Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Online
Advance your nursing career and prepare for PMHNP certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) with this evidence-based, patient-centered program.
Program Overview
Explore the online psychiatric NP certification program
Expand your scope of practice and gain advanced clinical experience with the online Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program from Texas State University. In this flexible, fully online program, you will learn to assess, diagnose, and manage mental health conditions across the lifespan.
Our CCNE-accredited curriculum features essential topics like psychopharmacology, diagnostics, clinical management, and more. Courses are led by expert faculty members who provide the personalized support you need to thrive.
Upon completion, you will be prepared for the PMHNP certification exam and licensure as an APRN. We have a 100% pass rate among recent graduates, so you can be confident you are gaining the evidence-based skills to excel in this rewarding and in-demand practice area.
As a student in this online psychiatric nurse practitioner certificate program, you will learn how to:
- Engage in advanced nursing practice through integration of scientific findings
- Participate in organizational and systems leadership to promote quality and safe patient care
- Lead quality improvement processes
- Synthesize and critique research to integrate best evidence into practice
- Utilize healthcare technologies and informatics
- Engage in advanced nursing practice through integration of scientific findings
- Participate in organizational and systems leadership to promote quality and safe patient care
- Lead quality improvement processes
- Synthesize and critique research to integrate best evidence into practice
- Utilize healthcare technologies and informatics
Upon completion of the psychiatric NP certification program, you will be prepared for career opportunities such as:
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health
- Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Specializing in Psychiatric Mental Health
- Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Also available:
We offer a variety of student-centered online degrees that can help you advance. Explore other healthcare programs.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Texas State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
"My goal as an educator is to ensure the future of innovative health care delivery by providing quality online instruction that incorporates foundational knowledge, including nursing complexity theory, change management and leadership, political advocacy, and financial acumen required to emerge as nurse leaders capable of impacting health care systems on a larger scale."
Stacey, Cropley DNP, RN, LNCC Graduate Program Director, Clinical Associate Professor
"My courses provide students with the foundational knowledge, concepts, and practice competencies in the role of the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, leveraging the current literature and standard of care in this field to support online learning to ensure that students develop the minimum competencies upon graduation to support clients with mental health issues."
Amber, Littlefield DNP, M.Ed., FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, CNE PMHNP Track Coordinator, Clinical Associate Professor
"My courses support student learning in the role of the Family Nurse Practitioner, incorporating foundational knowledge, skills, and competencies in providing primary care services to patients across the lifespan, emphasizing holistic care of the patient and family. Innovative learning experiences empower students to develop critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and therapeutic communication skills, preparing them for successful careers as primary care providers who deliver patient-centered, evidence-based care."
Ashley, Walters-Snider MSN, APRN, FNP-C FNP Track Coordinator, Clinical Assistant Professor
"My objective is to combine my expertise in academia, family nurse practitioner practice, and life experiences into the online classroom to educate students, so they come away with a practical understanding of the important role of the family nurse practitioner in patient care equity and advocacy."
Tracey, Smith DNP, APRN, FNP-BC DNP Program Coordinator, Clinical Associate Professor
"My courses support foundational student learning in the family nurse practitioner role in the delivery of primary care, drawing on advanced pathophysiology, health assessment, and primary care interventional modalities by leveraging my knowledge, expertise, and research interests to support the ability of students to translate research into practice, improving care delivery."
Gloria, Park APRN, FNP-C, RN Assistant Professor
"My courses support student learning in the role of the family nurse practitioner, providing foundational and advanced knowledge, concepts, and skills needed to successfully manage patients across the lifespan. My goal is to impart to the family nurse practitioner student, not only medical facts, but the intellectual tools to approach any acute or chronic disease they may encounter."
Dixie, Andelman DNP, APRN, FNP-C, BC-ADM Clinical Assistant Professor
Tuition
Benefit from pay-as-you-go tuition
Tuition for the GC-PMHNP online program is affordable and paid by the course, so you can achieve your academic goals while remaining within your budget.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per Course | Per Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grad Cert PMHNP | $499 | $1,497 | $11,885* |
*Per program cost includes fees for online simulation software and standardized patients charged in the first semester only. Students enrolled in Accelerated Online Programs are not eligible for payment plans or the emergency loan. Tuition and fees are subject to change by legislative or Board of Regents action; changes become effective on the date of enactment. Please visit the TXST One Stop for more information on Cost of Attendance.
Tuition breakdown
Ready to take the next step
toward earning your degree?
Calendar
Start your program sooner online
The Texas State GC-PMHNP program is delivered in a convenient online learning format that offers maximum flexibility for working adults like you. Choose the start date that fits your goals.
| Term | Start Date | App Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Class End Date | Term Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 2026 | 1/20/26 | 1/6/26 | 1/13/26 | 1/20/26 | 1/20/26 | 3/9/26 | 8 weeks |
Now Enrolling
Admissions
Here’s how to apply for the online PMHNP graduate certificate program
Apply to the GC-PMHNP online program quickly and easily with our streamlined admission process. Review the admission requirements below and take the next step toward your professional goals.
To be eligible for the online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification program from Texas State University, you must have the following:
- Completed online application
- Nonrefundable application fee of $20 ($60 for international applicants*)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from a regionally accredited institution and from a nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or other nationally recognized nursing education accrediting body. The student's BSN degree must be reflected on the transcript at the time of application.
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from a regionally accredited institution and from a nursing program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or other nationally recognized nursing education accrediting body. The MSN degree must be reflected on the transcript at the time of application.
- Official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate and graduate nursing courses from an accredited college or university
- Completed college course in statistics with a grade of C or better. Course must be completed at the time of application and reflected on submitted transcripts.
- Current, valid, unencumbered copy of your registered nurse (RN) license in Texas with date issued from the Board of Nursing, and Nursys report must be uploaded into the application system. Multistate licenses are accepted.
- If applicant holds a current, valid, unencumbered advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) license in Texas, applicant must submit a copy with date issued from the Board of Nursing and Nursys into the application system
- Minimum of three years full-time experience as a registered nurse (RN) based on licensure issue date prior to the application period
- Minimum of one year full-time experience in a master’s-prepared nursing role (i.e., APRN, nurse educator, nurse leader, etc.) prior to the application deadline for the program
Note: GRE is not required. Applicants who are not licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners will be required to take Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Health Assessments to meet the foundational prerequisites and requirements of an APRN degree or certificate program.
International students must meet all standard admission requirements as well as the following:
Applicants are required to submit an approved English proficiency exam score that meets the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on Texas State University's exempt countries list.
- Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- Official PTE scores required with a 52
- Official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
*Texas State defines an on-campus international student as anyone with a nonimmigrant visa status, including H-1B visa holders, or those seeking a visa to enroll. If you are not a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, you will be classified as an international applicant.
An online international student is someone who holds citizenship in another country, is not a U.S. permanent resident, and resides outside the U.S. while enrolling in an online program.
Students who are not on a visa but are graduating from a Texas high school after three years in residence are considered domestic applicants.
If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, you are considered a domestic applicant.
Admission Requirements
- Online application
- Unencumbered RN license
- MSN from a regionally accredited institution
Courses
Review the online psychiatric NP certificate curriculum
To graduate from the GC-PMHNP online program, you must complete a total of 20 credit hours, which are comprised of nine courses, as well as 735 total practice hours.
The School of Nursing has well over 1000 different clinical agreements with various providers across Texas, as well as preceptors that have been utilized within those settings, in a database to facilitate student clinical placements. Students are responsible for contacting the clinical sites to inquire about availability and openings for placement. A Clinical Education Placement Coordinator helps to facilitate this process and provides departmental approvals for student placements once a suitable location is found. We do not assign preceptors, as each student’s geographical location varies. Students and preceptors develop the clinical schedule together, suiting both the student and preceptor.
The St. David's School of Nursing at Texas State University is recognized among the "Top 30 Affordable Nursing Programs in the Southwest" by Mometrix, 2022
