Post-Master's Advanced Placement Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Online
If you have completed an NP-focused graduate master’s or doctoral nursing program this certificate program enables you to gain advanced PMHNP credentials in less time than earning a full master’s degree.
Program Overview
The what, why and how of our Post-Master’s AP PMHNP Online Certificate
Expand your expertise with in-demand knowledge and techniques to diagnose and treat common mental illnesses with this advanced placement post-master's PMHNP certificate online from St. Thomas University. If you have completed an NP-focused graduate master’s or doctoral nursing program, you can become a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner in less time than earning a full master’s degree.
Discover how to help patients with acute or chronic psychiatric disorders function more productively by learning and applying theories and practices related to psychiatry. Specialized courses such as psychopathology and psychopharmacology will help you navigate evolving trends in psychiatric health.
Learn to assess, plan, and treat psychiatric disorders, and prepare to utilize psychotherapy and therapeutic communication techniques that can be applied with individuals, groups, and families. As you build on your foundation of evidence-based practice and complete 500 clinical hours, you will be prepared to work more independently as a mental health practitioner and nurse leader.
Learning Outcomes
- Integrate advanced knowledge in nursing, related science, and leadership skills that will emphasize ethical and critical decision-making to promote safe, high quality, cost effective, and culturally appropriate care across diverse settings
- Incorporate evidence-based research to resolve practice problems and improve knowledge
- Construct processes for self-accountability of professional growth, adopt lifelong learning, and practice safely and effectively within your chosen specialty to maintain health and improve patient outcomes
- Establish an environment of advanced practice that is conducive to the development of effective interactions with patients, other disciplines, and other entities in communities
- Advocate for policies that lead to improved health outcomes for populations and the improvement of the quality of the health care system at the local, regional, state, national, and global level
- Demonstrate competence in the communication, collaboration, and consultation to advance interprofessional teams
- Integrate clinical prevention and health promotion strategies to maintain optimal health and improve patient health outcomes
- Apply advanced knowledge gained from nursing and other related sciences to practice as a competent health care provider
- Integrate advanced knowledge in nursing, related science, and leadership skills that will emphasize ethical and critical decision-making to promote safe, high quality, cost effective, and culturally appropriate care across diverse settings
- Incorporate evidence-based research to resolve practice problems and improve knowledge
- Construct processes for self-accountability of professional growth, adopt lifelong learning, and practice safely and effectively within your chosen specialty to maintain health and improve patient outcomes
- Establish an environment of advanced practice that is conducive to the development of effective interactions with patients, other disciplines, and other entities in communities
- Advocate for policies that lead to improved health outcomes for populations and the improvement of the quality of the health care system at the local, regional, state, national, and global level
- Demonstrate competence in the communication, collaboration, and consultation to advance interprofessional teams
- Integrate clinical prevention and health promotion strategies to maintain optimal health and improve patient health outcomes
- Apply advanced knowledge gained from nursing and other related sciences to practice as a competent health care provider
Nursing Career Opportunities
- Correctional facilities, through their behavioral health programs
- Residential substance abuse shelters
- Outpatient clinics
- Detox centers
- Schools
- Mental health agencies
- Hospitals
- Private practice
- Correctional facilities, through their behavioral health programs
- Residential substance abuse shelters
- Outpatient clinics
- Detox centers
- Schools
- Mental health agencies
- Hospitals
- Private practice
Also available:
St. Thomas University offers a variety of nursing programs. Check out all of our online nursing programs.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree, master's degree, Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and post-graduate certificate programs in nursing at St. Thomas University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Tuition
Our Post-Master’s AP PMHNP Online Certificate program is cost-effective
Tuition for the Post-Master’s Advanced Placement Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate online program is the same for in-state and out-of-state students and can be paid by the course. The total tuition is inclusive of all fees, including a technology fee for each course and lab fees for specific nursing courses. Tuition costs are subject to change at any time.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per 3 Hour Credit Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Master’s AP PMHNP Certificate | $605 | $1,890 | $16,930* |
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Know when it’s time to act
The Post-Master’s Advanced Placement Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program is delivered in an online format ideal for working professionals, conveniently featuring multiple start dates each year. Choose the start date that's best for you.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 1/11/25 | 12/27/24 | 1/2/25 | 1/6/25 | 1/11/25 | 3/7/25 | 7 weeks |
| Spring 2 | 3/15/25 | 2/28/25 | 3/5/25 | 3/10/25 | 3/19/25 | 5/9/25 | 7 weeks |
| Summer 1 | 5/17/25 | 5/2/25 | 5/7/25 | 5/12/25 | 5/21/25 | 6/27/25 | 6 weeks |
| Summer 2 | 6/28/25 | 6/13/25 | 6/18/25 | 6/23/25 | 7/2/25 | 8/8/25 | 6 weeks |
| Fall 1 | 8/23/25 | 8/8/25 | 8/13/25 | 8/18/25 | 8/27/25 | 10/17/25 | 7 weeks |
| Fall 2 | 10/18/25 | 10/3/25 | 10/8/25 | 10/13/25 | 10/22/25 | 12/12/25 | 7 weeks |
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Admissions
Requirements for your online Post-Master’s AP PMHNP Certificate
Our very reasonable admission requirements allow students from diverse nursing backgrounds greater access to the Post-Master’s Advanced Placement Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate online program. You must possess an unencumbered RN license, a master's degree in a nurse practitioner field, and submit transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Due to in-person clinical requirements, only students currently residing in Florida and Georgia can enter this program.
Admission Requirements:
- Free Application
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Active RN license
The following are required for admission to the Post-Master’s Advanced Placement Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate online program:
- Completed free application
- MSN degree in a nurse practitioner field from an accredited nursing school
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (Unofficial transcripts are accepted to receive a decision)
- 3.0 or higher GPA
- Active and unencumbered Florida or Georgia nursing license
- Residency in Florida or Georgia for clinicals
Official transcripts can be sent to St. Thomas University through Parchment and National Student Clearinghouse. Unofficial transcripts and other documents can be uploaded via your Admissions Portal or emailed to [email protected].
Courses
The topics you’ll study in our Post-Master’s AP PMHNP Online Certificate program
The Post-Master’s Advanced Placement PMHNP Certificate online curriculum is comprised of 10 specialization courses (26 credit hours).
Courses in this program are seven weeks long. Courses during the two summer terms, however, are six weeks long.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the major classes of psychopharmacological agents commonly used in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders.
- Assess current evidence related to efficacy, prescribing patterns, side effects, drug interactions, cost effectiveness, chemical dependence, gender and genetic issues, and new classes of psychopharmacological agents.
- Employ evidence-based research and practice findings to develop effective prescribing patterns that include initiating, dosing, discontinuing, combining, and switching medications.
- Develop relevant client education strategies in relation to health promotion, side-effect management, and prevention of relapse.
- Develop and assess plans for care for clients undergoing psychopharmacotherapy that include identifying nursing interventions, monitoring activities, and expected outcomes of care.
Learning Outcomes
- Articulate the etiological theories, the diagnostic process and nomenclature of psychiatric disorders.
- Create contemporary treatment approaches for common psychiatric disorders.
- Discern between different major categories of psychiatric disorders.
Learning Outcomes
- Employ evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage screening activities and identify health promotion needs on clients with mental health issues.
- Provide guidance and counseling on environmental, lifestyle, and developmental issues for clients with mental health issues.
- Build collaborative, interdisciplinary relationships to provide optimal care to patients with mental health diseases in a way that is appropriate for their age and culture.
- Manage patients with mental and psychiatric disorders.
- Use the Diagnostic Statistical Manual as a tool for assessment and diagnosis of mental illnesses and to better understand a client's potential needs.
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate the appropriateness of clinical modalities for individuals with specific mental illnesses.
- Examine current research findings of clinical modalities used in treating individuals with mental illnesses.
- Provide individual therapies that promote mental health for individuals and families across their lifespan.
- Understand clinical modalities used in health promotion and treatment of individuals with mental illness across their lifespan.
Learning Outcomes
- Provide individual and group therapies to promote mental health for individuals and families across the lifespan.
- Incorporate assessment findings and differential diagnoses to pinpoint and prioritize treatment of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders.
- Provide culturally informed mental health care in populations across the lifespan with complex acute and chronic psychiatric disorders.
- Demonstrate beginning skills of providing quality mental health care.
- Conduct self-evaluation of clinical practice experiences and foster professional growth.
Learning Outcomes
- Determine individual and group therapies to encourage mental health for individuals and families across the lifespan.
- Use assessment findings and differential diagnoses to identify and prioritize treatment of acute and chronic psychiatric disorders.
- Provide culturally informed mental health care to populations across the lifespan with complex acute and chronic psychiatric disorders.
- Cultivate professional growth and advanced practice nursing role development through critical self-evaluation of clinical practice experiences.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals and community providers.
The Post-Master’s Advanced Placement PMHNP Certificate requires students to complete a total of 500 clinical hours to graduate from the program. There are four clinical courses with 125 clinical hours required for each of these classes: NUR 620: Psychiatric Management I, NUR 630: Psychiatric Management II, NUR 640: Psychiatric Management III, and NUR 650: Psychiatric Management IV. Each clinical course runs over a seven-week period, and the required hours must be completed by the end of each course. See course descriptions for more details.
Prior to beginning clinical courses, you are required to complete and submit proof of the following:
- Current unencumbered RN licensure in Florida
- Current Professional Liability Insurance
- Criminal Background Check
- Drug Screening
- Basic Life Support (CPR) certification
- Annual Physical Examination
- Current Immunizations
Finding Clinical Sites and Preceptors
Finding a clinical preceptor and site are essential components for completing this program. STU strongly encourages students to secure their own preceptors, as this is the best way to accommodate schedule and location to the student’s needs. We strongly encourage students to have an alternate preceptor available if needed.
If assistance with clinical placement is needed, you may be required to commute outside your local area, as STU cannot guarantee a clinical site within your immediate location. Please note that your clinical site could be up to 100 miles from your residence.
Restrictions on Clinical Sites
We highly encourage all clinical hours to be conducted in the primary care setting for this program. Students are restricted from completing clinical rotations on their assigned unit. Your immediate supervisor at your place of employment may not serve as your preceptor. Students are not permitted to perform clinical rotations during hours they are working as an employee at a facility. Students are also not allowed to be paid during clinical hours.
STU is ranked #80 in the “Best Regional Universities South” by U.S. News & World Report, 2022
*The total tuition is inclusive of all fees, including a technology fee for each course and lab fees for specific courses. Tuition costs are subject to change at any time.
