Graduate Certificate (Post-Master’s) in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Location: Online

Total Credit Hours: 26

Next Session Start: January 13, 2025

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

This post-master’s online certificate in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is designed to offer expert preparation for those who have completed a graduate nursing degree (such as MSN or DNP), to become eligible to sit for additional APRN licensure. The PMHNP concentration will prepare you to lead others and use high-quality, evidence-based strategies to evaluate, diagnose, manage, promote, and advocate for safe care for patients, families, and communities with acute, common, or chronic mental health conditions.

Become an expert clinician and scholar in the mental health field and provide holistic care as an advanced practice nurse.
Learn to respond to the mental health needs of patients across their lifespan through a Christian worldview.
Be mentored by faculty who hold the highest degrees in their field. Regent has been ranked among the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2024).

The curricula, including any practicum requirements of the Nursing programs offered at Regent University, are written to adhere to the requirements outlined by the Virginia Board of Nursing. However, the rules and regulations vary from state to state. Regent University’s School of Nursing works to ensure our out-of-state enrolled students can utilize practicum sites outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Still, we cannot guarantee placement in every state due to ever-changing requirements and regulations. You are urged to check with the regulator in each state where you intend to undertake practicum or to practice to determine the impact of that state’s requirements on your attendance at Regent University.

Currently, this program can only admit students residing in the following states: Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia. Due to the ever-changing requirements and regulations, this list is subject to change on an ongoing basis. Regent urges prospective students to verify requirements with their state of residence and/or intended practice.

Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.

Career Opportunities

This certificate is intended to help you advance your career as a nursing leader and an expert in psychiatric care in a variety of healthcare settings.

Featured Courses

This post-master’s certificate consists of 26 specialty credits:

Featured Courses
Code	Name	Credits
APRN 551	Advanced Physical Practice Health Assessment Evaluation		This comprehensive evaluation is for Program concentrations. Students participate in a scheduled face-to-face (or video) activity and demonstrate a comprehensive advanced physical assessment following NURS 550 course and prior to participating in APRN practicum courses. Demonstration of specific skills related to Advanced Practice Nursing.
APRN 705	Global Health Challenges & Disparities of Mental Health	2	Addresses mental health needs among diverse global populations educating culturally competent skills and strategies which include mental health assessment, interventions, treatment planning, and evaluation. Mental health disorders and treatment efficacy will be examined among different cultures and countries with various levels of available resources and within the context of their specific struggles, societal norms and values.
APRN 775	Neurobiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders	3	Examine mental health disorders through the complex intersections of human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, providing the context necessary to develop foundational knowledge of major mental disorders across lifespan. Genetics, human development, degeneration, behaviors, infection, and injury will be examined related to their potential causation and contribution to exacerbation as well as their impact on treatment.
APRN 777	Psychopharmacology	3	Examine best practices in clinical uses of psychotropic drugs to treat mental health disorders across lifespan within a client-centered comprehensive treatment plan. Risk and benefits of various psychopharmacological interventions including pharmacodynamics, neuropharmacological mechanisms, and common drug interactions within the context of patient safety and effective outcomes will be reviewed.
APRN 779	Psychotherapeutic Theories & Clinical Interventions	3	This course explores the treatment of mental disorders across lifespan through applications of various evidence-based brief and long-term treatment modalities. It provides an overview of theories of treatment modalities related to pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and alternative interventions, self-reflection, and a clinical outcome measurement tools.
APRN 780	Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I	3	Engage in activities that expand and demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary of the role of a PMHNP in a practice setting with adult clients across the lifespan. Students will demonstrate competencies in safe, collaborative, evidence-based and ethically sound provision of mental health care with a preceptor. Students will complete 250 clinical hours during this course.
APRN 781	Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum II	4	Experience specific tasks associated with the role of a PMHNP while working with children, adolescents, and families. Students will demonstrate competencies in safe, collaborative, evidenced-based and ethically sound provision of mental health care within a rapidly changing mental healthcare delivery system through clinical experiences, class content and other assignments and activities. Students will complete 250 clinical hours during this course.
APRN 782	Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum III	4	Expand and demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary for PMHNP practices while working with adult and aging adult clients. Students will demonstrate competencies in safe, collaborative, evidenced-based and ethically sound provision of mental health care within a rapidly changing mental healthcare delivery system through clinical experiences, class content and other assignments and activities. Students will complete 250 clinical hours during this course.
APRN 797	Comprehensive Concentration Review	1	This is a comprehensive review and practice exam designed to demonstrate competencies for the nurse practitioner population specialty of an APRN students preparing for the licensure examination.

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items. Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO, or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Complete an Admissions Questionnaire

Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.

Step 4: Submit Your Resume

In order to be admitted to the APRN certificate, you must submit a resume showing one year of full-time clinical RN experience before entering the degree. Applicants with less than two years of full-time clinical experience will need to submit an employment verification letter from their employer(s) detailing their position(s) and dates of employment. The letter should utilize the company’s official letterhead. Please submit to regent.edu/items.

Step 5: Submit Your Nursing & APRN Licenses

To be admitted to the APRN certificate, you must submit an active unencumbered/unrestricted Registered Nurse license and APRN license from your state of practice. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Step 6: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Step 7: Faculty Interview

Interviews for the APRN certificate are by invitation only after review of the completed application by School of Nursing faculty. Interviews are held virtually with faculty and will take place via Zoom or Skype to best assist with an interactive interview experience for our applicants. It is expected that the candidate will be willing to discuss personal history within the interview process. Additional details will be provided to those invited for an interview.

Applicants invited to the virtual interview should keep in mind that an interview does not assure admission. The School of Nursing reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the APRN certificate.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Tuition & Fees

2023-24 Tuition Rates

Certificate of Graduate Studies	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Total Credits	Tuition Cost for Certificate
Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN)	$580	26	$15,080

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$850
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$700

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

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Graduate Certificate (Post-Master's) in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) - Family Nurse Practitioner

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“Great education. Top notch! Rigorous curriculum that takes on real work-life demands while incorporating sound Biblical principles.”

Audrey Bilbraut, Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies, '24