Master of Science in Nursing: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

What Are the Admission Requirements?

• A bachelor's degree from a nationally accredited (either by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)) undergraduate nursing program, or an equivalent degree from a foreign institution, as evaluated by a NACES approved agency.
• An active license as a registered nurse in your state of practice that is unencumbered.
• If English is not your first language, proof of English language proficiency is required. This can be demonstrated in one of three ways:
  • TOEFL - a minimum score of 550 (paper-based test) or 80 (Internet-based test) is required.*
  • IELTS – a minimum composite score of 6.5 is required.*
  • The applicant holds a baccalaureate or master’s degree from a college/university/institution in which the primary language of instruction was English.
• International applicants who are not licensed as registered nurses in the U.S. must achieve a passing score on both the English and nursing sections of the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) examination.
• A cumulative GPA of 3.00 or greater on a 4.00 scale. (Applicants with a GPA below 3.00 must demonstrate a GPA of 3.00 or higher for the last 60 undergraduate hours of his/her nursing program.)
• Undergraduate courses in statistics and research.
• Graduate testing is not required.

Please Note: All eligibility requirements are expected to be met unless noted in specific articulation agreements or memoranda of understanding (MOUs).

What Is the Application Process?

A complete application consists of the following:

• Application form
• RN license
• Resume
• Official transcript of your conferred undergraduate degree from a regionally or nationally accredited university
• Letter of intent
  • This letter should include an introduction of yourself and your professional goals. In addition, it should cover the following areas: Current area of nursing practice, Reason for pursuing additional education, Ways you plan to apply your degree
• One letter of recommendation from a nurse leader/manager or supervisor that can attest to your readiness for all graduate-level work
  • The letter of recommendation should be submitted on professional letterhead
  • An additional letter of recommendation may be requested by the Program Director during the application review process