Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate
The Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program prepares nurses to diagnose and treat common mental health conditions.
KU’s Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PHMNP) certificate prepares nurses for an advanced practice role in psychiatric and mental health nursing.
Students learn to diagnose and treat common mental health conditions in general medical settings and to deliver more effective psychiatric care in mental health settings during this 24-credit-hour certificate program.
Graduate prepared to apply knowledge and skills in interpersonal, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic interventions for individuals, groups and families with psychiatric disorders.
The application deadline is Nov. 1, 2025 for a Spring 2026 start.
View courses and plan of study.
Contact Deb Stratton at dstratton@kumc.edu to learn more about the post-master’s certificate program.
Objectives
The objectives of the post-graduate nurse practitioner certificate are:
- Integrate science-based theories with clinical expertise and organizational management to provide leadership in health care systems and in development of health care policy.
- Synthesize, interpret, and apply knowledge from nursing practice, research, and theory to promote and sustain evidence-based nurse practitioner practice.
- Demonstrate professional values in nurse practitioner roles.
- Communicate and collaborate with colleagues in nursing and other disciplines to meet the health needs of client systems in varied health care delivery systems.
- Use information and technology to contribute to evaluation of outcomes of care, care systems, and quality improvement.
Admissions
Application for the Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate is an online process. Detailed instructions on how to apply are posted on the School of Nursing website.
Nursing Licensure
This program prepares nurses who have completed an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) graduate education program from a nationally accredited school of nursing for an additional advanced practice specialty certification. APRN eligibility differs across states and may require a specialty certification. Specialty certifications are acquired through national exams that do not vary by state. For information on individual state's requirements, visit the National Councils of State Boards of Nursing website.
As of July 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education implemented Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v) that requires professional nursing programs to provide information on how their curriculum meets education requirements for professional licensing in each state. You may review KU School of Nursing's information on licensure by state.
Funded Nurse Training Programs
Qualified applicants may be eligible for federal funds up to $25,000 per year to apply towards the cost of this degree through Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded opportunities.