More About the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Advanced Certificate

This program covers mental health across the lifespan, thus the “family” designation. Students gain advanced knowledge and skills basic to the psychiatric nurse practitioner's (PMHNP) ability to: assess, diagnose and plan treatment for psychiatric disorders and co-morbid conditions; provide treatment that includes prescribing and monitoring psychotropic medications; implement psychotherapy and health promotion/illness prevention interventions with individuals and groups; and evaluate treatment outcomes.

This certificate program is intended for licensed nurse practitioners in another specialty who want to add to or change their specialty area to psych/mental health. This program may be taken on a part-time or full-time basis and can be completed online (pending transcript review to determine eligibility).

Admissions Requirements

Before you can apply, you must have:

  • Copies of master's transcripts for review
  • The equivalent of a Master of Science (MS) degree in advanced practice nursing
  • Active U.S. RN and NP licenses
  • An active national certification in your specialty area (ex. FNP, AGNP, etc.)
  • MS GPA of 3.0 or higher

To apply, you must submit:

  • Online application and $75 fee
  • Official copies of transcripts from ALL colleges attended
  • Resume/curriculum vitae
  • Personal statement
  • Three references

Curriculum

Advanced Practice Nursing Core
Course Credits
NGC 612 Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nursing 4
NGC 625 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing 3
NGC 626 Pathophysiology for Advanced Practice Nursing II 3
NGC 576 Advanced Health Assessment-Foundations 3
NGC 574 Advanced Health Assessment-Child 2
Specialty Coursework
Course Credits
NPM 553     Primary Care of Individuals & Families Experiencing Addictions
 3
NPM 559 The Family: Theoretical Foundations and Perspectives 3
NPM 562 PMHN: Theoretical Foundations and Perspectives 3
NPM 568 Clinical Pharmacology for APN 3
NPM 569 Neurological Basis of Mental Health & Addictive Disorders 3
NPM 570 MH Assessment & Diagnosis Across the Lifespan 3
NPM 563 PMHN: Practicum Individual & Group Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan 2
NPM 618 Clinical Practicum I 4
NPM 619 Clinical Practicum II 4
NPM 652 PMHNP Clinical Practicum Seminar I 1
NPM 653 PMHNP Clinical Practicum Seminar II 1

Total Credits: 25-45*

*A maximum of 45 credit hours are required to complete the Family Psych/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Advanced Certificate. However, specific courses may be waived if the individual’s previous training specifically indicates on the academic transcripts that the required course or its equivalent has already been taken within the last 10 years. All students in this program must complete at least 25 credit hours and 600 unique clinical hours in this specialty area, all of which must be taken at the University at Buffalo.

Additional Information

Graduate Tuition, Financial Aid & Scholarships
Technology Requirements
Gainful Employment Disclosure