Expand your expertise as an NP in psychiatric mental health care.
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After completing the program and passing the certification boards, you'll earn the PMHNP-BC credential, opening the door to a wide range of career opportunities in psychiatric mental health. Choose from a primary care office, specialty mental health practice, addiction center, or community-based health clinic as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Pursue careers in academia as a faculty member or a clinical instructor in a nursing school. Wherever your path leads, you'll have the knowledge, credentials, and confidence to make a meaningful impact.
Here’s where this degree can take you:
Deadlines: April 1 for Fall
Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.
Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the program-specific requirements.
Estimate Your Program Cost: Get a feel for your expected program costs using the Graduate Program Cost Calculator.
Program Cost Information: For more detailed information on costs, visit the Bursar's website to learn more about Regular Session Tuition & Fees for in person courses and Special Price Tuition & Fees for online courses. Please refer to Financial Aid for more information.
Required Courses (24 credits)
Take the following 6 courses
Demonstrate competence & clinical judgement in prioritizing person-centered, culturally sensitive care delivered with a focus on health equity.
Integrate best evidence into nursing practice to coordinate and manage health care for individuals, families, communities, and populations across the life span.
Program Requirements: Complete all 24 credits from 6 required courses.
Clinical Experience: All students must complete 600 hours of documented, supervised clinical experience as part of the PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate program. Students are responsible for arranging their own clinical placements; however, all practicum experiences are subject to approval by the Program Director(s).
Clinical training sites must be under a formal affiliation agreement with the UMass Boston College of Nursing and Health Sciences, which will be facilitated by the Placement Office prior to the start of the clinical course.
Clinical preceptors must be appropriately qualified and include Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs), Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), or Psychiatrists (MD/DO) with evidence of current licensure, board certification, and clinical expertise relevant to psychiatric mental health practice.
Grading Basis: Courses taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis may not be applied toward the program.
Statute of Limitations: Four years.
The Nursing Post-Master’s Certificate: PMHNP program at UMass Boston is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.
Build on your graduate training and clinical experience as you strengthen your skills in psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacologic care. You’ll be prepared to deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive treatment at every stage of life.
Explore the department and college that supports your journey in Nursing.
