UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program

A collaborative effort of the UC Schools of Nursing

The UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate Program is a 12-month, hybrid graduate certificate designed to prepare advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to care for patients with psychiatric and mental health needs across the lifespan.

Developed in collaboration with the UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, UCSF School of Nursing and UCLA School of Nursing this program responds to California’s critical shortage of mental health professionals. Housed at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis, this program features virtual classroom learning and includes clinical placements throughout the state.

Graduates are 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 to care for psychiatric and mental health patients.

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

This unique UC-wide initiative was created to expand access to psychiatric care across California by training a new generation of board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners. The 12-month hybrid program combines online education with three immersion sessions in summer, fall and winter quarters, as well as regional clinical training across California. This 48-unit graduate academic certificate (GAC) provides supplemental course work and clinical experiences to allow licensed NPs to qualify 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 to allow practicing NPs to care for psychiatric and mental health patients.

Core courses are offered primarily online in summer, fall, winter and spring quarters, with some virtual sessions through UC Davis. Students typically attend class virtually on Wednesdays for their clinical case conference. Students should expect that some quarters, courses and clinical experiences must be completed during evenings and weeks. There are virtual immersion sessions in the summer, fall and winter quarters. Students may be required to attend virtual sessions to review and enhance course content comprehension.