Online and Distance Degrees > Degree Programs > Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Graduate Certificate in
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Online

Program Overview

Complement your master’s or doctoral nursing education with a graduate certificate you can earn online and around your rounds. Our graduate certificate program builds on your prior education to further develop your knowledge and competencies for specialized practice as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Program Format
Online
Credit Hours
29
Tuition Per Hour
$440

Develop a specialization in psychiatric mental health

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program focuses on the care of individuals, families and populations across the lifespan who are at risk for a diagnosis of psychiatric disorders or mental health problems. Coursework will prepare you to provide primary mental health care to patients seeking mental health services in a wide range of settings.

Residents of the following 28 states are eligible for admission to NP concentrations: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia.

Application DeadlineApril 1 for fall admission or January 1 for summer admission

Curriculum

Students who focus on the graduate certificate program will complete 29 credit hours. Please note that courses are subject to change.

Semester 1

NUR 568 Clinical Readiness
NUR 591 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Role and Issues

Semester Credits: 6

Semester 2

NUR 595 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner II
NUR 596 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical II (180 Clinical Hours)

Semester Credits: 6

Semester 3

NUR 593 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I
NUR 594 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical (180 Clinical Hours)

Semester Credits: 6

Semester 4

NUR 597 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner III
NUR 598 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Clinical III (180 Clinical Hours)

Semester Credits: 6

Semester 5

NUR 592 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner IV Review and Clinical Immersion

Semester Credits: 5

The student’s transcripts will be assessed for the following courses. Courses must be completed within the last 5 years. In the absence of transcript credit, the following courses must be completed. If the courses are outside of the 5 years, then the student will be required to take NUR 506 Advanced Clinical Foundations.

NUR 505 Advanced Health Assessment
NUR 521 Advanced Pharmacology
NUR 529 Advanced Pathophysiology

Admission

Admission requirements are consistent with those of the Graduate School. Applicants for the nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate will be considered on a competitive basis. Nurses who are interested in a post-graduate certificate program are encouraged to contact the Capstone College of Nursing (CCN) Graduate Recruitment and Retention Liaison, Vickie Samuel, at (205) 348-8163 or vickie.bama@ua.edu.

NOTE: Residents of the following 28 states are eligible for admission to NP concentrations: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. Please check this site in the future for changes in the residency requirement.

The following are requirements for admission:

Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited graduate program in nursing or a master’s degree in a health-related field with a baccalaureate degree in nursing from an accredited program.
For regular admission, a grade point average of at least 3.0 overall (based on a 4.0 grading scale) or 3.0 for the graduate work is required.
Students must reside and hold a current unencumbered RN licensure in a state approved for admission. View the states here from which the College of Nursing accepts applications for admission.
Final admission is contingent upon drug and background screen results that are deemed acceptable by appropriate University officials.

Enrollment into the Post-Graduate Certificate program is available for the fall and summer semesters each year. Your completed application must be received by the April 1 deadline for the fall semester or by the January 1 deadline for the summer semester.

Post-Graduate Certificate Application Process:

Begin your graduate application at the UA Graduate School.
- For “Program Type” select Distance (Online/Blended/Gadsden)
- For “Campus” select Distance Learning
Request official transcripts following the Graduate School’s transcript instructions.
Submit supporting documents:
- Statement of Purpose following the Graduate School’s instructions.
- Resume or curriculum vitae.
- Contact information for two references – The references should be professionals who can provide insight regarding your potential for success in the doctoral program. The Graduate School will contact these references via e-mail.
- Copy of active RN license from every state in which you are licensed. A screenshot of your online verification is sufficient. Note: Licensure must be maintained throughout the program.
- Verification of Post-Baccalaureate Clinical Hours (Post-Masters Only)
- Interview – Applicants who meet all other requirements will receive instructions on this step once the application is complete and submitted with all of the above requirements.