Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate
This certificate program prepares nurse practitioners to fill the
workforce gaps in the mental health system, offering an important
perspective on both the physical and mental health needs of people who
seek care.
Program Overview
This certificate fills a significant and severe community need, preparing advance practice psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) to provide advanced mental health treatment to individuals with mental health disorders. Advanced care includes the capacity to use individual and family counseling, as well as prescribe and manage psychiatric medications. These advanced mental health treatments are built on a foundation of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment.
Admission Criteria
- Minimum 3.0 GPA at the graduate level.
- Graduate of accredited Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) MSN or DNP program with a specialty focus of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
- Licensed as a registered nurse (RN) in the State of Michigan.
- Completed online application with an educational and professional goal statement.
- Curriculum vitae or resume.
- Interview with KCON faculty.
- Successful completion of background check and drug screen, as well as compliance with health records, immunizations, and other KCON graduate program requirements.
Why Study Nursing at Grand Valley?
- PMHNPs are uniquely prepared to fill the workforce gaps in the mental health system and are in high demand.
- The hybrid format is ideal for working adults through online coursework and convenient in-seat classes at the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences (CHS) in downtown Grand Rapids.
- The certificate can be completed in four semesters.
Career Insights
This tool shows an overview of potential career opportunities for this major. Actual salaries, employment opportunities, and job titles may change over time.
Location & Format
Classes for the program are a combination of online and in-seat on the GVSU Health Campus, near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.
Format:Coursework
Courses focus on growth and development across a person's lifespan, psychopharmacology, theories of mental health and personality, treatment modalities (individual, group, and family), and practicum experiences.
This program is in a hybrid format, combining online learning with high-impact, in-person experiences. The certificate can be completed in 22 credits, depending on previously completed coursework.
Application Deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but the fully completed application must be submitted a minimum of 30 days prior to the intended semester of enrollment. The $30 nonrefundable application fee is waived if the applicant has previously applied to GVSU.
Admission Requirements
For general requirements for graduate admission, visit Grand Valley State University’s admission section of the online catalog.
Admission into the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program has additional requirements, which are available on this page.
If you have additional questions, please contact our graduate admissions office.
For More Information
Kirkhof College of NursingKristin Norton, Director, Office of Student Services
DeVos Center
for Interprofessional Health
333 Michigan St. NE Suite 410
(616) 331-5637
[email protected]
Program Director
Marie Vanderkooi, DNP
(616) 331-5903