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Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Online
Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study

Online Graduate Certificate

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Accepting applications for the Spring 2027 cohort.

Earn a certificate of advanced graduate study online

Nurses who earn the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) at UMass Dartmouth will have completed the required coursework and clinical experiences for certification as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB). 

In this online program, you will be prepared to diagnose and treat acute and chronic mental health conditions. You will gain knowledge and competence in providing psychotherapy and prescribing medications for patients across the lifespan. This PMHNP preparation and certification greatly expands your scope of practice and role opportunities in mental health/psychiatric care.

Program plans

Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program Plan

Course descriptions, schedules and requirements

Program Outcome Aligned AACN Domain
Synthesize advanced theoretical, scientific, and evidence-based knowledge to deliver safe, high-quality, and person-centered care for individuals, families, and populations within the PMHNP or AGPCNP role. Domain 1: Knowledge for Nursing Practice
Provide culturally responsive, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate care, integrating shared decision-making to optimize health outcomes across the lifespan. Domain 2: Person-Centered Care
Apply population health principles to identify health disparities, promote equity, and implement interventions that improve mental health or primary care outcomes for diverse communities. Domain 3: Population Health 
Critically appraise and translate current research into clinical practice, advancing evidence-informed strategies for health promotion, disease prevention, and management of complex health conditions. Domain 4: Scholarship for Nursing Practice 
Implement strategies that ensure patient safety and improve quality of care, including risk reduction, error prevention, and outcome evaluation within psychiatric or primary care practice settings. Domain 5: Quality and Safety 
Collaborate effectively with interprofessional teams to coordinate comprehensive care, enhance communication, and improve outcomes for patients with acute, chronic, or complex health needs. Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships
Analyze health care delivery systems, policies, and resources to advocate for and implement sustainable changes that improve access, efficiency, and equity in care delivery.

Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice
Utilize informatics, telehealth, and emerging healthcare technologies to support safe prescribing, effective care delivery, and patient engagement.

Domain 8: Informatics and Healthcare Technologies
Demonstrate ethical reasoning, integrity, accountability, and respect for diverse values in all aspects of advanced nursing practice.

Domain 9: Professionalism
Exhibit leadership in clinical practice, advocacy, and policy arenas, while engaging in reflective practice and lifelong learning to sustain professional growth.

Domain 10: Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development

Applicants to the CAGS program must: 

  • have either a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing
  • provide evidence of the following graduate level coursework*
    • advanced pathophysiology across the lifespan
    • advanced pharmacology across the lifespan
    • physical assessment across the lifespan
  • submit a 1-2 page statement of purpose
  • provide copy of active unencumbered RN license
  • provide copy of active, unencumbered NP (Nurse Practitioner) license (optional)
  • submit resume
  • submit official college transcripts
  • Copy of active, unencumbered RN license
  • Nursing licenses must be from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, your permanent (home) residence must be in listed states, and faculty-supervised clinical hours must occur in these states as well.
  • 2 letters of recommendation. Recommenders should document competence and leadership in professional nursing practice. One reference should be from a supervisor (professional nurse who holds a DNP preferred) and one from a nurse educator. An additional supervisor reference may be submitted in place of a nurse educator if needed. Applicants will be required to provide the recommender's name and email address so they can be contacted directly for the letter of recommendation. 

*Pending a review of applicants’ prior coursework and with advising, these courses also may be taken as pre-requisites to the CAGS course plan.

University requirements for graduate admissions

  • Submit an application via the online portal. Be sure to provide your full legal name and to capitalize the first letter of all proper nouns.
  • Pay non-refundable $60 application fee (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa) via the online portal. For Nursing applicants, the non-refundable application fee is $75.
  • Statement of Purpose, minimum 300 words. Unless otherwise indicated in the program requirement details, indicate your graduate study objectives, research interests and experience, and business or industry experience if applicable. If you are applying for a teaching or research assistantship, include any special skills or experience that would assist us in making assistantship decisions.
  • Resume
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary institutions attended (regardless of whether a credential is earned or not). Unofficial transcripts are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled a final official transcript is required. International students applying with an transcript evaluation, please submit that document with your unofficial transcripts. International applicants for Data Science must submit semester-by-semester transcripts as well as consolidated transcripts. 
  • Many programs have specific recommendations/requirements, please see the additional program-specific requirements for more information.
  • English Proficiency Requirement: If you are a Domestic student and English is not your native language or you are an International student, you must provide the university with verification of your proficiency in English. This is required of any applicant who did not earn a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited academic institution in the U.S. or accepted English-speaking country, see exemptions for more details. The official TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, Pearson PTE or Duolingo (if accepted by program) score meets this requirement. Unofficial scores are accepted for admissions application review, once enrolled official scores are required and must be sent by the testing agency (copies/scans not accepted). We require an overall/total minimum score of 72 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.0 on the IELTS Academic or a 52 on the Pearsons PTE Academic for entrance to any program and a minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or BAND 6.5 on the IELTS Academic for consideration for a teaching assistantship. Some programs require higher minimum scores (see program-specific requirements). Most programs also accept the Duolingo with a minimum score of 95. The following programs do not accept the Duolingo: Art Education, Biology/Marine Biology, Nursing (MS, DNP, PhD), Psychology: Clinical and Public Policy. 
  • All official documents are required for enrollment, please have documents (ie. test scores) sent prior to the expiration. 

Application dates

Customize your education and receive the help and guidance to finish as planned:

  • Value and affordability of a UMass education
  • One-on-one personal advising from enrollment through graduation
  • Military friendly, with leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience
  • Limited class size ensures individualized interaction with professors

Learning style: online

Online courses are taught by UMass Dartmouth faculty to provide high quality instruction and personal attention. Students have the flexibility to accommodate work and home responsibilities within the structure of defined assignment due dates. The majority of our online courses are taught asynchronously.

UMass Dartmouth is Military Friendly

UMassD is a Military Friendly School, with leading practices in the recruitment and retention of students with military experience. Learn more about veteran services and benefits at UMassD.