Walden’s PMHNP certificate program academically prepares you to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification board exam.
PRACTICUM ADVANTAGE
Get the support you need for a successful experience at all stages of your nursing practicum.
WALDEN GRAND ROUNDS
Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to critically examine real-life scenarios you’ll encounter in your specialty.
LEARN FROM ACTIVE NPs
Practicing PMHNPs developed our program to prepare you to deliver effective mental health care in a variety of settings.
Through immersive coursework and hands-on learning experiences, you’ll gain the advanced nursing skills and clinical judgment to make comprehensive mental health assessments for patients of all ages.
At times, psychotherapy is not enough to alleviate the emotional difficulties that some patients face. To that end, psychopharmacologic approaches are needed. Psychiatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) must have a strong basis in psychopharmacology, extending from a prior education in pharmacology, to make appropriate medication choices for their patients. Learners in this course consider psychopharmacologic approaches to major behavioral health disorders including but not limited to major depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, as well as psychotic disorders. Learners explore key considerations associated with medication selection, monitoring efficacy, and long-term management.
Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) need to have the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive mental health evaluations in a safe and competent manner. In this course, students can learn how to use knowledge of psychopathology and diagnostic reasoning for health promotion and psychiatric assessment, and to develop differential diagnosis for patients with psychiatric and substance use disorders across the lifespan.
Psychotherapy involves giving more than good advice. For the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) to be effective, deliberate approaches to therapy must be consistent with evidence-based practices. Learners in this course examine a variety of therapeutic techniques that can be used during psychotherapy sessions with individuals, families, and groups across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based applications of various therapeutic approaches for a wide range of psychiatric issues.
Working from a lifespan approach, this course brings together diagnosis and treatment planning in psychiatry. Topics include psychiatric assessment, application of diagnostic criteria, diagnostic formulation, differential diagnosis, psychopharmacology, and appropriate labs and diagnostics. The learner will select a combination of psychotherapeutic modalities coupled with psychopharmacologic approaches to treat common psychiatric mental health conditions across the lifespan. Legal and ethical considerations for working with clients across the lifespan will be addressed. Students build confidence as they continue to transition from the role of registered nurse to that of advanced practice nurse.
Continuing from the lifespan approach, students in this final course for the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) focus on clinical competence in mental health settings by building on content and skills from previous courses. Selection of assessment approaches for patients across the lifespan, as well as differential diagnosis, application of diagnostic criteria, appropriate diagnostic testing, and diagnostic case formulation will be undertaken. The learner will use both psychotherapeutic approaches coupled with psychopharmacologic approaches to treat common psychiatric mental health conditions. Classroom activities and case studies enable students to explore the salient nurse practitioner practice issues involved in the delivery of safe, competent, high-quality, and cost-effective care of patients in a dynamic healthcare system. The application of knowledge in the management of clients and collaboration among the advanced practice nurse and the patient, family, and interprofessional healthcare team are emphasized. This course is designed for nurse practitioner (NP) students to synthesize their knowledge and clinical skills to provide care to patients with complex health conditions.
Work with an Enrollment Specialist who will walk you through every step—from choosing your program to finding ways to pay for your education.
Earning your Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate online is a big step. Walden’s streamlined admissions process includes:
No application fee
Easy credit transfer
No essay or GRE requirement
To be considered for this certificate program, you must have a current, active RN license, a Master of Science in Nursing or equivalent from an accredited school, and meet the general admission requirements. All applicants must submit a completed online application and transcripts. Depending on program specialization, additional requirements may apply. More information for international applicants.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, the master’s degree program in nursing (MSN) at Walden is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Walden also partners with The DAISY Foundation and other organizations that share our commitment to putting nurses first.
Looking for ways to make your PMHNP post master’s certificate more affordable? Walden offers partner savings, military savings, past-credit transfers, and grants.
Lower your tuition with:
Experience-based credits
Tuition savings
Grants
| Curriculum Component | Requirements | Cost | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 43 quarter credit hours | $775 per quarter hour | $33,325 |
| Program Fee | Per quarter | $180 | $1,260 |
| Clinical Course Fee | 4 courses (PRAC) | $160 | $640 |
| $35,225* |
*Tuition reflects the minimum time to completion. Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Tuition and time to complete may be reduced if transfer credits are accepted, or if you receive grants, scholarships, or other tuition reductions. Walden may accept up to 15 transfer credits for non-alumni. Walden MSN alumni may be eligible to transfer more credits. For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-768-0109.
Tuition and fees are subject to change. Books and materials are not included and may cost between $1,800 to $2,500; this includes a mandatory clinical skills resource required during NURS/DNRS 6512 at a cost of $299. Students may also incur additional costs related to practicum, including but not limited to costs of travel to their practicum site, practicum onboarding fees, per quarter practicum fees, and liability insurance costs.
Mental health care services are in high demand. A PMHNP post-master’s certificate can help you rise to the occasion.
Nurse Practitioner
NPs specializing in mental health treat individuals with mental health or substance use disorders.
Expected growth: 45%1
Estimated annual wage: $94,530–$140,6101
No guarantee is made that a person who enrolls in the Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing-PMHNP program will obtain a job or will earn the stated salaries.
1Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics | Job outlook | Estimated wage (as of May 2023)
Upon completing this Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate online program, you will be academically prepared to:
Synthesize organizational/systems leadership for cost-effective specialist nursing practice that contributes to high-quality healthcare delivery, advancement of the nursing profession, and social change.
Critique evidence-based literature drawing from diverse theoretical perspectives and pertinent research to guide decision making that demonstrates best practices for specialist nursing practice in a global society.
Integratively assess, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate cost-effective healthcare strategies that reduce health disparities by patient/population advocacy for access to specialist nursing care.
Demonstrate ability to effectively communicate using audience-specific oral, written, and information technology for professional delivery of specialist nursing care.
Evaluate health needs of diverse populations for necessary teaching/coaching functions based on specialist nursing knowledge to restore/promote health and prevent illness/injury.
Exhibit ongoing commitment to professional development and value of nursing theories/ethical principles (altruism, autonomy, human dignity, integrity, social justice) in accordance with ethically responsible, legally accountable, specialist nursing practice.
Implement specialist nursing roles to promote quality improvement of patient-centered care in accordance with professional practice standards that transform health outcomes for diverse populations.
In this online post-master’s PMHNP certificate program, you’ll 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 certificate’s content is consistent with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) 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.
Meet the dedicated and accomplished faculty who are helping to shape the next generation of mental health care providers at Walden.
Explore these other post-master’s certificate programs at Walden.
Yes, Walden’s College of Nursing’s received a 10-year accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE ), the maximum period granted for all eligible nursing programs including our post-graduate APRN certificate program.
Yes, the PMHNP post-master's certificate program allows students maximum flexibility to integrate the class requirements with their work and family life. You can schedule your studying, assignments, and exams when it is most convenient for you.
All of your didactic classes are online. There are no mandatory classes that you must attend in person. There are 640 hours of practicum required during the program. A majority of those hours must be completed onsite in a clinical setting but you have the flexibility to make a schedule that fits with your life.
The demand for health care providers that are skilled in caring for the mental health of patients is increasing. Graduates find a wide range of available jobs with a good salary while improving the health of their patients.
