Advance your nursing career by learning how to meet the mental health needs of individuals and families of all ages.
Locations
- Online (didactic courses)
- Students must complete clinicals in GA or SC
- Students physically residing in AL, AZ, CO, ID, LA, MO, NE, ND, NY, OH, PA, SD, TN, or WA cannot enroll in the certificate
Why Become a Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Georgia Southern?
- Earn 630 hours of clinical experience
- Complete your certificate in two years
- CCNE-accredited certificate
The need for PMHNPs has perhaps never been greater. The United States has long dealt with an epidemic of mental illness that was only worsened by COVID-19. Anxiety, depression and substance use have all increased dramatically since 2020. It’s a health crisis that demands compassion and ingenuity, and our program prepares you to meet these challenges with attentive confidence.
PMHNPs work with clients of all ages, and at Georgia Southern you’ll learn how to work with individuals, families and vulnerable populations. No two mental health clients are the same, and PMHNPs have to learn how to think quickly on their feet as they support them. It’s a highly demanding role, but one that is also immensely fulfilling. You will have a chance to work with clients at a very vulnerable point in their lives and make a significant impact.
As a PMHNP, you will learn how to evaluate, diagnose and treat clients with mental health disorders and substance abuse problems. The extensive clinical hours in this certificate program will give you the opportunity to practice clear communication with clients as you build them a tailor-made regimen of care.
At Georgia Southern, your coursework leading up to clinicals is fully online. Classes are both synchronous and asynchronous, which can give you the flexibility at the beginning of the certificate to continue your studies while working.
In this program, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience as you broaden the scope of your nursing career and open doors to new opportunities within health care. The demand for mental health professionals is high, and at Georgia Southern you can take the next step toward meeting it.
Ready to Apply?
What Can You Do As a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?
Working as a PMHNP is exciting and rewarding. You will be working closely with clients and their families to determine the proper course of care for both behavioral challenges and mental health conditions. PMHNPs work closely with health care providers to determine the suitable pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies that their clients need.
Where our graduates work:
- Hospital and emergency settings
- Public health and community wellness clinics
- Schools and higher education
- Primary care
- Nursing homes
- Outpatient mental health
- Substance treatment
What You’ll Learn
In addition to studying the psychodynamics of health, each student will complete courses on individual mental health, substance abuse in individuals and families, and vulnerable populations. Every student then completes clinics in those same three areas, along with a capstone course.
See the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate CurriculumBuild Your Experience
Put your knowledge into immediate practice: Upon completing the certificate, you will have added 630 clinical hours to your expertise.
Get Involved
From advising and professional development to nursing associations and study abroad options, Georgia Southern offers numerous resources to students continuing their nursing education.
Personalized Focus
Since students come from a variety of educational backgrounds, we provide a gap analysis to help create an individualized program of study for you.
Take Action
The following are required for all applicants:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from a college accredited by the appropriate accrediting association (i.e., NLN or CCNE) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Undergraduate introductory course in statistics with grade of C or better
- Undergraduate health appraisal/physical assessment course with grade of C or better
- One year of full-time registered nurse (RN) clinical nursing experience before the start of Advanced Health Assessment
- The MAT or GRE is not required for admission
In addition to an MSN or higher degree, you must also currently hold national certification in one of the following advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) specialties:
- Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
- Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Adult/Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AG PCNP)
- Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG ACNP)
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
- Geriatric Nurse Practitioner (GNP)
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
- Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner (WHCNP)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Post-MSN certificates begin in the fall. The following completed admission application materials must be received by March 1 for admission consideration:
- Complete College of Graduate Studies online application with payment of required fee
- Georgia Southern University Health Services Form
- Three letters of recommendation. Forms in the online application are acceptable, or you can attach three recommendation letters to the application.
- Proof of American Heart Association or American Red Cross Level C (2 person-BLS) CPR certification
- Proof of Georgia RN licensure or compact license (write COPY over any replication of license submitted)
- Resume or CV with work history
Applicants will be pooled for admission consideration. Interviews with individuals under consideration may be conducted prior to admission.
Upon acceptance, applicants must also provide:
- Nursing Student Health forms
- Proof of current RN malpractice liability insurance (policy cover page) with name, dates of coverage, and amount (1 million incident/3 million aggregate)
- Proof of “Student NP” malpractice insurance before entering any clinical NP courses that require clinical hours or involve direct patient care
Note: NP students will be required to complete all clinical practicums with a qualified preceptor in either Georgia or South Carolina. NP students must be proactive and secure preceptors for the clinical practicums.
The post-graduate APRN certificate program at Georgia Southern University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Please consult the Graduate Student Handbook:
- SLO 1: Integrate core knowledge from the liberal arts, sciences, and nursing as the foundation for advanced level professional practice.
- SLO 2: Use knowledge of organizational systems, leadership principles, and resources to become responsible, safe, and accountable advanced level professional nurses that demonstrate professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct.
- SLO 3: Demonstrate advanced level clinical judgment/decision making by using health care information, technology, scholarship, inquiry, and current evidence to improve individual and population health care outcomes.
- SLO 4: Collaborate using advanced inter-professional communication to develop partnerships with other members of the health care team that improve patient health outcomes.
Upon completing the Post-MSN Certificate curriculum, you will be fully prepared for educational eligibility for certification in PMH. At this juncture, you can leave the program with your Post-Master’s Certificate or apply for admission to the Post-MSN-DNP program.
Tuition and fees charged by Georgia Southern University are approved by the University System of Georgia annually. For a comprehensive costs and affordability analysis, please visit here.
The School of Nursing anticipates that graduates of this program will seek certification as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and state licensure as an APRN.
The School of Nursing has determined that the required classes and educational activities of this online academic program will qualify a graduate of this program to take the board examinations listed above, which are used by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
The School of Nursing only supervises clinical placements in Georgia and South Carolina. All students enrolling in the program must have an active Georgia or South Carolina nursing license or an eNLC compact license. The program cannot enroll any student physically residing in AL, AZ, CO, ID, LA, MO, NE, ND, NY, OH, PA, SD, TN, or WA. Before enrolling, students physically residing in states other than Georgia or South Carolina, must attest that they will complete clinical hours in Georgia or South Carolina and that they will seek initial licensure as an APRN in Georgia or South Carolina.
Georgia Southern makes every effort to ensure information about educational requirements for licensure or certification is current; however, state requirements may change. Separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants for jurisprudence examinations, background checks, proof of RN license, proof of clinical hours, or additional training. For more information, as well as for a list of applicable state boards, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure web page.
For all Online Programs:
Federal Law requires colleges and universities to make certain disclosures to prospective students of these programs. These disclosures include information on the University’s authority to operate outside of Georgia, the complaint processes, adverse actions, refunds, and program closure.
For required disclosures about online programs offered by the University, visit the Georgia Southern State Authorization and Professional Licensure Webpage.
Many of the clinical programs offered by the Waters College of Health Professions require a clinical internship or practicum experience to fulfill degree requirements. Pursuant to the University’s legal agreements, participants in clinical experiences are required to abide by the workplace rules of the clinical site. Sometimes these rules include vaccination requirements. As always, WCHP will continue to make every effort to place students at clinical sites. However, please be aware that we may be unable to locate a site to accept unvaccinated students, which may cause a delay or inability to progress and complete the program of study.

Take the Next Step
Enhance your career opportunities by expanding your nursing specializations today. Ask us about earning your psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certificate.
Contact Us
For program information on the Statesboro Campus or Armstrong Campus, please contact:
Chelsea Doyle
Graduate Program Administrative Assistant
Office: Armstrong Campus-Ashmore Hall 266
Phone: 912-344-2973
Email: chelseadoyle@georgiasouthern.edu