Online Nursing Post Graduate Certificate
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Next Start

Online

9
Courses

16
Months

Overview

Take a more holistic approach to serving your patients.

Expand your nursing knowledge and deepen your impact on patients. If you’ve obtained a graduate degree in nursing from an accredited college or university, you’re eligible for our post-graduate certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.

This program prepares you to advance your career by serving patients with diverse needs and backgrounds. IWU’s faith-integrated approach enables you to serve patients holistically, and all our faculty are nationally certified NPs and have years of experience in the field. They’ll make sure you’re prepared though both online courses and onsite residency experiences. Our post-graduate certificate program provides:

  • Primarily online coursework
  • Opportunity to do live OSCE psych evals with trained actors
  • Christ-centered perspective on mental health

Start Your Journey








By clicking “Contact Us”, I agree that Indiana Wesleyan University may contact me regarding educational opportunities by email, telephone and/or text message utilizing automated technology at the email and telephone number provided above. I understand this consent is not required to attend Indiana Wesleyan University. If I reside outside the U.S., I consent to the transfer of my data to the U.S.
 
Hidden Section






 

 

You’ll Learn To…

  • Provide care for diverse populations with psychiatric mental health needs
  • Collaborate with interprofessional healthcare teams and community organizations to provide care for individuals with multiple health needs
  • Serve as an advocate for vulnerable populations with psychiatric mental health conditions
  • Treat individuals with psychiatric mental health conditions across the lifespan
  • Address the spiritual needs of the psychiatric mental health patient/client

Career Options

  • Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
  • Nursing Professor
  • Travel Nurse

TUITION

CREDIT HOURS
27 Total
TUITION
$689/ Credit Hour *

Applicable fees for resources and services will be assessed throughout the program. Tuition and fees for prerequisites and required elective courses are in addition to the charges shown on the program cost sheet. Your tuition rate will remain the same as long as you remain continuously enrolled in the same program. Cost sheets may be requested from an enrollment counselor by calling 866.498.4968 or emailing iwuenroll@indwes.edu.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans benefits, and employer reimbursement.

COURSES

Here is the list of courses required to complete the program. Full course descriptions may be viewed by clicking on the course titles. For further information, feel free to contact us.

9 Core Courses

These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence.

Prerequisites are program-specific graduate level Pharmacology and Pathophysiology. Students who do not have the required prerequisite courses are eligible to take the course(s) at IWU.

PMHN-513,PYC-602,PMHN-620,PMHN-652,PMHN-622,PMHN-630,PMHN-640,PMHN-650,PMHN-693

REQUIREMENTS

Click on each section to expand the different requirements for this program. If you have any questions about the admissions process, feel free to contact one of our admissions representatives at 1-866-498-4968.

  • An individual with a Masters or Doctoral degree in Nursing from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by both the ED and CHEA and national nursing programmatic accreditation (CCNE, ACEN, CNEA):
    • May apply to complete a post graduate certificate in a Masters Nursing major for which they do not already hold a degree.
    • Must submit an official transcript showing completion of a masters or doctoral degree in Nursing.
  • Must meet Masters Nursing admission requirements for the major program (below).
    • Admission to all Masters Nursing majors begins with submission of required application forms, letters of recommendation, and official transcripts of previous college and university studies. Acceptance into any Masters Nursing program will remain valid for a period of 18 months.
    • To assist in the decision-making process, the Division of Masters Nursing reserves the right to require the applicant to interview and/or take the GRE.
    • Proof that all nursing licenses – whether current or inactive – are unencumbered. Potential students with encumbered nursing licenses will not be considered eligible for enrollment at Indiana Wesleyan University.
    • Original transcript from the undergraduate degree granting institution and institution where graduate courses have been taken.
    • A criminal history background check (at the student's expense) must be completed before registration for any track of the Masters Nursing program. Letters of acceptance from the Division of Masters Nursing will include instructions for completing the criminal background check. The criminal background check must be completed no earlier than two weeks before the beginning of the first course.
    • Students applying for admission to the Nurse Practitioner programs must have at least 500 hours of RN direct patient contact and/or care for patients within the year prior to admission.
  • Criteria for regular admission are:
    • B.S.N. or B.S. degree with a major in nursing from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by both the ED and CHEA and national nursing programmatic accreditation (CCNE, ACEN, CNEA). Registered Nurse applicants who have a non-nursing bachelor's degree and a minimum of ten years of recent experience in nursing practice may also be considered for admission by Portfolio. These candidates may submit a Portfolio which includes a current CV/resume including evidence of accomplishments in nursing based on The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice.
    • Undergraduate grade-point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale from the baccalaureate degree granting institution at which at least a minimum of 30 hours was completed.
    • OR: Gradate grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from a regionally accredited school at least nine credit were completed.
  • Criteria for conditional admission are:
    • Applicants who do not meet the GPA listed in the criteria for regular admission and have at least a 2.75 undergraduate GPA may be conditionally admitted and allowed to take 9- credit hours of masters nursing courses to establish a graduate GPA.
    • Students who have earned a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in master nursing courses, will meet the criteria for regular admission.
    • An unsatisfactory grade (C- or lower in any GNUR course) while conditionally admitted will result in administrative withdrawal from the program and denial of regular admission.
    • Students who do not earn a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in master nursing courses will be denied regular admission.

*Note: The Division of Doctoral Nursing may request letters of recommendation and an interview with an applicant once all the admission criteria listed above have been met.

    • Students who do not earn a 3.0 GPA by the completion of 9-credit hours in master nursing courses will be denied regular admission.

 

PGC Admission Requirements
  • Must meet graduate nursing admission requirements for the major program. 
  • Prerequisites required to enter the post-graduate certificate with a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner are: completion of a graduate level Pathophysiology and Pharmacology course with a grade of B or higher. Students who do not meet one or more prerequisite are eligible to take the course(s) at IWU prior to beginning the program. 
  • If more than 6 months have passed since the completion of a program specific Pharmacology or Pathophysiology course, the applicant must provide proof of 500 hours of current APRN practice in the last year and current NP certification or achieve a passing score on the IWU provided competency exam. 
  • Applicants must pass the IWU provided competency exam within two attempts or be required to take the pertinent courses(s) before being allowed to enroll in a nurse practitioner post-graduate certificate program. 
  • A fee will be assessed for each competency exam. 
Practicum

Practice is an essential component of the graduate nursing programs. Practicum courses offer students the opportunity to develop and integrate the knowledge and skills necessary for evidence-based advanced practice. If required by the facility, cost for placement is the responsibility of the student. 

  • Students must complete the minimum of 525 practicum hours included in the plan of study. The PMHNP program includes an onsite residency at the end of the certificate program. 
  • Students must maintain an active license in the state where practicum requirements are completed. 
  • All RN licenses must remain unencumbered throughout the program. 

Note: Students must meet all practicum and agency requirements. Students in any nursing major may be required to undergo drug testing in order to successfully complete practicum requirements. 

Completion Requirements
  • Successful completion of the specific curriculum as described below.
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above in all graduate work and a minimum grade of "B" in each course.
  • Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a certificate.

START DATES

The Primary Care Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Master’s Certificate at Indiana Wesleyan University has many convenient starts throughout the year. Listed below are the next available starts. If you don’t see a start that fits your schedule, connect with our enrollment team to see more future starts.

Accreditation

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.

The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (https://www.aacnnursing.org/CCNE). IWU is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). The School of Nursing is also a member of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, www.nonpf.org.

*Effective 07-01-2023 through 06-30-2024