The Psychiatric–Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) specialty prepares graduates for advanced practice promoting mental health and providing therapeutic interventions to individuals across the lifespan living with mental-health and substance-use disorders. Coursework focuses on building knowledge and skills essential for practice, including mental health assessment, risk prevention, differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and outcome management. Both psychopharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions are explored over a series of courses, emphasizing their complementary roles in treatment. The program prepares students to synthesize theory, evidence-based interventions, and knowledge of health care systems in order to collaborate with the multidisciplinary team and provide holistic, person-centered care. 

PMHNPs provide care to children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in a wide range of clinical settings, including acute emergency psychiatric services, community mental health centers, private practice, school- or home-based care, integrated psychiatric and primary care, substance abuse and forensic sites, and acute and long-term care facilities. Many sites utilize a combination of in-person care and telepsychiatry to enhance accessibility.  

Upon completion of the required curriculum, students are prepared to apply for certification as a psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioner across the lifespan through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.