Program Overview

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Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's Certificate)

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (P.M.H.N.P.) post-master's certificate program is designed for registered nurses ready to expand their role and provide high-quality, evidence-based psychiatric care across the lifespan.

Program Overview

Texas State's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (P.M.H.N.P.) program empowers advanced practice nurses to deliver expert, compassionate mental health care across the lifespan. With small class sizes and supportive faculty, students benefit from personalized learning and flexibility. The Virtual Class Simulation Intensives (CSIs) offer immersive online experiences, including clinical simulations and interactive sessions with peers, faculty, and expert guest speakersall designed to strengthen clinical confidence and competence.

Course Work

The post-master's certificate P.M.H.N.P. program combines flexible online coursework with hands-on clinical practicum experiences. Students complete supervised practicum hours one-on-one with a qualified preceptor within the state of Texas. In addition to clinical placements, students participate in Virtual Class Simulation Intensives (CSIs)interactive online sessions designed to strengthen diagnostic and clinical skills through simulation-based learning, collaboration with faculty, and connection with fellow P.M.H.N.P. students. The certificate requires 20 semester credit hours and fulfillment of the required practicum hours.

Core Coursework

• Neuroscience, Epigenetics, and Psychopharmacology
• Diagnostics and Clinical Management for Adult-Geriatric Clients
• Diagnostics and Clinical Management for Pediatric Clients
• Integrative Clinical Management Across the Lifespan

Program Details

Program Mission

Preparing the next generation of nurses to improve health care. The St. David's School of Nursing at Texas State University educates and prepares graduates using innovative teaching strategies and state-of-the-art technology. Graduates provide ethical, safe, and effective patient-centered care and contribute to present and emerging research and health management practices.

Career Options

Graduates are employed in a wide variety of clinical settings as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and often choose to pursue doctoral studies. P.M.H.N.P.s often work in inpatient acute psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation units, outpatient psychiatric clinics, and even own their own clinics. Graduates are qualified to take the P.M.H.N.P. national certification examination, which is a requirement for licensure as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN).

Program Faculty

St. David's School of Nursing faculty are expert advanced nursing leaders and clinicians who bring diverse knowledge and skills into their teaching. In addition to maintaining currency in clinical practice, faculty engage in service and scholarly pursuits. Faculty are highly active in research, service, and clinical practice and frequently present at local, national, and international conferences.

Admission Requirements

The items required for admission consideration are listed below.

• Completed online application
• $20 nonrefundable application fee, or $60 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
• Bachelor of science in nursing (B.S.N.) 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
• Master of science in nursing (M.S.N.) 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
• Official transcripts from each institution where course credit was granted
• A minimum 3.25 overall GPA or 3.25 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
• A minimum 3.25 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale in nursing courses from an accredited college or university (plus any completed graduate courses)
• Completed college course in statistics with a grade of C or higher

Test Scores

• GRE not required
• Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores:
  • Official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
  • Official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
  • Official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and minimum individual module scores of 6.0
  • Official Duolingo Scores required with a 110 overall
  • Official TOEFL Essentials scores required with an 8.5 overall

Documents and Other Requirements

• Current, valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Texas
• If applicant holds advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) license, applicant must submit a copy of current, valid, unencumbered licensure in Texas
• A minimum equivalent of one-year full-time experience in the master's prepared nursing role prior to the application deadline for the program
• A minimum of three years full-time experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) based on licensure issue date prior to the application period

Additional Requirements

Once a student has been offered admission, the following additional criteria must be completed and met prior to the start of classes or by the due dates set by the School of Nursing.

1. Clear, current criminal background check and drug test
2. Student liability insurance fee paid to Texas State University
3. Health Certificate and exam completed and signed by a healthcare provider
4. Currency and proof of all required immunizations
5. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers
6. Documentation of health insurance for each semester in the program
7. Laptop requirements for the program
8. Essential Competency Requirements and attestation
9. Completion of New Student Orientation as scheduled

Application Deadlines

• Term: Summer, Part of Term: First 8 Weeks, Deadline: April 27, Start Date: May 26
• Term: Fall, Part of Term: First 8 Weeks, Deadline: July 22, Start Date: August 19
• Term: Spring, Part of Term: First 8 Weeks, Deadline: December 17, Start Date: January 19