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Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Master’s)

Program Location Distance Education/Online
Program Credits 32 Credits
Program Length*

5 Trimesters, 80 Instructional Weeks (Prior to Fall 1 2024)

or

4 Trimesters, 64 Instructional Weeks (Effective Fall 1 2024)
Time to Complete

20 Months (Prior to Fall 1 2024)

or

16 Months (Effective Fall 1 2024)

*Program length may vary.

WCU distance education programs may not be available to residents in all states.

Clinical Hour Requirement:  this track requires a total of 500 precepted clinical hours (prior to Fall 1) and a total of 540 precepted clinical hours (Starting Fall 1).

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 29-1170.00

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion, post-master’s certificate students will:

APRN Core and Specialty

  1. Synthesize the core knowledge of advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and physical examination to develop informed differential diagnoses.
  2. Deliver individualized, evidence-based, culturally competent, and equitable person-centered care to diverse populations.
  3. Employ therapeutic communication strategies utilizing and emerging technologies to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborative care across the healthcare continuum.
  4. Coordinate effective patient-specific care utilizing policies, standards of care, and available resources.
  5. Advocate for policy changes that create safe, accessible, and quality health care for patients leading to principles of entrepreneurship and innovation within a dynamic healthcare environment.

Effective Fall I 2024:

APRN Core and Specialty PLOs

  1. Integrate nursing science and related fields, such as physiology, statistics, psychosocial, political, financial, genetics, public health and organization sciences in the continued improvement of nursing across the continuum of health care settings.
  2. Provide leadership in a variety of settings that promote high quality, safe patient care that also incorporates ethical decision making and effective inter-professional working relationships.
  3. Demonstrate the skills needed to effect quality improvement that incorporates the various models, standards and performance measures necessary to apply quality principles, within any type of organization.
  4. Apply evidenced based research in clinical practice by identifying actual or potential practice problems in a setting and resolving them through the role of change agent.
  5. Demonstrate proficiency in computer skills both technical and in the application of informatics to enhance, deliver, communicate, integrate and coordinate patient care.
  6. Recognize the need for and ability to affect policy changes by using the policy development process and advocacy strategies to influence individual health and health care systems.
  7. Communicate and coordinate inter-professionally in a variety of settings to manage and coordinate care.
  8. Identify and integrate the various evidenced based practices of health promotion and disease prevention using client centered, culturally and age appropriate concepts in the nursing process of services to individuals, families and broad-based aggregate populations.
  9. Demonstrate an advanced level of scientific and nursing-specific knowledge with the ability to integrate that knowledge into nursing practice that influences health care outcomes for individual, families, populations and/or systems.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the program must meet the following requirements (Post-Master's Certificates All Track Options):

  1. Completion of the application for admission.
  2. Complete all university admissions requirements.
  3. Completion of a Master of Science (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA accredited program, with a 3.0 GPA or better. 
    1. Applicants can be conditionally admitted into the program by providing unofficial transcripts or a copy of the conferred nursing degree. Official transcripts which meet the requirements set forth must be received by the end of the add/drop period to be admitted to the program.
  4. A valid and unencumbered license as a registered nurse in any US State or territory in which the student is licensed, including the State in which the student completes all assignments for the program.
    1. Military, federal, and foreign-educated nurses must meet this State requirement for nursing licensure.
    2. An active and unencumbered RN license(s) must be maintained throughout the program.
    3. A domestic or foreign medical degree is not equivalent to a nursing degree.
  5. Completion of all pre-requisite coursework  

*Applicants submitting non-U.S. or non-English transcripts should refer to the International Admissions section of the catalog.

Additional Nurse Practitioner Program Tracks Admission Requirements for Applicants with Nursing Degrees Awarded Outside of the United States

Students with nursing degrees outside of the United States will not be considered for admission into the Post-Masters Nurse Practitioner Programs [Adult-Gerontology Acute Care; Adult-Gerontology Primary Care; Family, and Psychiatric Mental Health]. However, applicants may be considered for admission into one of the WCU MSN or RN to MSN programs. 

Language Verification Requirements

Students with foreign degrees applying to a nursing program must possess proficiency in English at a level to enable them to succeed in graduate-level studies. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Duolingo English Test (DET) must be taken if the applicant’s native language is not English. Results must be sent directly from TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo to the West Coast University admissions department. Copies are not acceptable. Your application will not be considered until you have achieved at least the minimum score.

  • TOEFL - minimum composite score of 100, with sub-scores of 21 or higher.
  • IELTS – minimum overall band score of 7.0, with a speaking band score of 7.0 or higher and other band scores of 6.0 or higher.
  • DET – minimum score of 125.

PMC Additional Admissions Requirements Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Tracks Only:

In addition to the admissions requirements above, applicants to the PMC of Science in Nursing - Advanced Practice Registered Nurse tracks must also meet the following admissions requirements:

  1. Recommendation for admission by the Program Dean/Director and admission committee members. Past academic performance and professional achievements will be evaluated using a rubric to determine the applicant’s level of qualification.
  2. A valid and unencumbered license as an RN in any US State or territory in which the student is licensed, including the State in which the student completes practicum experiences.
  3. PMC applicants who have been dismissed from a previous WCU nurse practitioner program track do not qualify for admission into any of the PMC Nurse Practitioner Tracks.
  4. PMC applicants will have a formal transfer of credit gap analysis prior to acceptance of admission.
  5. PMC applicants who do not meet full admissions criteria will not be considered.
  6. Applicants to the APRN tracks must have a minimum of one (1) year of direct patient care RN experience before entering APRN core courses as verified using the experience verification form.
  7. Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Track applicants must have one (1) year of intensive care unit (ICU) experience as a registered nurse (RN) within the past 5 years prior to admission as verified using the experience verification form.
  8. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track applicants must have one (1) year of registered nurse (RN) experience in direct patient care or a minimum of six (6) months of direct patient care experience in psychiatric mental health nursing (preferred) within the last 5 years prior to admission as verified using the experience verification form.

*Students admitted to APRN tracks under previous admissions requirements and have withdrawn that have completed more than 75% of the credits associated with the program will be re-admitted to the previous version of their program using previous requirements.

Program Pre-Requisites:

Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Health/Physical Assessment course(s) [3Ps] must have been completed within the last five (5) years with a grade of "B" or better.

Any 3P courses that are population-specific (e.g., Advanced Pediatric Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology for the CRNA, Advanced Pathophysiology for the Neonate, Advanced Psychopharmacology, etc.) are not considered completed for the purposes of pre-requisite coursework.

If courses were taken more than five (5) years from the date of program application, applicants must repeat the course(s) to be eligible for the PMC.
Applicants who have taken an equivalent 3P course(s) that is more than five (5) years from the date of program application, pre-requisite fulfillment may be considered for those who have an active NP certification.

Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacology, and Advanced Physical Assessment for applicants who hold an MSN degree with a focus on education, leadership, informatics, or another non-APRN area will not fulfill the pre-requisite requirement.

WCU offers the pre-requisite courses for students who do not meet the requirements. Financial Aid may be available for those who qualify.

    PMC Progression Requirements (All Certificates)

    A cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 is required for all 500 and 600-level courses for graduation. Students are also required to meet all requirements under the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.

    1. Maintain an active, unencumbered RN license throughout the program.
    2. An active, unencumbered license is required up to degree completion and will be verified throughout the program.
    3. Failure to present a valid RN license may result in dismissal from the university until such time as an active, unencumbered license is obtained.
    4. A student in the APRN tracks must participate in two (2) mandatory On-site Intensives (OSI). The OSI brings students to campus or other locations to learn, practice, and demonstrate essential hands-on skills and competencies required by nurse practitioners. Students who do not attend the OSI automatically fail the course that is associated with the missed OSI, and the student must retake the course and complete the OSI to progress in the program.
    5. All course and clinical educational program requirements must be successfully completed to meet graduation requirements. All course and practicum requirements are published in the course syllabi and expanded upon in the Post-Licensure Nursing Student Handbook. Students will have access to course syllabi one week prior to the term start date. Students will have access to the Post-Licensure Nursing Student Handbook after acceptance into the nursing program.
    6. Students in good standing are required to meet the academic progression standards as stated in the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Failure to meet the SAP standards will result in dismissal from the nursing program.
    7. Students in the nursing graduate program must earn a B or better in all post-licensure nursing courses. Students will be required to repeat any course for which they achieved less than a "B" the next term the course is offered. (Minimum passing grade of “B” will be in effect Summer 1 2023 and beyond) Probationally admitted students are required to adhere to the Probational Admission Policy.
      • Fully admitted students in specialty tracks other than nurse practitioner tracks who receive a third grade less than a "B" in any nursing course will be dismissed from the nursing program.
      • Fully admitted students in a nurse practitioner track who receives a second grade less than a "B" in any nursing course will be dismissed from the nursing program.
    8. Students who fail a sequenced theory and/or clinical course may not continue to the next course in the sequence until the failed course is repeated successfully. Students must complete all required clinical hours in each of the clinical courses, or they will not progress to the next course and must follow the University's Incomplete policy.
    9. Student Conduct from a Clinical Site
    • Students in clinical sites will be held to the University’s Student Conduct Code. Incidents reported to the student’s Program Dean will be reported to the Campus Director of Student Affairs for investigation and potential adjudication and disciplinary sanctions.

    Program Information and Disclosures

    Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Certificate (Post-Master's)

    Accreditation & Approvals Disclosure

    The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Master's) coursework is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, (202) 877-6791. 

    A student in the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Master's) online program at West Coast University participates in two (2) On-site Intensive (OSI) weekends. The OSI brings students to campus to learn, practice and demonstrate essential hands-on skills and competencies needed by nurse practitioners.

    PMHNP Certificate Disclosure Regarding the CA Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)

    After successful completion of the West Coast University Post-Master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program, graduates will be able to apply for certification with the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) through "Method One"

    For more information about Certification application requirements, please visit the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) at, www.rn.ca.gov/applicants

    Psychiatric Mental Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Curriculum

    Psychiatric Mental Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Coursework - Effective Fall I 2024

    MSNP 600Psychiatric Mental Health: Introduction to Advanced Practice

    2
    MSNP 605Psychiatric Mental Health: Psychopharmacology

    3
    MSNP 610Psychiatric Mental Health: Across the Lifespan I

    3
    MSNP 610CPsychiatric Mental Health: Across the Lifespan Practicum I

    2
    MSNP 620Psychiatric Mental Health: Across the Lifespan II

    3
    MSNP 620CPsychiatric Mental Health: Across the Lifespan Practicum II

    2
    MSNP 630Psychiatric Mental Health: Across the Lifespan III

    3
    MSNP 630CPsychiatric Mental Health: Across the Lifespan Practicum III

    2
    MSNP 650Psychiatric Mental Health: Intensive I

    2
    MSNP 650CPsychiatric Mental Health: Residency I

    3
    MSNP 660Psychiatric Mental Health: Intensive II

    2
    MSNP 660CPsychiatric Mental Health: Residency II

    3
    MSNP 680Psychiatric Mental Health: Transition to Advanced Practice

    2
    Total Credit Hours:32.0
     

    Psychiatric Mental Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Coursework - Prior to Fall I 2024

    NURS 530Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology - APRN

    3
    NURS 676Advanced Pharmacology - APRN

    3
    NURS 681Advanced Health/Physical Assessment and Lab - APRN

    4
    NURS 682Care Coordination and Role of the Advanced Practice Nurse

    3
    NURS 682L-AAdvanced Healthcare Residency I

    2
    NURS 682L-B*Advanced Healthcare Residency II

    2
    NURS 683Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology

    3
    NURS 686Psychiatric - Mental Health Care Across the Lifespan: Theory I

    3
    NURS 686LPsychiatric - Mental Health Care Across the Lifespan: Practicum I

    3
    NURS 687Psychiatric - Mental Health Care Across the Lifespan: Theory II

    3
    NURS 687LPsychiatric - Mental Health Care Across the Lifespan: Practicum II

    3
    Total Credit Hours:32.0
    *NURS 682L-BR – Taken if student is unsuccessful in NURS 682L-B

    Psychiatric Mental Health Care Nurse Practitioner (Post-Master's) Certificate Program Costs

    For program costs, please see the Graduate Tuition and Fees section.