A collaborative effort of the UC Schools of Nursing

With California facing an urgent and growing shortage of mental health professionals, the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing collaborated with the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, UCSF School of Nursing, and UCLA School of Nursing to launch a new online program to prepare new psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) in California.

This multicampus, PMHNP postgraduate certificate program is the first of its kind in California. Its training will increase the mental health providers workforce at a time when the shortfall continues to grow across California. Over 50% of people with mental illness in the state are not receiving psychiatric care, and many communities, especially those located within rural and inland areas, have only half as many psychiatrists as other parts of the state.

This UC PMHNP postgraduate certificate is a 12-month hybrid program that combines online education with three immersion sessions and regional clinical training across California. Often, students remain in their communities to complete their clinical training.

Upon completion of this training, students will be eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Board Certification (PMHNP-BC™) examination to become a board-certified PMHNP.

About the program

For the first three UC PMHNP classes, from 2021-23, program admission was led by the UCSF School of Nursing. Beginning with the cohort enrolling in June 2024, students will apply through the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis.

Guided by the school’s core values of leadership development, interprofessional and interdisciplinary education, transformative research, cultural inclusiveness and innovative technology, the UC PMHNP Certificate Program takes 12 months (four consecutive quarters including one summer) to complete.

Programs at the School of Nursing prepare nurses with both the knowledge and skills needed to meet the needs of a constantly changing health care system. Rooted in a growing body of research and nurtured by visionary faculty who seek to transform health care, the curricula embrace integrative case-based learning, technology and systems-wide perspectives.

Core courses are offered summer, fall, winter and spring quarters virtually through UC Davis. Students typically attend class virtually Monday through Friday and should expect that some quarters they must complete courses and clinical experiences during evenings and weekends. See an example course listing.

The UC PMHNP Certificate Program uniquely prepares graduates for emerging nursing roles in today’s health care systems.

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Program requirements

Who can apply

The UC PMHNP Certificate Program is geared towards APRNs looking to further their education and training to serve the psychiatric patient populational in their local communities. These include:

  • Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs)
  • Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs)
  • Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)

Review requirements, admissions and aid information for the UC PMHNP Certificate Program.

Do you have questions?

Still have questions? For additional assistance, the fastest way to get answers about admissions requirements and the application process is to email HS-BettyIreneMooreSON@ucdavis.edu. You can also sign up for our UC PMHNP Certificate Program email group to receive periodic stories, videos and other program information.

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