Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Certificate | $22.8K | Not clearly stated | 21 |
Florida National University’s defining advantage is a single, tightly scoped certificate: a 21-credit, hybrid-delivery PMHNP specialty sequence with clinical placement handled by the college, including an option for out-of-state placement with institutional approval rather than a South Florida-only restriction.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Postgraduate Certificate only |
| Format | Hybrid |
| Clinical Hours | 600 total, per FNU’s own program page |
| Clinical Placement | College-coordinated; Miami-Dade and Broward County sites, plus out-of-state placement with institutional compliance approval |
| Population | Across the lifespan |
| Distinctive Coursework | Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Decision Making; three sequential practicum courses (individual/family therapy, integration, group therapy) |
| Concentrations | Single PMHNP focus; no sub-concentrations |
| RN License Requirements | Active RN license |
| Tuition | $900/credit graduate nursing rate |
| Accreditation | CCNE (BSN, MSN, and post-graduate APRN certificate) |
| Admission Gate | Requires prior completion of five named prerequisite courses (see Admissions) |
Post-Graduate Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Post-Graduate Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Florida National University is approximately $22,750 (21 credits at $900/credit, plus FNU’s published program and safety fees). FNU does not publish a standard completion timeline for this certificate on its own program page.
Certificate Curriculum
The 21-credit, 7-course specialty sequence pairs three didactic courses with three matching practicum courses, plus a dedicated clinical decision-making course. Every course in this sequence carries 3 credits.
- NGR 6538 Psychopharmacology for Advanced Practice Nursing (3 cr)
- NGR 6503 Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across the Lifespan: Individual & Family Therapy, Psychopathology & the DSM-V (3 cr)
- NGR 6503L Practicum I: Individual and Family Therapy (3 cr)
- NGR 6504 Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Decision Making (3 cr)
- NGR 6505L Integration Practicum II (3 cr)
- NGR 6508 Group Therapy (3 cr)
- NGR 6508L Practicum III: Group Therapy (3 cr)
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- An older FNU catalog cycle itemized the program’s clinical hours as three 180-hour practicum blocks (540 hours total). FNU’s current program page states 600 total practicum hours without a per-course breakdown; this profile uses the current, program-page figure.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- 600 total practicum hours across three sequential practicum courses; FNU’s current program page does not publish an hours-per-course breakdown
- Placement settings include psychiatric clinics, hospitals, community mental health centers, correctional facilities, and outpatient offices, where students provide psychotherapy, conduct evaluations, and prescribe and manage psychotropic medications
- Primary placement locations are Miami-Dade and Broward counties; out-of-state placements are possible with institutional compliance approval
At 600 hours, the certificate clears both the 500-hour floor most states use for national PMHNP certification eligibility and the 750-hour minimum the 2022 NTF Standards set for every NP track’s direct patient care, sitting between the two.
FNU’s out-of-state placement option, subject to approval, is worth confirming early with the program if you don’t live in South Florida, since it is not guaranteed the way the Miami-Dade and Broward placements are.
Certificate Admissions
Unlike a generic MSN-holder gate, FNU names five specific prerequisite courses an applicant must already have completed.
- MSN (prerequisite degree)
- Active RN license
- Official transcripts showing completion of: Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Health Assessment, Advanced Pharmacology, Population Health/Epidemiology, and Health Promotion/Role Development
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications
- Fulfillment of all standard graduate nursing admission requirements
You Should Know
- FNU does not publish an application deadline for this certificate on its own program pages; confirm the current cycle directly with admissions.
Tuition
Florida National University bills graduate nursing coursework at a published rate of $900 per credit hour. All totals below are estimates built from that rate plus FNU’s published registration, technology, and program-specific fees.
| Fee | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $900/credit | 21 credits |
| Registration Fee | $100 | One-time |
| Technology Fee | $50/course | 7 courses in the specialty sequence |
| Activities Fee | $7/course | 7 courses in the specialty sequence |
| Athletic Fee | $4/course | 7 courses in the specialty sequence |
| Post-Grad Certificate Clinical Fee (PMH) | $2,500 | Program total |
| Springer Book Fee | $455 | One-time, PMHNP-specific |
| Background Check, CPR, OSHA, Uniform, Insurance, Graduation | $368 combined | One-time |
Added together: $18,900 in tuition (21 credits x $900), plus $3,850 in combined fees, comes to approximately $22,750.
- $900/credit graduate tuition rate, confirmed on FNU’s own catalog and tuition schedule
- 21 credits for the certificate
- $2,500 PMHNP-specific clinical fee is the single largest non-tuition cost
Be aware that:
- The per-course fees are derived, not itemized by FNU as a single total. Technology, activities, and athletic fees are billed per course; this estimate assumes the confirmed 7-course specialty sequence.
- The $900/credit rate is more recent than the $850/credit figure previously published on this page. Confirm the current rate directly before budgeting.
- Out-of-state clinical placement requires institutional compliance approval and is not guaranteed the way Miami-Dade and Broward placements are.
Because tuition is flat per credit and the certificate has a fixed 21-credit course list, the total cost here is close to fixed once enrolled. The one variable worth confirming directly with FNU is whether any of the five prerequisite courses require paid transfer evaluation or retake if not already completed at the graduate level.
See FNU’s tuition and fees schedule for current rates.
Why Choose This PMHNP Program?
Best suited for MSN-prepared nurses who have already completed FNU’s five named prerequisite courses, want a tightly scoped 21-credit specialty certificate rather than a full degree, and can work within a hybrid delivery format.
A single, focused track with no degree-length detour. FNU offers only the certificate, not a competing MSN or DNP PMHNP pathway, so an applicant who already holds an MSN and the right prerequisites moves straight into the 21-credit specialty sequence without retaking core graduate coursework.
Clinical placement isn’t limited to one metro area. FNU’s placement network centers on Miami-Dade and Broward counties but explicitly allows out-of-state placement with institutional compliance approval, a real option for applicants who don’t live in South Florida.
The trade-off is thin published detail: FNU’s own program page does not state a completion timeline or application deadline, and the per-course clinical fee structure means the true out-of-pocket total depends on confirming a few line items directly with admissions before enrolling.
Accreditation
Florida National University’s baccalaureate, master’s, and post-graduate APRN certificate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which covers this PMHNP certificate.
Florida National University holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Institutional accreditation is separate from CCNE’s program-level review and is what makes the university’s credits and degrees eligible for federal financial aid and generally transferable to other accredited institutions.
Graduates are prepared to sit for the national PMHNP certification exam (ANCC or AANPCB) and, once certified, to apply for APRN licensure in their state of practice.
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