47
Credits
1
Immersion
672
Minimum Clinical Hours
Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) ProgramOnline Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) ProgramOnline Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program
Prepare to advance as a practitioner and grow as a nurse leader with Simmons University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) — Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program.Prepare to advance as a practitioner and grow as a nurse leader with Simmons University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) — Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program.Prepare to advance as a practitioner and grow as a nurse leader with Simmons University’s online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) — Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program.
Earn Your PMHNP Online With Nursing@Simmons
A national mental health provider shortage has created a substantial gap in access to care for far too many individuals and communities.1 You can prepare to help meet this critical need with the Simmons online MSN – PMHNP program for registered nurses (RNs) who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
As a Simmons online PMHNP student, you will work closely with faculty who are experts in the field and gain hands-on clinical experience in or near your own community. Through live, online class sessions and self-paced coursework, you will prepare to provide compassionate, patient-centered mental health care across the lifespan, and expand your ability to make a meaningful difference in patients’ lives.
Simmons University also offers a nurse practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate (PGC) in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP).
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Simmons University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791 (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). The Simmons University Nursing Program is fully approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
The Post-Graduate FNP & PMHNP certificate programs at Simmons University are pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
PMHNP Admission
We offer three start dates throughout the year: in January, May, and September. Admission is conducted on a rolling basis. To qualify for admission you must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and a current and unrestricted RN license. Review our application requirements and request information to learn more.
May 2025 Cohort Application Deadline
The final deadline for the May 2025 cohort is March 24, 2025.
Psychiatric Mental Health Curriculum
Through engaging online courses and immersive clinical experiences, you will develop knowledge and skills in psychiatric mental health diagnosis and treatment. You will learn to conduct mental health assessments; to diagnose; to provide brief individual, group, and family therapy; to make psychopharmacological recommendations; to prescribe medications; and to recommend additional interventions that can help improve patients’ mental health and overall quality of life.
You will focus on looking at patients holistically — considering their individual experiences, family situation, and community as important factors in their mental health. With the program’s additional focus on substance misuse, you will also prepare to help patients and families manage and overcome addiction.
By exploring psychiatric issues through a health equity and social justice lens, you will discover how you can make a lasting, positive impact as a nurse leader in the mental health field.
To learn more about our curriculum, visit our course sequence page.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Careers
The PMHNP program will prepare you for a career path as an advanced practice mental health care provider, by helping you develop the skills and expertise you need to help patients across a variety of in-patient and outpatient settings.
Once you graduate, you will be eligible to sit for the ANCC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification exam to become a PMHNP-BC™. Upon certification, you will be eligible to pursue licensure in the state of your choice, although some states may have additional licensure requirements.
US$141,260
Annual mean wage for NPs at psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.3
Your Work Can Heal Communities.
Together, We Will Improve Mental Health Care.
Join the Nursing@Simmons online PMHNP program and help us raise the standard of patient care in the psychiatric-mental health field.
Already an APRN? Earn Your PMHNP Post-Graduate Certificate.
Simmons offers an online post-graduate certificate program to prepare current Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to become a PMHNP. Once you graduate, you will meet the requirements to sit for the ANCC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification exam.
The streamlined Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program requires just 27 credits and 672 clinical hours. You can earn your PMHNP post-graduate certificate online in as few as 16 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time). See course sequences for full-time and part-time schedules.
In our post-master’s/post-doctoral certificate program, you’ll experience the same innovative learning environment and support services as in the online MSN program, including:
- Predictable online course scheduling
- Clinical placement support
- An on-campus immersion
To be eligible for this program, you must be a licensed, certified APRN with a graduate degree in nursing (MSN or DNP). Review the application requirements, or request information to learn more about the online Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program.
Empowering Nurse Leaders Online Since 2013
Nursing@Simmons has been offering high-quality online nursing programs for nearly a decade, and our supportive community of nursing professionals is dedicated to helping you grow as a caring and confident nurse leader.
Build Relationships
Make lasting connections with faculty and peers in engaging online class sessions.
Get Placement Support
Work closely with our clinical placement team to find and vet clinical experiences close to home.
Connect With Mentors
Receive ongoing guidance and advice from expert Simmons faculty and dedicated staff.
FAQs
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Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) prepared at the Master’s or Doctoral level to holistically diagnose and treat patients with psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions, including substance misuse and addiction. PMHNPs work with patients across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
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The PMHNP program will prepare you to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions; conduct psychopharmacological assessments; provide brief individual, family, and group counseling; prescribe medications; and recommend non-pharmacological interventions. The degree will prepare you to work in settings such as community mental health centers, hospitals, and private practice.
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The Nursing@Simmons online PMHNP program can be completed in as few as 24 months on a full-time schedule, or in as few as 28 months on a part-time schedule.
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The nursing programs at Simmons (baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs) are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a national accrediting agency that ensures the quality of nursing programs. The FNP, PMHNP, and DNP programs are CCNE-accredited through 2029. Simmons University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Simmons’ post-graduate certificate programs are pursuing initial CCNE accreditation. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
- Health Workforce Shortage Areas. (2024). data.HRSA.gov. Retrieved July 4, 2024. ↩︎
- NP Fact Sheet. (2024). American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Retrieved July 4, 2024. ↩︎
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Nurse Practitioners. (2024). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved July 4, 2024. ↩︎