Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate

This certificate prepares students for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role through formal study in the theory and practice of advanced practice psychiatric nursing in a variety of practice settings within the health care delivery system. Graduates will be eligible for prescriptive authority and will have the potential to perform a variety of mental health services, including medication management and psychotherapy. Course and practice content focus on the assessment and management of serious mental illness.

Graduates of the PMHNP post-master’s certificate are eligible to sit for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner national certification examination given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Admission Requirements

Check Mason's online catalog for admission requirements. Additional information is available on the Graduate Admissions for Nursing Programs site.

Certificate Requirements

Candidates must have 21 graduate credits and a minimum GPA of 3.00 in course work, with no more than 3 credits with a grade of C to earn the certificate.

View catalog information for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Graduate Certificate.

View a sample schedule (pdf).

Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program has been identified by George Mason University as one that may lead to a career requiring professional licensure/certification. Federal regulations require Mason to disclose information as to whether this program meets/does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in your state, or whether such a determination has not been made. Please consult our Licensure Disclosure Tool (https://provost.gmu.edu/licensure) for the disclosure statement specific to your desired state/program combination.

Psychiatric Mental Health is a growing area for nurse practitioners interested in working with people across the lifespan on their mental health needs. These specialized practitioners work in clinics, mental health units in hospital, nursing homes, private practice, and mental health-specific treatment centers.