Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Post-Master’s Certificate

A post-master’s certificate can be earned in the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track.

Requirements for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate

Qualifications for participation in a post-master’s certificate track include completion of both the baccalaureate and an advanced practice master’s degree in nursing from a CNEA or CCNE-accredited program at a regionally accredited institution, or an equivalent institution, as determined by graduate faculty in The Stabler Department of Nursing faculty. Transcripts from previous educational institutions will be reviewed as part of a gap analysis, which is required by professional certification bodies (American Nurses Credentialing Center [ANCC]). If previous coursework is not substantially similar to York College degree requirements, additional coursework may be required. A gap analysis is completed for all post-master’s applicants and the results are shared during the acceptance process.

Post-masterʼs students who are not currently practicing as a nurse practitioner (NP) must complete 56 hours of clinical experience with a nurse practitioner (unless they are required to take NUR509/510), prior to enrolling in the first clinical course, (NUR 562). Post-master’s students who have not met this requirement will register for one (1) credit of independent study during the semester prior to entering NUR 562. The purpose of this independent study experience is for the student to practice history taking and physical exam skills. Students who are currently practicing as NPs may be required to demonstrate performance of a complete physical exam prior to enrollment in the first clinical course, NUR 562.

The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (PASBoN) requires applicants for prescriptive privileges to have completed a 45-hour advanced pharmacology course within the five years prior to application for privileges. Therefore, post-masterʼs students who plans to seek privileges in Pennsylvania, and whose advanced pharmacology course will be older than five years by the time of program completion, are required to take another advanced pharmacology course that can be approved by the Nurse Practitioner Program Director and the PASBoN. If prescriptive privileges will be sought in a state that does not have the same requirement, the student must take a continuing education pharmacology refresher course prior to enrollment in NUR560 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate courses

Students who enroll in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner post-master’s track will complete 27 credits of PMHNP courses, including 14 credits (784 hours) of direct care clinical. An individualized gap analysis will reveal whether the student must complete additional core coursework prior to enrollment in clinical courses. Students will be notified of gap analysis findings during the admission process.

NUR 560 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan 3 credits hours
NUR 562 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I 6 credit hours.
NUR 563 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I Clinical 0 credit hours.
NUR 564 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II 6 credit hours.
NUR 565 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II Clinical 0 credit hours
NUR 566 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities Across the Lifespan 5 credit hours.
NUR 567 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities Across the Lifespan Clinical 0 credit hours
NUR 568 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities in Special Populations 7 credit hours.
NUR 569 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities in Special Populations Clinical 0 credit hours

Suggested Course Sequence

Semester One

NUR 560 Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan 3 credits hours

Semester Two

3 theory hours; 3 clinical hours (168 total clinical hours)

NUR 562 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I 6 credit hours.
NUR 563 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I Clinical 0 credit hours.

Semester Three

3 theory hours; 3 clinical hours (168 total clinical hours)

NUR 564 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II 6 credit hours.
NUR 565 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II Clinical 0 credit hours

Semester Four

2 theory hours; 3 clinical hours (168 total clinical hours)

NUR 566 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities Across the Lifespan 5 credit hours.
NUR 567 Advanced Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities Across the Lifespan Clinical 0 credit hours

Semester Five

2 theory hours; 5 clinical hours (280 total clinical hours)

NUR 568 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities in Special Populations 7 credit hours.
NUR 569 Advanced Diagnosis and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Modalities in Special Populations Clinical 0 credit hours

Total Program Credits = 27

784 total direct care clinical hours