Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: Online (Graduate Certificate)

The Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program will prepare the APRN with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to assess, diagnose, and manage mental health care patients across the lifespan. The program is designed for the licensed RN who has a master’s degree and at least one year of advanced practice nursing experience*. Courses are competency based, founded on evidence-based approaches to care management and learning strategies with commitment to student success and continuous quality improvement embedded within the process. 

Synchronous, asynchronous, low and high-fidelity simulation, virtual and on campus intensives, and clinical immersion will reinforce didactic content and afford the student the opportunity to transition to an active member of a collaborative mental health care team. Upon successful program completion, graduates will be eligible to sit for the ANCC board certification exam for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Across the Lifespan (PMHNP-BC).

Admission Requirements

In addition to the standard Graduate School requirements, the Department of Nursing and PM-PMHNP program require:

1. Unencumbered, active RN license in the United States
2. At least a master's degree in nursing; current license to practice as an APRN.
3. Nurse practitioner certification and/or Advanced Practice Nurse specialty with one year of practice experience; prerequisite coursework in prior Nurse Practitioner academic program to fulfill the requirements of ANCC *
4. 3 professional letters of reference.  Professional recommendations should be substantial and an academic reference is recommended.
5. Personal statement.Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
   1. This is a post-graduate program that requires a high cognitive load, explain in detail how you are going to prepare yourself for that and manage throughout the program?
   2. Discuss the Post-Master’s PMHNP program, what experiences have contributed to your interest and how do you visualize yourself in this role after graduation?
   3. Where do you visualize yourself in 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years?
6. Resume

*Eligibility for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) certification examination requires completion of the following three separate,comprehensive graduate-level courses:

• Advanced Physical/Health Assessment
• Advanced Pathophysiology (through the lifespan)
• Advanced Pharmacology

Prior coursework will be evaluated during the application process and any noted deficiencies will be disclosed at the time of admission.

A customized plan of study will be created for admitted students and is based upon prior course work. Additional foundational coursework to meet ANCC certification requirements may be required.

Certificate Requirements

Clinical Hours: 750*

*

Clinical hours are completed through the following required courses: NURS 986, NURS 987, NURS 988, NURS 989.

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Deadlines

Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:

• Fall: June 1
• Spring: October 1
• Summer: N/A

Application fee: $25

Campus: Online

New England Regional: No

Accelerated Masters Eligible: No

New Hampshire Residents

Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission, or you will not be able to register for classes.

Distance Education Licensing Requirements

NC-SARA does not cover professional licensing board approval for programs leading to state licensure or certification. If the online program that you are considering is designed to lead to professional licensure or certification in your state, please read the professional licensure page at the UNH Online website for more information.

Transcripts

If you attended UNH or Granite State College (GSC) after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester, UNH Non-Degree work and GSC. 

If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must upload a copy (PDF) of your transcript in the application form. International transcripts must be translated into English.

If admitted, you must then request an official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:

• Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
• Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.

Transcripts from all previous post-secondary institutions must be submitted and applicants must disclose any previous academic or disciplinary sanctions that resulted in their temporary or permanent separation from a previous post-secondary institution. If it is found that previous academic or disciplinary separations were not disclosed, applicants may face denial and admitted students may face dismissal from their academic program.

Letters of recommendation: 3 required

Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.

References should be substantial with one academic referee (e.g., faculty) and one current nursing professional referee with graduate education who has known you in a mentoring or supervisory capacity.

Resume

A current resume is required with your submitted application.

Personal Statement/Essay Questions

Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:

1. This is a post-graduate program that requires a high cognitive load, explain in detail how you are going to prepare yourself for that and manage throughout the program?
2. Discuss the Post-Master’s PMHNP program, what experiences have contributed to your interest and how do you visualize yourself in this role after graduation?
3. Where do you visualize yourself in 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years?

Department Requirements

The admission criteria for the PM-PMHNP program includes transcript evidence for advanced pathophysiology throughout the lifespan, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment in order to meet the requirements for ANCC certification testing. Candidates without three separate courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment will be reviewed on a case by case basis and may be required to complete the missing course work before being endorsed for ANCC certification testing.

Based on review of completed application materials, some applicants will be considered further and invited to participate in an interview. Applicants will be contacted if they qualify for this step in the application process.

Applicants who completed prior nursing education internationally must request and submit verification from CGFNS. CGFNS is the only evaluating body accepted by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for board certification eligibility upon successful program completion. The evaluation determines whether or not prior coursework renders the applicant eligible for eventual ANCC certification and reviews perquisite requirements for the PM-PMHNP program and subsequent certification.

International Applicants

Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.

Questions

For program-specific application questions, please contact the UNH Online Student Success Coaches: unh.online@unh.edu or 855.250.6699