate program features immersive learning, with virtual reality (VR) assignments that encompass telehealth and group therapy sessions. Coursework trains you to synthesize theoretical and scientific knowledge to provide optimal mental health care in diverse communities.

Sample Courses

  • Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
  • Advanced Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics
  • Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology
  • Psychopathological Disorders and Psychotherapy
See All Nursing Courses

Program Requirements

12
Core Courses
12
Total Courses
48
Total Quarter Credits

1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours

Admissions Requirements

A master's degree with an upper-level major in nursing and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows completion of your master's degree from an accredited institution, though an unofficial copy may be provided during the application process. Additional requirements apply. Refer to the program-specific policy page in the University Catalog or speak to an Advisor to learn more.

View Admissions Requirements

Upcoming Start Dates

We offer multiple start dates to give you flexibility in your education, life, and work schedules.

Certification and Licensure

When you graduate, you may be eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification (PMHNP-BC™) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners’ Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification, both of which address populations across the lifespan.

After earning a certification, you may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

Faculty With Real-World Experience

Our faculty has decades of nursing experience and brings real-world knowledge to the classroom. Many hold doctorates or advanced nursing certifications; all faculty members possess at least a master’s degree; and several faculty members are certified PMHNPs.

Ways to Save on Time and Tuition

Purdue Global works with students to find ways to reduce costs and make education more accessible. Contact us to learn about opportunities to save on your educational costs.

Transfer Credits

Earn credit for prior coursework completed at eligible institutions.

Financial Aid

Learn about federal financial aid programs available for many of our degree programs.

Grants and Loans

Learn about federal and state grants and loan programs that may be available.

Corporate Partner Benefits

Employees of Purdue Global partner organizations may be eligible for special tuition reductions.

Military Tuition Reduction

Graduate tuition savings for military include a 17–30% reduction per credit for current servicemembers and, 14% per credit for veterans for graduate programs.

Prior Military Experience

Earn credit for your military training. We offer credit for ACE-evaluated training and CLEP and DANTES examinations.

View the total cost of attendance for your program.

Career Opportunities

Graduates deliver critical, in-demand mental health care services. Areas of practice include virtual mental health care, acute care and primary care settings in hospitals, community centers, residential settings, prisons, private practices, or collaborative practices with other specialties.

Average Salary

Range

General labor market and salary data are provided by Lightcast and may not represent the outcomes experienced by Purdue Global graduates in these programs. Purdue Global graduates in these programs may earn salaries substantially different or less than the amounts listed above. Salary and employment outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience, education, and opportunities for employment that are outside of Purdue Global's control.

Purdue Global does not guarantee employment placement, salary level, or career advancement.

See Notes and Conditions below for important information.

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Download the School Brochure

Download our brochure to learn more about our nursing programs and the benefits of earning your degree at Purdue Global.

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Get to Know Our Faculty

Purdue Global faculty members are real-world practitioners who bring knowledge gained through the powerful combination of higher learning and industry experience.

99%

Faculty members who have advanced degrees

54%

Faculty members who hold a doctorate

484

Faculty publications in 2022–2023

More Than 40,000

Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2022–2023

Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, July 2023. 2022–2023 academic year.

Your Path to Success Begins Here

Connect with an Advisor to explore program requirements, curriculum, credit for prior learning process, and financial aid options.

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NOTES AND CONDITIONS

*Estimated Graduation Date and Average Completion: Estimated graduation date is based on the assumption that you will enroll in time to begin classes on the next upcoming start date, will remain enrolled for each consecutive term, and will maintain satisfactory academic standing in each term to progress toward completion of your program. Completion time is based on a full-time schedule. Programs will take longer for part-time students to complete.

100% Online: Some Purdue Global programs are not 100% online; some programs require you to gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment. Contact an Admissions Advisor for additional information.

Employment and Career Advancement: Purdue Global does not guarantee employment or career advancement. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience and opportunities for employment. Additional training and experience may be necessary for leadership positions. Additional certification or licensing may be required to work in certain fields.

Nursing Licensure: Graduates who pass the relevant certification exam may be academically eligible for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse in any state in which the program is available for enrollment. Licensure-track programs may limit enrollment to students in certain states; please refer to Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific licensure information. The University cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams.

Please note that most states require nurses to be nationally certified and to have completed an accredited graduate nursing program in order to obtain licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse. Each national certification provider and state Board of Nursing will have eligibility requirements in addition to these educational requirements, such as passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they are eligible for state Board of Nursing approval and certification as an advanced practice registered nurse in their state. Students can obtain additional information from their state's Board of Nursing, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Psychiatrist Shortage: American Psychiatric Association, Workforce Development, https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/advocacy/federal-affairs/workforce-development