Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Postgraduate Certificate
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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.
CCNE Accredited
The postgraduate APRN certificate programs at Purdue Global is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.CCNEAccreditation.org).
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.
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.
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.
Calculate Your Time and Cost
Estimate how much your prior learning credits can reduce your tuition and time to graduation.
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
Program Requirements
1 semester credit hour = 1.5 quarter credit hours
Admissions Requirements
A master's degree with an upper-level major in nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and an approved criminal background check is required. You will need to provide an official transcript that shows your degree completion with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher 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.
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.
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.
See Notes and Conditions below for important information.
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.
Possible Behavioral Interview Questions for This Field of Study
- How do you build rapport with a resistant patient?
- How do you handle differences in clinical opinion within a treatment team?
- How do you assess and document risk in a psychiatric evaluation?
Sample Skills Developed and Used in This Field
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Nursing Care
- Coordinating
- Patient Education and Counseling
- Treatment Planning
- Critical Thinking
- Electronic Medical Record Management
- Planning
- Ethical Standards and Conduct
- Decision Making
- Case Management
- Clinical Practices
- Mental Health
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Download the School Brochure
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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.
Faculty members who have advanced degrees
Faculty members who have terminal degrees
Faculty publications in 2024–2025
Professional development hours logged by faculty in 2024–2025
Statistics include all Purdue Global faculty members and are not school- or program-specific calculations. Source: Purdue Global Office of Reporting and Analysis, August 2025. 2024–2025 academic year.