Program overview

Advance your career with Rider's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Post-Master’s Certificate program. Our program prepares experienced nurses who already have a master’s degree to take on a new specialty and expand their knowledge and scope of practice as a primary care provider. Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners have more opportunities for flexible work schedules and access to tele-health practice settings. Courses are offered 100% online. An in-person residency may be required.

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Admission requirements

Growing demand for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners

Developing your expertise in the psychiatric-mental health specialty can prepare you to advance your career. You’ll provide much needed access to psychiatric care and challenge the stigma surrounding mental illness.

$137K

median annual income for a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2020)

6.5%

of all nurse practitioners in the United States are primarily certified in psychiatric-mental health (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2024)

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Program requirements

Upon acceptance, a gap analysis will take place to determine the student's academic plan. This is a comprehensive review of all prior graduate coursework including course descriptions, objectives and topical outlines. The purpose of the review is to find gaps in the required criteria for the student to be eligible to sit for the nurse practitioner certification exam. Curricula will include online classes focused on the student's desired concentration as well as clinical placements.

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CCNE accredited

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master's degree program in nursing and the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Rider University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. 

CCNE Accredited

Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education

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Why choose Rider?

  • 100% online courses 
  • Supportive faculty who will evaluate your previous credentials to determine courses needed for your chosen path
  • Flexibility to complete your clinical hours in a time frame that works best for you
  • Faculty find and coordinate optimal clinical placements
  • Earn your certification in as little as five semesters

Dedicated faculty

Students in Rider’s graduate nursing programs learn from expert faculty such as lecturer, Dr. Janet Somlyay. During her 40+ year nursing career, she has worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner, served as an officer in the Air Force, owned her own practice and more. Dr. Somlyay brings her wealth of knowledge to Rider’s psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program and is committed to helping students reach their goals.

University partnerships

Rider University is proud to partner with Capital Health and give back to healthcare workers by offering a tuition discount and additional benefits to eligible employees. Other partners include The State of New Jersey, Penn Medicine Princeton Health (through the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber), Woods Services and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. 

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Next steps

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Contact

Lori Prol

Associate Professor, Director of Nursing Programs

Mike and Patti Hennessy Science and Technology Center

lprol [at] rider.edu

609-896-5348

Academic Focus: Nursing

Department of Health Sciences and Nursing

Science and Technology Center