Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate

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Enhance your skills in assessing and treating mental health patients, and prepare for certification with Indiana State University’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate.

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Program Availability

The online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate is open to eligible in-state and many out-of-state applicants. The certificate program is closed to all students (including U.S. military and State Department personnel and their family members) residing in a country other than the United States. 

View state eligibility list

Why Earn a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate at Indiana State?

The online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate equips master's-prepared nurses with specialized knowledge and skills to assess and address mental health needs across diverse settings, from inpatient hospitals to outpatient primary care settings. Students who complete this credential are qualified to sit for national certification, empowering them to provide expert care for this patient population.

Serve a Growing Healthcare Need

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate equips you with the knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders, as well as to provide ongoing care and support to individuals with these conditions. 

There is an increasing need across Indiana and throughout the nation for mental healthcare services and providers. Mental illness and related disorders are becoming more prevalent and have a significant impact on individuals, families, and communities. 

Growing demand has strained capacity within the existing mental health workforce. Significant numbers of psychiatrists are retiring, and there are not enough providers to take their place. Credentialed psychiatric nurse practitioners can help fill this provider gap and deliver critical care for an underserved community of patients. 

Learn from Our Excellent Faculty

As a student in Indiana State’s School of Nursing, you will benefit from faculty who are dedicated to providing quality hands-on learning opportunities through innovative course design, clinical experiences, and service-learning projects. Faculty research and specialties encompass areas such as medical-surgical nursing, acute care, mental health, emergency nursing, and patient outcomes and safety. 

What You’ll Learn in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate Program

The PMHNP certificate offers a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum to prepare students for advanced practice in the field of psychiatric nursing. The certificate provides a strong foundation in psychiatric theory and practice, promotes the development of innovative and evidence-based approaches to mental health care, and facilitates hands-on clinical experience in a variety of mental health care settings. 

Students who complete Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate are eligible to sit for the national certification exam. They are well-equipped to provide high-quality care to individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders.

View the curriculum

Career Possibilities for PMHNP Graduates

There is significant and growing demand for psychiatric nurse practitioners across Indiana and the United States. Career opportunities exist in hospitals, psychiatric offices, short- and long-term care facilities, and other settings where mental health and substance abuse disorders are treated.

Zippia reports that demand for PNPs was expected to grow by 40% between 2018 and 2028

Accreditation

Indiana State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Higher Learning Commission

The Graduate Nursing Program at Indiana State University admitted its first students in 1986. It has maintained continuous accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. (ACEN) since 1989. 

Admission Requirements and Application Instructions

Applicants to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate at Indiana State University must have completed a Master of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited institution. Applicants must have a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students in an MSN program may apply in their final semester. 

Prerequisites

The following courses are required for admission consideration to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate. Official transcripts must show courses completed or in progress.

  1. Advanced Pharmacology – Applicants must earn a minimum grade of “B” in a three-credit-hour graduate-level pharmacology course completed within five years of application at an approved institution. NPs with current prescriptive authority have met this requirement. Applicants who have not met this requirement may still apply and must take APN 645 at Indiana State if granted admission. Please note that some states require the course to be completed within five years of certification testing. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify their state’s requirement and retake the course if necessary. 
  2. Advanced Pathophysiology – Applicants must earn a minimum grade of “B” in a three-credit- hour graduate-level advanced pathophysiology course completed at an approved institution. Applicants who have not met this requirement may still apply and must take BIO 633 at Indiana State if granted admission. 
  3. Advanced Assessment - Applicants must earn a minimum grade of “B” in a graduate-level advanced assessment nursing course completed at an approved institution. A syllabus must be submitted for review. Applicants who have not met this requirement may still apply and must take APN 624 at Indiana State if granted admission. 

Evaluation Process

Applicants are evaluated on a competitive basis. Optimal candidate scoring is based on:

  • Completed application
  • Earned baccalaureate degree in nursing 
  • Master’s degree in nursing
  • GPA
  • Excellent, compelling, and clear goals that intersect closely with the Post-Master’s End of Program Student Learning Outcomes and are well-written with originality and creativity
  • High ratings on recommendation form
  • RN experience
  • Leadership roles in healthcare
  • Community service involvement

*Note: Admission decisions are made by a committee of the School of Nursing faculty utilizing a scoring rubric that incorporates the aforementioned elements. 

Application Overview

The Indiana State University School of Nursing utilizes GradCAS, the Centralized Application Service for graduate students. To apply, visit apply.airllevant.com/portal/apply.  

Please check the availability of the online program in your state. 

Questions regarding the admissions process or requirements should be directed to 

Indiana State’s School of Nursing via email.

Applications to the PM-PMHNP certificate program are accepted twice each year: 

October 1 for Spring – January start

March 1 for Fall – August start

How to Apply

To apply, visit apply.airllevant.com/portal/apply

Click Apply Now, select Graduate, then College of Health and Human Services. Under GradCAS, choose your intended start term. If you have not already created an account with GradCAS, select “Create an Account” to begin your application.

Choose Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post Master’s (Online). Please be sure to select the option associated with the term for which you intend to apply.  

Complete all required sections of the application.

Official transcripts should be sent directly to the Office of Admissions for every U.S. undergraduate and graduate institution attended. You may also order your transcripts directly through GradCAS under Academic History. Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded for each school you attended outside the U.S.

  • A master’s degree in nursing is required. Students in an MSN program may apply in their final semester. 
  • Applicants must have a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  • English as a second language students must achieve the following TOEFL scores or greater: TOEFL – 550 (PBT), 79-80 (IBT), or 213 (CBT). The School of Nursing does not accept alternate English proficiency tests.

Upload a current resume. It should include employment history and community service.

Answer all required questions in the Questions tab.

Please upload the following required documents in the Documents tab:

  • Government Issued ID - Provide a color copy of your driver’s license or passport.
  • Verification of Unencumbered RN License: Provide verification of current, unencumbered RN licensure from your State Board of Nursing website or nursys.com. A copy of your license is not sufficient.
  • Statement of Purpose - The statement of purpose is limited to 500 words or less in APA format. It should describe your professional goals and address (1) leadership as a registered nurse (RN), (2) community service in your RN role, and (3) your ability to meet the Post-Master’s End of Program Learning Outcomes.

End-of-Program Student Learning Outcomes

  • Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice: Integrates, translates, and applies scientific knowledge as the foundation for ethical practice and decision making in diverse health care settings.
  • Domain 2: Person Centered Care: Demonstrates the fundamentals of person-centered care by utilizing evidence-based and best practice(s) to develop, manage and evaluate patient care while demonstrating ethical, inclusive, and professional conduct within the scope of practice and regulatory guidelines.
  • Domain 3: Population Health: Facilitates, guides, and participates in collaborative actions or activities to promote health, prevent disease, and improve the wellbeing of individuals, organizations, and communities.
  • Domain 4: Translational Scholarship: Incorporates translational research methodologies, evidence-based practice, and critical appraisal skills to produce and disseminate nursing knowledge that improves health and transforms healthcare.
  • Domain 5: Quality and Safety: Utilize current and emerging guidelines to improve patient safety and prevent poor healthcare outcomes by identifying, designing, evaluating, and mitigating risk.
  • NP Domain 6: Inter-professional Partnerships: Exhibits effective inter-professional communication and collaborative skills in the development and implementation of practice models, peer review, practice guidelines, health policy, standards of care, and/or other scholarly products.
  • NP Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice: Demonstrates an understanding of the healthcare system, including its organization, financing, policy, and regulation to influence future practice, healthcare policy and improve healthcare outcomes.
  • Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies: Utilizes informatics and healthcare technologies to ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services in accordance with professional and regulatory standards.
  • Domain 9: Professionalism: Demonstrates integrity and accountability in developing an ethical professional nursing identity that is representative of the evolving values, ethical principles and characteristics of the profession.
  • Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: Explore personal and professional development opportunities, including leadership training to enhance skills, knowledge, and abilities as nursing professionals.

Approved Graduate Curriculum and Assessment 11.14.2023

Once all required materials have been received, your application is ready for submission. You must pay the non-refundable application fee to submit your application. You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been submitted.

If admitted, you must submit additional required program materials by the deadline included in your program admission offer letter. 

  • Background Check – Must be completed via CastleBranch using the Indiana State code. The full completed check must be uploaded to the GradCAS application.

Criminal Background Check Procedure

How do I order my INITIAL background check?

  1. Go to CastleBranch.
  2. Click on Place Order button
  3. Enter Package Code IY95
  4. Review the order request information
  5. Check the Terms and Conditions of Use box
  6. Click Continue
  7. Enter Personal Information
  8. Enter Personal Identifiers
  9. Do NOT need to enter Student Information
  10. Click Next
  11. Create Password
  12. Click Create Account
  13. Add Previous Addresses if applicable
  14. Click Next
  15. Enter your County of Residence
  16. Click Next
  17. Select whether to order a badge or not (not required for ISU)
  18. Click Next
  19. Initial background check fee: $62.75 (without a badge order)
  20. Select a method of payment: Visa, Master Card and money orders are accepted.
  21. Complete information and submit request

How do I order my RECHECK Background Check?

IMPORTANT: The recheck option and below code may be used ONLY if you have previously completed an Initial background check for the School of Nursing using the above INITIAL CODE (IY95). Castlebranch background checks completed for other schools, other Indiana State departments, or undergraduate School of Nursing programs do not make you eligible to utilize the recheck option.

  1. Go to CastleBranch.
  2. Click on the Place Order button
  3. Enter Package Code IY95re
  4. Review the order request information
  5. Check the Terms and Conditions of Use box
  6. Click Continue
  7. Enter Personal Information
  8. Enter Personal Identifiers
  9. Do NOT need to enter Student Information
  10. Click Next
  11. Add Previous Addresses if applicable
  12. Click Next
  13. Enter your County of Residence
  14. Click Next
  15. Select whether to order a badge or not (not required for ISU)
  16. Click Next
  17. Recheck background check fee: $32.75
  18. Select a method of payment: Visa, Master Card and money orders are accepted.
  19. Complete information and submit request.

Updated 09/26/23

Indiana State University offers several programs that lead to professional licensure or certification in Indiana and may lead to professional licensure in other states. These programs may satisfy the relevant educational requirements of various state licensing bodies that oversee certain professions. While Indiana State University’s programs may satisfy the basic educational requirements for licensure, applicants for licensure may need to pass additional exams and complete required applications before becoming fully licensed. Additionally, some professions may require continuing education requirements to maintain a professional license. In some cases, reciprocity arrangements may allow licensed professionals to practice in different states for which reciprocity is recognized.

In compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations found in 34 C.F.R. 668.43(a)(5)(v), Indiana State University is required to disclose whether specific programs meet educational requirements for professional licensure and certification if the programs are designed or advertised as meeting such requirements. Indiana State University has identified this program as designed for and advertised as meeting educational requirements for professional licensure. Depending on your state of legal residency, you may be required to complete the Attestation Form in the Documents tab and verify that you will seek work in a state where Indiana State University meets educational requirements.

After the published deadline, complete applications will be shared with the Admissions Committee.

Applicants are evaluated on a competitive basis. Please allow 4-6 weeks after the deadline of your admission decision. A video or in-person interview may be required.

All applicants will be notified of their admission decision via the email address provided on their application.

Students offered admission into the program are required to accept their seat by submitting a non-refundable $100 seat fee by the deadline set by the committee.

Applicants are evaluated on a competitive basis. Optimal candidate scoring is based on:

  • Complete application
  • Master’s degree in nursing
  • GPA
  • Excellent, compelling, and clear goals that intersect closely with the Post-Master’s End of Program Student Learning Outcomes and are well-written with originality and creativity
  • RN, LPN, CNA and healthcare administration experience 
  • Leadership roles in healthcare
  • Community service involvement

Note: Admission decisions are made by a committee of the School of Nursing faculty utilizing a scoring rubric that incorporates the aforementioned elements.

Next Steps 

Once admitted to Indiana State, you will receive notification from the University and will be provided your University ID number, which is needed to activate your University username on the MyISU Portal. The Portal offers access to online registration, University records, and other important services, including e-mail and University announcements. 

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