Post-Master’s Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The program is specifically designed for already-licensed and certified Family Nurse Practitioners seeking to add PMHNP certification, with faculty resources readily available and an intensive online orientation to prepare students for quality graduate experience from day one. MCN graduates achieve consistently high NCLEX pass rates, with 93% in 2023, demonstrating the college’s commitment to excellence in nursing education.
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate is approximately $20,316 for Illinois residents ($31,596 for non-residents) and takes 1 year to complete over 4 consecutive semesters starting in Summer term.
Curriculum
The 24-credit certificate consists of 5 courses completed across 4 semesters with structured progression.
Courses include:
NUR 420 – Psychopharmacology (3)
This course covers psychopharmacologic management across the lifespan with emphasis on neurochemistry and neuroanatomy. It is approved for graduate credit; check the department for future offerings.
NUR 421 – Psychotherapeutics for Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (3)
This course introduces psychotherapy theories, therapeutic communication, and intervention planning for clients across the lifespan. Prerequisite: NUR 420; concurrent with NUR 422 and NUR 422a01.
NUR 422 – Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice I (7)
This course combines didactic work and practicum to prepare PMHNPs to assess and treat adult psychiatric disorders. Prerequisite: NUR 420 and concurrent NUR 421; passing NUR 422a01 is required to pass NUR 422.
NUR 422a01 – Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice I Clinicals
This course provides the clinical component for NUR 422 with supervised practice in adult psychiatric care. Prerequisite: NUR 420 and concurrent NUR 422; approved for graduate credit.
NUR 423 – Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice II (7)
This course expands assessment and treatment skills for pediatric and geriatric psychiatric disorders using evidence-based approaches. Prerequisites: NUR 420, NUR 421, NUR 422; passing NUR 423a01 is required to pass NUR 423.
NUR 423a01 – Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice II Clinicals
This course delivers the clinical experience for NUR 423 with rotations across lifespan-focused settings. Concurrent registration in NUR 423 is required; check the department for future offerings.
NUR 424 – Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice III (4)
This course synthesizes advanced PMHNP knowledge with a focus on clinical competency and professional role. Prerequisites: NUR 420, NUR 421, NUR 422, NUR 423; passing NUR 424a01 is required to pass NUR 424.
NUR 424a01 – Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice III Clinicals
This course provides the culminating clinical experience aligned with NUR 424 to demonstrate advanced practice readiness. Concurrent registration in NUR 424 is required; approved for graduate credit.
More curriculum details available here.
Clinicals
Students complete 540 practice hours distributed equally across three advanced practice courses (180 hours each). Clinical experiences occur in psychiatric mental health settings where students apply psychopharmacology, psychotherapeutic interventions, and comprehensive mental health assessment and treatment skills under preceptor supervision.
All students engaged in clinical courses must comply with health and safety requirements of Illinois State University, Mennonite College of Nursing, and assigned clinical sites.
Clinical site-specific requirements may include additional immunizations, COVID-19 vaccination proof, weekly testing, and other compliance measures beyond baseline university requirements. Students must meet all clinical site requirements to receive registration override and remain registered for clinical courses.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing from CCNE or ACEN accredited program (non-BSN applicants reviewed case-by-case)
- Required: Licensed and certified Family Nurse Practitioner (this program is exclusively for FNPs adding PMHNP certification)
- Completed advanced physical assessment, advanced pathophysiology, and advanced pharmacology at graduate level with grade B or better
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale for last 60 hours undergraduate work OR 3.0 on earned graduate degree plus in-progress graduate coursework
- Unencumbered RN license in Illinois
- Unencumbered Advanced Practice RN licensure
- FNP Certification from American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
- Current resume or CV
- Two to three-page double-spaced essay describing educational and career goals
- Two professional references from nursing faculty from MSN program or master’s-prepared nurses
- Health and safety compliance including drug testing, criminal background check, physical examination, immunizations
- Summer term start only
- Application period: October 1 – February 1 (March 1 priority deadline, applications accepted after as space allows)
- International students must submit CGFNS or WES credentials evaluation, TOEFL 79 iBT or IELTS 6.5 band score
Tuition
Graduate tuition is approximately $423 per credit hour for Illinois residents ($878 for non-residents) based on 9 credit hours per semester.
The 24-credit certificate totals approximately $10,152 for residents ($21,072 for non-residents) plus fees of approximately $2,680 annually. Total estimated program cost including fees is approximately $12,832 for Illinois residents and $23,752 for non-residents.
Accreditation
Mennonite College of Nursing at Illinois State University maintains accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates are prepared to sit for national PMHNP certification examinations.
Other Nursing Programs
Illinois State University’s Mennonite College of Nursing offers comprehensive nursing education:
- Graduate Programs: Family Nurse Practitioner, other advanced practice nursing specializations, PhD in Nursing (Illinois’ only downstate PhD in Nursing program, offered online)
- Undergraduate Programs: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Online RN to BSN, Springfield campus programs
- Specialized Features: Established 1919, first independent College of Nursing nationally accredited by National League for Nursing, consistently high NCLEX pass rates (93% in 2023)
Other Illinois Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Illinois
- Chamberlain University - Addison
- Loyola University - Maywood
- North Central College - Naperville
- Rasmussen College -
- Rosalind Franklin University - Chicago
- Rush University - Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago