Nursing Post-Master's Certificate PMHNP

Nursing Post-Master's Certificate: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Expand your expertise as an NP in psychiatric mental health care.

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Expand your expertise in psychiatric mental health care with UMass Boston’s Nursing Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate. Develop advanced PMHNP skills in assessment, diagnosis, therapy, and medication management while learning to address complex mental health needs across the life span. Apply your knowledge through 600 hours of supervised clinical practice in settings ranging from primary care to community and specialty mental health, preparing you to advance your career as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Here’s your chance to:

Prepare for national PMHNP certification and graduate ready to make a real difference as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Advance your expertise by integrating psychiatric mental health care into your advanced practice specialty.
Learn from experienced, board-certified PMHNPs, psychiatric clinical nurse specialists, and psychiatrists, gaining practical skills through hands-on clinical training.

annual median pay for nurse practitioners

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job growth rate through 2034, much faster than average

Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024

semesters to complete the program

University Survey, 2026

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Attend an Information Session

Join an upcoming information session to learn more about the Nursing PMC: PMHNP and the application process.

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Career Possibilities

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:

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Psychiatric/Mental Health Practice Business Owner
Faculty Member

Plan Your Education

How to Apply

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.

Financing Your Education

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.

Program Details

PMHNP Application Requirements

Official transcripts from all colleges attended
Personal statement: As a prompt, focus on the following: why you want to pursue graduate studies, why you are interested in pursuing the PMHNP track and how will the degree help with your professional and personal goals
Two professional references
Current résumé/CV
Master’s degree in nursing (MSN) from an accredited program
Active MA unencumbered RN License & NP License/Certification
GPA 3.3 or higher in graduate coursework
Minimum of 1 year of nurse practitioner clinical experience required

Curriculum

Required Courses (24 credits)
Take the following 6 courses

NU645 - Neurobiology and Diagnosis of Mental Health Disorders Across the Lifespan 3 Credit(s)
NU646 - Advanced Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan 3 Credit(s)
NU647 - Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management I 3 Credit(s)
NU648 - Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum I 6 Credit(s)
NU649 - Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum II 6 Credit(s)
NU650 - Psychiatric Mental Health Diagnosis and Management II 3 Credit(s)

Learning Outcomes

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.

Analyze effective communication, teamwork, and collaboration strategies to address the concerns of diverse populations within complex healthcare systems.
Apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes of promoting wellness and managing illness and chronic conditions to advance health equity and enhance population health in local and transcultural communities.
Create a culture of quality and safety within complex healthcare systems to achieve optimal health outcomes across the lifespan for diverse populations.
Integrate informatics and technology into contemporary professional nursing practice to achieve desired patient outcomes.
Utilize current ethical and legal standards and health care policies to guide nursing practice and improve healthcare outcomes.
Demonstrate professionalism and leadership in contemporary nursing practice.

Graduation Criteria

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.

Contact

Nursing PMC
nursing@umb.edu

Graduate Program Director: Mercy Bashir
mercy.bashir@umb.edu

Accreditation

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.

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