Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's Certificate)
CERT Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Overview
Texas State's nationally recognized PMHNP program is designed for registered nurses who want to advance their nursing role to provide evidence-based, high-quality psychiatric mental health care. Hallmarks of our program include small class sizes and On-Campus Intensives (OCIs). OCIs are immersive learning experiences for students to participate in simulation and engage with peers, faculty, and expert guest lecturers.
The certificate requires 20 semester credit hours and fulfillment of the required practicum hours.
Course Work
The post-master’s certificate PMHNP program is a combination of online course work and clinical practicum hours. Students complete practicum hours one-on-one with a preceptor in the state of Texas, in addition to on-campus simulation and labs. During the on-campus intensives, students hone their skills with faculty and get to know their fellow PMHNP students. Some coursework includes:
- 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
| Degree | Hours Required | Location |
|---|---|---|
Degree Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | Hours Required 20 hours | Location Round Rock/Online |
Online Availability
The majority of this program may be offered online with required on-campus learning experiences typically scheduled two times per semester at the St. David’s School of Nursing in Round Rock, Texas. The on-campus learning intensives augment the online course work and allow assessment of students to ensure that advanced level competencies have been met. Due to variation in the laws of states and regulations of state Boards of Nursing, admission for non-Texas residents may be limited at this time.
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. Graduates demonstrate competence in clinical judgment, collaborate as members and leaders of interprofessional healthcare teams, and utilize scientifically-based interventions. As caring professional nurses, graduates manage illness; promote, maintain, and restore health; and provide end-of-life care for diverse individuals, families, populations, and global communities across the lifespan.
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. PMHNPs often work in inpatient acute psychiatric hospitals, rehabilitation units, outpatient psychiatric clinics, and even own their own clinics. Graduates are qualified to take the PMHNP 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. Recognition and publication of faculty scholarship are evident in publications in professional journals, engagement in interprofessional scholarship and grantsmanship. Faculty scholarship extends to student engagement in translational science capstone projects that often result in faculty-student presentations and publications, providing graduates with scholarly recognition prior to graduation.
Contact us for general questions about your application, funding opportunities, and more. If you have specific questions after reviewing the program details, contact the program's graduate advisor.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Stacey Cropley
slc299@txstate.edu
512.716.2900
Advisor Support
Angela Carter
ogq18@txstate.edu
512.716.4908
St. David's School of Nursing, Room 337
Apply Now Already know that Texas State is right for you?
Application Deadlines
| Deadlines** | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines** Spring | U.S. Citizen August 31 (*Flexible) | International August 31 (*Flexible through October 1) |
*A flexible deadline means applications received after the standard deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with no guarantees for admission consideration.
**Applications for Spring 2026 entry are closed.
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Decision Timeline This program reviews applications on a firm basis. |
Admission Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
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Application
- Completed online application
Review important information about the online application.
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Application Fee
- $20 nonrefundable application fee
OR - $60 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
- $20 nonrefundable application fee
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Transcripts & GPA
- 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. Your B.S.N. degree must be reflected on the transcript at the time of application.
- 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. Your M.S.N. degree must be reflected on the transcript at the time of application.
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in graduate (masters) nursing courses from an accredited college or university.
- minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in undergraduate and graduate nursing courses from an accredited college or university.
- a 3.0 overall GPA or a 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work, plus any completed graduate courses
- grade of C or better in an upper-division statistics course. The course must be completed at the time of application and reflected on submitted transcripts.
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
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Test Scores
GRE
- GRE not required
Approved English Proficiency Exam Scores
Non-native English speakers who do not qualify for an English proficiency waiver must provide an approved English proficiency exam score:
- 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
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.
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Documents & Other Requirements*
- current, valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse licensure in Texas.
- copy of registered nursing (RN) license with date issued from the Board of Nursing and Nursys must be uploaded into the application system.
- multistate licenses are accepted as long as Texas is the home state. If you hold an advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) license, you must submit copy of current, valid, unencumbered licensure in Texas with date issued from the Board of Nursing and Nursys into the application system.
- resume/CV
- showing minimum equivalent of one-year full time experience as in the master’s prepared nurse role prepared for (i.e. APRN, nurse educator, nurse leader, etc.) prior to the application deadline for the program. Employment will be verified.
- showing minimum three years full-time experience as a RN prior to the application deadline for the program. Employment will be verified.
- three professional letters of recommendation from persons competent to assess your academic capability, clinical expertise, and interest in pursuing a career for this program. This is a form completed by your identified reference as part of the application system.
- written personal essay and goal statements using guidelines provided for the program.
- interview
*Please note, once a student has been offered admission, additional criteria specific to the School of Nursing must be completed and met prior to admission and the required due date while in the program.
*Applicants who are not licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners, will be required to take Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, and Advanced Health Assessments to meet the foundational pre-requisites and requirements of an APRN degree or certificate program.
Review important information about documents.