Post-Master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Overview
The Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) certificate prepares graduates to assume a psychiatric-mental health care provider role in community, acute care and telemental health settings. Emphasis will be placed on rural health and establishing a PMHNP practice through face-to-face and telemental health delivery. A key focus area will be on mental health promotion, diagnosis and early intervention with children, adolescents and families.
A Post-MSN psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certificate is an option for applicants who currently hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The MSN to DNP is available for currently practicing certified NPs who would like to add the PMHNP specialty. A separate application to the DNP program and offer of admission to the DNP program is required to pursue the MSN to DNP while dually enrolled in the PMHNP program.
Upon completion of course requirements, graduates of the Masters and Post-Master's tracks are eligible to sit for the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam.
TTUHSC is the ideal setting for providing this innovative program that incorporates telemental health through interprofessional collaboration and resources within the following Institutes and Centers:
- F. Marie Hall Institute for Rural Health
- F. Marie Hall SimLife Center
- The TexLa Telehealth Resource Center
- Center for Geriatric Education
- Center for Global Health
- Center for Innovation in Nursing Education
- Center of Excellence in Evidence-based Practice
- Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics
- Center of Excellence for Geriatric Scholarship, Training & Faculty Development
A Post-MSN psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certificate is an option for applicants who currently hold a Master of Science in Nursing degree. The MSN to DNP is available for NPs currently certified in a specialty track who want to add the PMHNP specialty with the DNP. A separate application to the DNP program and offer of admission to the DNP program is required to pursue the MSN to DNP while dually enrolled in the PMHNP program.
Upon completion of course requirements, graduates of the Masters and Post-Master's tracks are eligible to take the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certification Exam.
An individualized plan of study will be developed for those applicants who are admitted into the post-master's PMHNP program and the DNP program.
The PMHNP educational program is an online track that may require occasional travel to the Lubbock campus.
The Post Master's PMHNP certificate for students without nurse practitioner specialty preparation is completed in up to 29 semester credit hours.
The Post Master's PMHNP certificate for students with current certification in another nurse practitioner specialty is completed in up to 28 semester credit hours.
Current tuition information can be found here or by contacting Student Business Services from 8:30am-4pm CST at (806) 743-7867. Additional school fees applied may vary.
Financial aid (student loans, grants, scholarships) are available upon admittance to the School of Nursing. Additional information may be found at the Financial Aid Office website or by calling 806-743-3025.
Admission Requirements
All applicants will be reviewed in an individual and holistic manner. No single factor will determine a student's admission. The Program Chair and appropriate committee carefully evaluate all qualified applicants with regard to the applicants' potential for successful completion of the program.
The Graduate Department Chair and/or Program Director will review the applicant's previous academic preparation and/or competency in required courses in order to award transfer credit. Any deficiencies will be met by enrollment in required courses.
Generally, credits earned at an accredited college or university are accepted for transfer credit provided course content is equivalent. A grade below B is not acceptable for transfer credit.
- Valid unencumbered RN License
- Master of Science in Nursing degree from a regionally accredited college or university with nursing program accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or from the American Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in all graduate level course work
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Pediatric Advanced Live Support (PALS) certification for FNP, GNP, PNP, or ACNP tracks
- Personal Statement/Essay (maximum of 500 words)
- Professional letters of reference (3). Family members, friends, ministers, are not considered a professional reference
- Official transcript for the MSN degree. (NOTE: all transcripts must be from a regionally accredited college or university with nursing program accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), or from the American Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), formerly the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
- Official transcripts from all other previously attended institutions of higher education.
- Applicants with a nursing transcript from a foreign university are to submit an official course-by-course evaluation from CGFNS. If the coursework is not related to a nursing degree, the applicant must submit an official course-by-course evaluation from one of the four agencies listed here.
- Computer Literacy: defined as an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of a computer and how to use them wisely within clinical workflow and for scholarly work. Applicants must complete the TTUHSC SON Computer Literacy Test located at http://nursing.ttuhsc.edu/skills/ prior to applying
- TOEFL Scores – Applicants from a country where the primary language is not English must provide evidence of achieving a total score of 84 or higher with a speaking score of 26 or higher and a writing score of 27 or higher on the TOEFL iBT. This may only be waived if the student has received a degree from an accredited college/university in one of the listed countries: Australia, Canada (except the Province of Quebec), Commonwealth Caribbean countries (including Anguilla, Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands), Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales), United States.
- Evidence of leadership in nursing (Professional organizations, committees, etc.)
- Potential for leadership in an advanced role as evidenced by reference letters
- Professional nursing work experience
- Diversity of work or life experience (For example: experience with other cultures, study/travel/work abroad, community service, military service, degree in other field, volunteerism or other related extracurricular activities)
- Curriculum vitae/resume which includes educational background, honors, nursing experience, professional membership(s), and community service
- Permanent resident of Texas or TTUHSC service area/county or TTUHSC campus location
- First generation college student
- Fluent in a language in addition to English
- For the post-MSN PMHNP certificate plus DNP, the admission requirements for the DNP program must also be met. A separate application to the DNP program and offer of admission to the DNP program is required to pursue the MSN to DNP while dually enrolled in the PMHNP program
- If practicing as an APRN in another specialty, must supply evidence of current certification by a nationally recognized certifying body such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (ANP), and American Midwifery Certification), formerly the ACNM Certification Council
- Three (3) letters of reference; two letters from nursing supervisors or professional mentors and one letter from a former faculty member or other health care professional attesting to the applicant’s professional and academic abilities and potential for success in a graduate program
- Participate in a personal interview with faculty if selected for an interview
- Critical Analysis Essay (maximum of 650 words)
Application
It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that their application is complete: Application Instructions
| Admission Term | Application Open | Application Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | May 1 of previous year | August 1 of previous year |
- It is to your advantage to include as much information as possible in your application including any certifications you may have (i.e. BLS, ACLS, PALS, CCRN, etc.), information on any professional nursing organizations of you may be a member, current and previous work experience. Additional tips can be found by reviewing Tips for Successful Applications to the MSN Program.
- Ensure that all required application documents are received by the deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant, not that of TTUHSC, to make sure that your application is complete and submitted. We will not contact you for missing items.
- If you do not already have your MSN degree and are interested in applying for the MSN program, you will need to follow a different application process which is outlined on the websites for the MSN Tracks.