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Online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate Post-Master’s Certificates in Nursing

 
Prepare to provide holistic, compassionate care for patients with psychiatric disorders and mental health issues.

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Fill out the form and we will contact you to provide information about furthering your education.

Please use our International Form if you live outside of the U.S.

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A group of nurses and doctors talking to each other.

Online Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate Post-Master’s Certificates in Nursing

Ready to Get Started?

Fill out the form and we will contact you to provide information about furthering your education.

Please use our International Form if you live outside of the U.S.

  • Current 01 Step 1: About You
  • 02 Step 2: Contact Information

Why Choose Walden?

DEVELOP SPECIALIZED SKILLS

Deepen your clinical expertise with coursework that covers advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and health assessment.

GAIN A HOLISTIC PERSPECTIVE

Develop a holistic approach to managing your patients, including engaging groups, families, and the community in their care.

LEARN FROM ACTIVE NPS

Practicing PMHNPs developed our program to prepare you to deliver effective mental health care in a variety of settings.

WALDEN GRAND ROUNDS

Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to critically examine real-life scenarios you’ll encounter in your specialty.

PRACTICUM ADVANTAGE

Get the support you need for a successful experience at all stages of your nursing practicum.

BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER

Find mentors and inspiration through our dynamic community of more than 36,500 College of Nursing alumni.

Take Advantage of Transfer-of-Credit Opportunities

Do you already have your MSN—or are you already an NP? You may be eligible to transfer credit from your previous coursework to reduce the number of courses you will need to complete the post-master’s PMHNP certificate program. Contact an Enrollment Specialist to learn more.

Program Details

Curriculum

Minimum Degree Requirements

  • 43 quarter credits
  • Core courses (3 cr.)
  • Specialization courses (40 cr. includes the required 640 practicum hours*)

Start dates are offered each quarter so you can begin your program when it is convenient for you. Enrollment in this post-master's nurse practitioner certificate program is currently open to new students in most states. Due to high demand, this certificate program has an enrollment cap in place for each start date. Please contact an Enrollment Specialist to find out more about available start dates and to be placed on the waiting list.

View the COMPLETE CURRICULUM PLAN.

For a personalized estimate of the number of your transfer credits that Walden would accept, call an Enrollment Specialist at 844-398-6223.

 

 

Admissions Requirements

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.

Tuition and Fees

Curriculum ComponentRequirementsCostamount
Tuition43 quarter credit hours$765 per quarter hour$32,895
Program FeePer quarter$175$1,225
Clinical Course Fee4 courses (PRAC) $160$640
    $34,760*

*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 $1,500 to $2,000. 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.

 

Program Savings

Want to quickly build new skills and knowledge? We want to put your goals within reach. Receive up to a $2,000 grant when you start this program on May 27, 2024. Contact one of our Enrollment Specialists to learn more.

Program Outcomes

 

Explore Real-Life Clinical Scenarios With Walden Grand Rounds

As a nurse practitioner student at Walden, you can take part in Walden Grand Rounds several times throughout the quarter. Meet virtually with faculty and classmates to review clinical patient scenarios that are focused on assessing, differentiating, and treating pathological conditions. This is a unique opportunity to connect what you’ve learned in class with real-life situations and challenges you’ll encounter in the field as an NP.

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Build Your Clinical Expertise

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.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing this online post-master’s PMHNP certificate 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.

Career Outlook

According to research gathered by SAMHSA in 2020, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have included increased anxiety, depression, traumatic stress, and substance use across the United States. With suicide and depression at crisis levels, psychiatrically trained nurse practitioners can play a key role in improving the quality of mental health services and access to effective treatment.2

Nurse practitioners who work in mental health not only have a rewarding job, they’re also in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for psychiatric NPs are expected to grow by 13.9% through 2030.3 The annual mean salary for a nurse practitioner working in mental health in May 2020 was $126,200.4 Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many factors, such as education, certifications, additional skills, and the number of years you have spent in your profession.

With a post-master’s PMHNP online certificate, you’ll have the training to meet the need for high-quality mental health services and open new doors to your future.

A PMHNP certificate program can academically prepare you to work in settings such as:

  • Mental health clinics
  • Correctional facilities
  • Inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities
  • Residential substance abuse facilities
  • Private psychiatric practices
  • Community mental health centers

Resources

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1Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) IPEDS database. Based on the most recent year’s completions survey data, using CIP code family 51.38 “Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing” for Master’s (Award level 7) and Doctoral (Award level 17) degrees. Available at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data (Retrieved January 2021; may consist of or include provisional release data).

2Source: SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Disaster Technical Assistance Center Supplemental Research Bulletin: A Preliminary Look at the Mental Health and Substance Use-Related Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic (May 2021). Retrieved November 2021.

3Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Projections, (622200 psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals; state, local, and private). Nurse Practitioners, SOC code 29-1174.02. Retrieved September 2021. National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, do not guarantee actual job growth, and are subject to change.

4Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics, Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians), SOC code 29-1171. Retrieved April 2021.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing (BSN), master’s degree program in nursing (MSN), post-graduate APRN certificate program, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Walden University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org).

Note on licensure: The Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner certificate programs are designed to prepare graduates with an active registered nurse (RN) license or APRN license to practice in the U.S. as nurse practitioners in their program specialty area. However, each state has its own academic preparation and authority to practice requirements and issues its own credential practice as a nurse practitioner in that state. No graduate program can guarantee that graduates will be permitted to practice as a nurse practitioner in their program specialty area upon graduation. We encourage students to consult the appropriate Board of Nursing or regulatory authority in the states or jurisdictions in which they reside or intend to seek licensure to determine specific requirements.

The Post-Master's Nurse Practitioner certificate programs are designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for national nurse practitioner certification exams, which are required for practice as a nurse practitioner in most states. Walden Enrollment Specialists can provide general information relating to national certification exams; however, it remains the individual’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to national certification exams for the state in which he or she intends to practice as requirements vary widely. Learn more about professional licensure. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of Walden coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain national certification. For more information about nurse practitioner certification exams, students should visit the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board at www.aanpcert.org, the American Nurses Credentialing Center at www.nursingworld.org/ancc, or other nurse practitioner certification websites.

Enrollment Restrictions by State Please contact an Enrollment Specialist at 844-767-9407 to determine enrollment restrictions in your state.

Note on Field Experience and Relocating Students who are considering relocating are advised to contact their Student Success Advisor prior to any decision to relocate in order to determine how relocation may impact progress in their program. Advisors can provide information and guidance on how relocating may result in possible changes, restrictions, and/or additional requirements affecting field experience. Each Board of Nursing and Higher Education Authority governs the field experience rules and regulations in their respective states, and students may be unable to complete field experience in the state in which they plan to relocate. While Walden is committed to working collaboratively with students to secure field sites across the United States, it is imperative that students contact their Student Success Advisor immediately when considering relocating.