This full-time graduate certificate program combines the convenience of online learning with clinical practicum experience through a maximum of 750 clinical hours and 3 on-campus residencies. During both residencies, students participate in Observed Standardized Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification exam.
Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Graduate Certificate)
Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Graduate Certificate)

The University of New Hampshire's Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate is for primary care nurse practitioners who are looking to gain the knowledge and skills to evaluate and treat mental health needs within a variety of patient care settings.
Credit Hours: 29 | Program Length: 17 months
WHY GET A PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER CERTIFICATE?
If you're an advanced practice nurse looking to become certified to evaluate and treat the mental health needs of patients, our post-master’s psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner graduate certificate is for you. You'll learn to care for the psychiatric and mental health needs of patients throughout the lifespan while ensuring patient safety through appropriate treatment plans. Gain the skills to explain the risks and benefits of treatments to patients and their families, and to advocate for complex patient and family medicolegal rights and issues. You'll also have the knowledge to consult with healthcare providers and others to enhance quality and cost-effective services.
WHY CHOOSE UNH’S PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAM?
This full-time, low-residency graduate certificate program combines the convenience of online learning with clinical practicum experience through a minimum of 500 clinical hours and two on-campus residencies. It’s possible to complete the program in as few as 12 months, and you’ll be able to start during the fall or spring. After earning your certificate, you’ll be eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Examination.
POTENTIAL CAREERS
- College health
- Community mental health
- Consultation liaison
- Correctional facilities
- Extended care facilities
- Inpatient mental health care
- Integrated behavioral health
- Private practice
- Substance use disorder treatment
- Telehealth services
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A word from Sara Robinson, Program Director
As professionals recognize the need for a comprehensive approach to their patients' healthcare needs, the demand for psychiatric providers is growing across the country. Our Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (PMHNP) offers outstanding faculty and high-quality education that prepares graduates to sit for the certification exam and reach the next level of their careers. Providers draw strength from the strong professional relationships formed during the UNH Online PMHNP program which complements their prior experience as advanced practice nurses.
Licensing Requirements
Applicants who intend to pursue licensure after completing UNH's online Post-Masters Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate should become familiar with their state's licensure requirements. Students should contact their State Board of Nursing to confirm whether this program meets online program requirements for licensure in their state. Learn more

University of New Hampshire has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements. Learn more
Curriculum & Requirements
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program will prepare the primary care nurse practitioner to provide primary mental health care to diverse clients across the lifespan. Graduates will be prepared to manage all aspects of patient care including assessing and managing psychiatric and mental health mental health care needs in a variety of treatment settings.
The Post-Master’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is designed for the primary care nurse practitioner with a master’s degree and at least one year of advanced practice nursing experience who is looking to effectively care for patients with complex psychiatric and physical health needs. The aim of the program is to prepare nurse practitioners to add advanced psychiatric skills of therapy, prescribing psychiatric medications and clinical management needed to treat patients with mental illness and chronic medical co-morbidities.
Courses will embrace a lifespan perspective in psychiatric mental health diagnostic reasoning, psychopharmacology, neurobiology, applying psychotherapeutic modalities, individual psychotherapies and management of complex psychiatric illnesses giving the student an evidence-based framework for comprehensive psychiatric-mental health care.
Certificate Requirements
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
NURS 975 | Psychotherapeutic Frameworks and Modalities | 3 |
NURS 977 | Neurobiology of Mental Disorders | 3 |
NURS 986 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I | 2 |
NURS 978 | Clinical Psychopharmacology | 3 |
NURS 984 | Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders | 3 |
NURS 987 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum II | 2 |
NURS 988 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum III | 2 |
NURS 989 | Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum IV | 2 |
Total Credits | 20 |
Deadlines
Applications must be completed by the following deadlines in order to be reviewed for admission:
- Fall: June 1
- Spring: October 1
- Summer: N/A
Application fee: $25
Campus: Online
New England Regional: No
Accelerated Masters Eligible: No
New Hampshire Residents
Students claiming in-state residency must also submit a Proof of Residence Form. This form is not required to complete your application, but you will need to submit it after you are offered admission or you will not be able to register for classes.
Distance Education Licensing Requirements
NC-SARA does not cover professional licensing board approval for programs leading to state licensure or certification. If the online program that you are considering is designed to lead to professional licensure or certification in your state, please read the professional licensure page at the UNH Online website for more information.
Transcripts
If you attended UNH after September 1, 1991, and have indicated so on your online application, we will retrieve your transcript internally; this includes UNH-Durham, UNH-Manchester and UNH Non-Degree work.
If you did not attend UNH, or attended prior to September 1, 1991, then you must request one official transcript be sent directly to our office from the Registrar's Office of each college/university attended. International transcripts must be translated into English. We accept transcripts both electronically and in hard copy:
- Electronic Transcripts: Please have your institution send the transcript directly to grad.school@unh.edu. Please note that we can only accept copies sent directly from the institution.
- Paper Transcripts: Please send hard copies of transcripts to: UNH Graduate School, Thompson Hall- 105 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824. You may request transcripts be sent to us directly from the institution or you may send them yourself as long as they remain sealed in the original university envelope.
Transcripts are required for any school you earned a degree from, attended for at least one year, or attended for 2 or more semesters. Exceptions to this rule may be approved at the discretion of the program you are applying to and the UNH Graduate School Admission’s office.
References should be substantial with one academic referee (e.g., faculty) and one current nursing professional referee with graduate education who has known you in a mentoring or supervisory capacity.
Personal Statement/Essay Questions
Prepare a brief but careful statement regarding:
- This is a post-graduate program that requires a high cognitive load, explain in detail how you are going to prepare yourself for that and manage throughout the program?
- Discuss the Post-Master’s PMHNP program, what experiences have contributed to your interest and how do you visualize yourself in this role after graduation?
- Where do you visualize yourself in 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years?
Department Requirements
The admission criteria for the PM-PMHNP program includes transcript evidence for advanced pathophysiology throughout the lifespan, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment in order to meet the requirements for ANCC certification testing. Candidates without three separate courses in advanced pathophysiology, advanced pharmacology, and advanced health assessment will be reviewed on a case by case basis and may be required to complete the missing course work before being endorsed for ANCC certification testing.
Based on review of completed application materials, some applicants will be considered further and invited to participate in an interview. Applicants will be contacted if they qualify for this step in the application process.
Letters of recommendation: 3 required
Recommendation letters submitted by relatives or friends, as well as letters older than one year, will not be accepted.
Resume
A current resume is required with your submitted application.
Enrollment Deposit
This program requires an enrollment deposit of $200. If admitted the deposit will be due by the deadline specified in your admit letter. For more information please see our enrollment deposits help page.
International Applicants
Some academic departments recommend that international applicants, living outside of the United States, and planning on pursuing a research based degree, submit a preapplication form before submitting a full application. If your desired program is not on the form, departments prefer a full application be submitted. Preapplication requests will be carefully reviewed and a decision usually provided within 3 weeks. If your preapplication is approved then it is recommended you then submit a full application. If you are currently living in the United States (on a H1B visa, etc.), or you plan on pursuing a professional master’s degree, then you do not need to submit a preapplication.
Prospective international students are required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent examination scores. English Language Exams may be waived if English is your first language. If you wish to request a waiver, then please visit our Test Scores webpage for more information.
Applicants who completed prior nursing education internationally must request and submit verification from CGFNS. CGFNS is the only evaluating body accepted by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for board certification eligibility upon successful program completion. The evaluation determines whether or not prior coursework renders the applicant eligible for eventual ANCC certification and reviews perquisite requirements for the PM-PMHNP program and subsequent certification.
Questions
For program-specific application questions, please contact the UNH Online Student Success Coaches: unh.online@unh.edu or 855.250.6699
Department of Nursing Mission and Vision
We educate leaders in nursing, engaged in reflective practice, to provide innovative and exemplary healthcare in partnership with individuals, families, groups, and communities. We transform the delivery of healthcare through the generation, dissemination, and application of evidence-based nursing knowledge.
We embrace a culture that embodies the University's and the College's vision, mission, and values of interdisciplinarity, scholarship, innovation, integrity, curiosity, openness, and sustainability.
Faculty and Student Spotlights
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Tuition & Fees
Tuition for 2021-22 Academic Year*:
- $785 per credit for New Hampshire (NH) residents
- $865 per credit for non-NH residents
Program Total Number of Credits: 20
Technology Fee per Semester:
- 1-4 credits: $26.00
- 5-8 credits: $52.50
- 9-16 credits: $105.00
Course Fees*:
- $574 NURS 976: OSCEs during 1st Residency & Drug/Alcohol Initial and Random Testing
- $275 NURS 985: OSCEs during 2nd Residency
*Subject to change
ADDITIONAL TUITION & FEES INFORMATION
Course Fees: Specific courses may have additional course fees. Visit the course schedule for more information.
Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loans is the form of federal financial aid available to Graduate Students. To apply, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The UNH priority deadline is March 1. This is the date by which the FAFSA must be received by the federal processor, however, if your application is received after March 1 you will still be considered for the Federal Direct Loan, which is not subject to the priority deadline.
The basic eligibility requirements to be considered for Financial Aid include:
- Attend classes at least half-time (5 or more credits per semester).
- Enrollment in a degree program.
- Documentation of United States citizenship or eligible non-citizen status.
- Must maintain satisfactory academic progress.
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Sara Robinson
CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
The purpose of this handbook is to bring together important information, and to tell you about other sources of information that are either essential or helpful. It is intended to complement, not replace, the rules and regulations as set forth in the University of New Hampshire Graduate Catalog.
Our program has five 8-week e-terms per academic calendar year. Students who successfully complete two courses per e-term, as outlined below, earn their certificate in 17 months.