Program Tracks Overview
The program is available exclusively to nurses who already have graduate degree in nursing and are certified as advanced nurse practitioners in fields other than psychiatric-mental health, expanding their scope of practice to provide psychiatric-mental health services to families across the lifespan.
Graduate Certificate in PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Graduate Certificate in PMHNP program is approximately $12,672 for Alaska residents (based on 24 credit hours at $528 per credit hour) taking approximately 1-2 years depending on course scheduling and individual academic plan.
Curriculum
The Graduate Certificate in PMHNP requires 24 total credits with program requirements based on what type of nurse practitioner certification the individual already holds. Additional coursework may be required based on transcript gap analysis conducted by academic advisor.
Students need to have had advanced pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment course in their original nursing master’s program; if their program did not include some or all of these courses, they may need to be taken for the graduate certificate.
Required Courses:
NSG A611 Psychopharmacology for Advanced Nursing
Builds applied psychopharmacology expertise for primary and psychiatric care, emphasizing mechanism of action, safe prescribing, and therapeutic monitoring across the lifespan. Students learn to individualize regimens, recognize interactions/adverse effects, and use evidence to optimize outcomes.
NSG A670 Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing I
Establishes core PMHNP competencies in comprehensive assessment, DSM-based diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome evaluation. Focus centers on managing individuals across the lifespan who are at risk for or experiencing mental health conditions.
NSG A671 Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing II
Advances clinical skills to deliver evidence-based care for families and groups, integrating psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic approaches. Emphasizes health promotion, relapse prevention, and collaborative care within diverse populations.
NSG A672 Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing III
Introduces the consultant–liaison role in organizations, applying systems thinking to design and evaluate population-focused mental health services. Students appraise fiscal and social policies, map community resources, and translate research into program planning.
NSG A673 Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing IV
Capstone clinical that synthesizes theory, research, and prior practicum learning to deliver holistic PMHNP care across the lifespan. An intensive practicum and seminar deepen role transition, interprofessional collaboration, and advanced practice leadership.
More curriculum details available here.
Clinicals
Clinical Hour Requirements
- Total Hours: The Graduate Certificate requires 750 clinical hours of direct patient care.
- Location: All PMHNP clinical experience must be completed within the state of Alaska.
Clinical Placement Logistics
- Priority Placement: Clinical sites are typically assigned in or near the student’s home community whenever possible.
- Placement Decision: Final site decisions are based on the availability of qualified preceptors and agencies that can provide adequate experiences to meet all course and program outcomes.
- Scheduling: Student clinical hours must align with the preceptor’s work schedule, which is usually Monday through Friday.
- Experience: Students are encouraged to take advantage of clinical learning opportunities throughout Alaska in both urban and rural settings.
Course Delivery Format
- Format: PMHNP clinical courses are delivered in a hybrid format.
- On-Campus Intensives: Short, face-to-face intensives are required, usually 1 to 2 campus visits per semester.
- Distance Learning: Additional coursework throughout the semester is held at scheduled times, with distance students participating live via software programs or video conferencing.
Prerequisites & Admissions
Graduate Certificate PMHNP Requirements:
- Complete admission requirements for graduate certificates
- Graduate degree in nursing (master’s or doctoral) from school of nursing accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
- Registered professional nurse license in state of Alaska (license must remain active and unencumbered while in School of Nursing graduate program; students with encumbered licenses should meet with graduate chair to determine program eligibility)
- Active unencumbered license as advanced practice nurse in state of Alaska (license must remain active and unencumbered while in graduate certificate program)
- Documentation of national certification as advanced nurse practitioner
- Meet with faculty advisor to develop academic plan of study based on gap analysis
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (B average on 4.00 scale) or meet specific graduate program GPA requirements
- Submit official transcripts showing completion and conferral of all baccalaureate degrees and any transcripts reflecting graduate-level courses
- Admission deadlines: Program admits once per year with specific deadline (see School of Nursing website for current deadline information)
Prior to Program Commencement, Students Must Provide Documentation For:
- Immunizations: proof of rubella, rubeola, mumps vaccination or titer; varicella (chickenpox) vaccination or titer; Hepatitis B titer demonstrating immunity; Hepatitis A titer demonstrating immunity; diphtheria/tetanus vaccine within past ten years; influenza vaccine within previous twelve months
- Freedom from active tuberculosis: verified annually by negative PPD skin test or health examination conducted by nurse practitioner, physician, or physician’s assistant
- Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): required for infants, children, and adults
- Additional requirements: may include drug screening, additional vaccinations, and/or clinical facility-specific requirements
- Eligibility determination from national-level criminal background check
- Professional liability insurance: specific information regarding acceptable policies obtained directly from program
- Proof of health insurance: school assumes no responsibility for illnesses and injuries experienced by students during clinical experiences; students responsible for all associated medical costs
- Proof of registered professional nurse license in state of Alaska
Students enrolled in clinical courses must arrange own transportation to clinical assignments and need to purchase uniforms and specialized equipment.
Academic Requirements:
Students enrolled in PMHNP Graduate Certificate program must make continuous progress toward completion of certificate and remain in good standing with School of Nursing. To remain in good standing students must: maintain professional and academic standards always; earn minimum 3.00 (B) in all required coursework; maintain continuous enrollment each fall and spring semester until certificate granted. Noncompliance with good standing policy and academic progress expectations will result in probation and possible dismissal from program.
International Students:
Students whose native language is not English or whose baccalaureate degree was conferred by institution where English was not language of instruction must submit official test score reports from International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Official TOEFL minimum score of 79-80 IBT or IELTS minimum score of 6-6.5 required, completed within last two years and sealed by issuing agency.
Tuition
Graduate tuition (course numbers A600-A699) costs $528 per credit hour for Alaska residents and $1,128 per credit hour for nonresidents.
More tuition details here: https://catalog.uaa.alaska.edu/academicpoliciesprocesses/tuitionfees/
Students from Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming may be eligible for resident tuition through Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP), with qualified graduate students paying in-state tuition rate on all graduate degree programs (certificate programs not eligible for WRGP).
Accreditation
The associate, baccalaureate, master’s, post-master’s certificate nursing programs are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). Graduates of PMHNP certificate option are eligible to take examination offered by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) to become certified as PMHNP.
Other Nursing Programs
University of Alaska Anchorage School of Nursing offers comprehensive nursing education:
Undergraduate Programs:
- Associate of Applied Science in Nursing (AAS)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BS)
Graduate Programs:
- Master of Science in Nursing (MS)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Graduate Certificates in various specialties