PMHNP Post-Master's Certificate Online
An affordable, accelerated pathway toward specialized expertise, this certificate program helps you serve critical community needs for diverse, underserved populations across the lifespan.
Program Overview
Gain critical expertise in this PMHNP certificate program online
Designed for MSN-prepared nurses and FNPs seeking a greater ability to provide mental healthcare to their patients, the Post-Master’s Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner online program provides knowledge and advanced practice skills to treat chronic and acute mental health disorders and conditions across the lifespan.
Learn how to develop evidenced-based treatment plans to address cognitive and behavioral changes, recovery, trauma and relationship issues for all age groups. Ideal for working nurses, this ACEN-accredited program features affordable tuition, 100% online coursework, conveniently located clinicals and thorough preparation for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing certification exam administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
In this online PMHNP certificate program, you will learn how to:
- Synthesize advanced knowledge in nursing, related science and leadership skills to guide clinical judgment across diverse settings
- Develop age-appropriate mental healthcare plans that respect diversity and unique characteristics of individuals and populations
- Apply recovery-oriented principles and trauma-focused care to individuals
- Utilize evidence-based therapeutic relationship strategies to reduce emotional distress, facilitate cognitive and behavioral change and foster personal growth
- Treat acute and chronic psychiatric disorders and mental health challenges
- Synthesize advanced knowledge in nursing, related science and leadership skills to guide clinical judgment across diverse settings
- Develop age-appropriate mental healthcare plans that respect diversity and unique characteristics of individuals and populations
- Apply recovery-oriented principles and trauma-focused care to individuals
- Utilize evidence-based therapeutic relationship strategies to reduce emotional distress, facilitate cognitive and behavioral change and foster personal growth
- Treat acute and chronic psychiatric disorders and mental health challenges
Prepare for mental health nurse practitioner roles across a variety of settings, including:
- Outpatient clinics
- Substance use disorder treatment clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Schools
- Mental health facilities
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics
- Substance use disorder treatment clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Schools
- Mental health facilities
- Hospitals
Also available:
A-State offers a variety of certificate programs in a convenient online format. Explore our full range of online certificate programs.
Accreditation
The Associate, Baccalaureate, Master's, master’s/post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate programs at Arkansas State University located in State University, AR and West Memphis, AR are accredited by the: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). 3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400 Atlanta, GA 30326 (404) 975-5000.
The most recent accreditation decision made by the ACEN Board of Commissioners for the Associate, Baccalaureate, Master's, Master's/post-master's certificate, and clinical doctorate programs is continuing accreditation. View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this program on the ACEN website.
Tuition
Our affordable tuition fits your budget
Our Post-Master’s Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health NP online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Please note, certificate programs are not financial aid eligible.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
Choose the start date that suits your schedule
Ideal for working nurses, Arkansas State online programs are delivered in an accelerated format with multiple start dates each year.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2 | 6/29/26 | 5/25/26 | 5/25/26 | 6/8/26 | 6/26/26 | 8/14/26 |
| Fall 1 | 8/19/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/15/26 | 7/29/26 | 8/14/26 | 10/2/26 |
| Fall 2 | 10/12/26 | 9/7/26 | 9/7/26 | 9/21/26 | 10/9/26 | 12/4/26 |
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Admissions
See what you need to apply to the PMHNP post master’s certificate online
We know you’re busy, so we’ve streamlined the A-State admission process to help you get started quickly and easily. Students who are interested in the post-master’s certificate psychiatric nurse practitioner online program must have a Master of Science in Nursing degree from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Online application
- MSN degree
- Current unencumbered RN license
Post-Master’s Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Admission Guidelines
- Complete online application and submit application fee (see Application Submission Requirements below)
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an ACEN-, CCNE- or CCNEA-accredited program of nursing from a regionally accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA in MSN coursework
- Official transcript(s) submitted by the registrar of any college/university you have attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution.
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Satisfactory background check completed through Verified Credentials
Graduates of an MSN program with an FNP option that did not include the required certification eligibility requirements from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and/or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology; Advanced Health Assessment, including diagnostics and disease management; Advanced Pharmacology; and/or minimum of 500 faculty supervised clinical hours) are also eligible to apply. A request for a curriculum “Gap Analysis” to determine an individual Plan of Study will be requested from the Program Coordinator prior to admission.
English Proficiency Requirements
The College of Nursing and Health Professions School of Nursing requires a high level of proficiency in English so that all students will be able to fully meet academic and clinical objectives as well as meet criteria for professional licensure.
Applicants whose primary language is not English or did not attend K-12 in the United States must demonstrate English language proficiency through the following tests:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 4.5 on the preferred internet-based test (iBT), 570 on the paper-based test, or 213 on the computer-based test
- For exams taken before January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 86 - For exams taken on or after January 21, 2026:
We require a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 4.5 - International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a score of at least 7 and a spoken band score of 7
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) with a score of 63
- Accuplacer Exit ESL with a score of 109
The TOEFL and Exit ESL are available at the Testing Center. When taking the exam off campus, the report code for A-State is 6011. All test scores are valid for two (2) years.
Exemptions may apply: See A-State's international undergraduate and graduate admission pages for more information.
Application Submission Requirements
Submitting your application takes three easy steps: filling out the application, submitting your documents and paying the application fee.
- When completing the online application, select 100% online student and then complete all the steps on the online application.
- Pay $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- Submit all official college transcripts. Save time by requesting transcripts be sent electronically.
If you have any questions along the way, call us at 866-621-8096, and we'll be happy to help answer questions.
Document Submission Address
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For non-US postal mail overnight delivery only:
A-State Onlinec/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Courses
Gain the psych expertise you need in your online PMHNP post-master’s certificate program
To finish the PMHNP post-master’s certificate online, you must complete a total of 27.5 credit hours. Required coursework includes 14 advanced practice courses. If a Gap Analysis determines you must enroll in an individual plan of study, you will also need to complete three advanced nursing courses totaling nine credit hours.
You can view your schedule of courses for this certificate through the Course Smartsheet:
View the AOS Course Smartsheet
How to Use the Course Smartsheet