Due to the high volume of interest in the Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, the Liberty University School of Nursing is only taking applications for the Spring 2024 semester at this time.

Due to the high volume of interest in the Post Graduate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, student enrollment may be limited to ensure practicum placement and student success. Please note that LUSON has three start dates for this program (fall, spring, summer). As enrollment meets capacity each semester, eligible prospective students may be placed on a wait list and/or admitted to a later term. If you have any additional questions, you may email jeast@liberty.edu.

At this time, our Postgraduate Certificate in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner is limited in certain states. Please view the licensure/certification requirements for your state. International students can contact the School of Nursing related to their degree interest. An RN and Nurse Practitioner license from an approved state is required for admission.

Disclosure Statement

Enrollment in one of Liberty University’s licensure programs does not guarantee a degree from Liberty or qualification for licensure. Students are responsible for meeting all academic and professional requirements for graduation. Further information regarding these academic and professional requirements are outlined on the Liberty University website. Students enrolled in a licensure program are responsible for knowing the material outlined for their program. Further, it is the sole responsibility of the student, not the institution, to obtain information regarding prerequisites for licensure as outlined by their particular state Board of Nursing.

Licensure requirements for any state are subject to change without notice. Liberty University is not responsible for knowing when changes occur. Additionally, there might be other states with unique licensure requirements. Please reference our State Requirements for NP and APRN Licensure page for further information.

1. Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
   • A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
2. Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited BSN and MSN or DNP (both if applicable) degrees with at least a 3.0 GPA in all previous graduate work is required for admission in good standing. Transcripts must show the BSN and all degrees from post-secondary schools and must show that the Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice has an advanced practice specialty as a nurse practitioner focused on family, adult, geriatric, neonatal, pediatrics, or women’s health. This MSN or DNP must be accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
   • Students must also be able to demonstrate that they have graduated from a CCNE- or ACEN-approved program and that their MSN or DNP has an approved advanced practice specialty. The Admissions Committee will complete a review of the MSN for the 3 P’s (Advanced Physical Assessment, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Advanced Pharmacology) to determine if they were taught across the lifespan. If they do not meet the requirements of the certifying bodies, you will be required to take these courses in order to sit for certification. Please visit our admission requirements page for more detailed admissions-related information.
3. Admission to this program requires the following items to be submitted:
   • Current and active RN license issued in an approved state. If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admissions Review Committee for further explanation.
   • Active APRN license and Professional Certification issued in an approved state. If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admissions Review Committee for further explanation.
   • Verification of professional certification as an advanced practice nurse (Nurse Practitioner)
   • Clinical APRN Education: Advanced practice nurses are required to have the advanced practice core. Graduate transcripts must reflect that the applicants have successfully passed a graduate-level health assessment, graduate-level pathophysiology, and a graduate-level pharmacology course.
   • American Heart Association BLS CPR Card for Healthcare Providers with AED.
   • One Reference: We require one reference contact from a professional or academic reference. Your reference should be able to speak to your work ethic and academic abilities; this contact should also be able to be reached via phone or email.
   • Writing Sample
     • Answer the following prompts using APA rules of grammar. First person is permitted; APA formatting (i.e. title page, headers) is not needed. Return completed writing sample to luoverify@liberty.edu.
       • In 1,000 words or fewer, please describe your professional nursing career. In addition, please include how you incorporate your worldview in your current profession.
     • Please also provide the following:
       • Name of present or most recent employment and position
       • Length of Employment (Indicate in MM/DD/YY to MM/DD/YY. If still employed, write ‘current’ as the end date)
4. Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.

Supplemental Acceptance Steps

After reviewing applications, the School of Nursing will contact selected applicants. If an acceptance offer is extended to an applicant, additional application steps will be needed before attending courses. Included in these steps is a standardized background check and submission of immunization records. More information will be provided to selected applicants.

Additional Requirements

Students who are accepted and offered a seat each semester will be required to submit a $500 deposit,* which will be applied to your student account to be used towards tuition, fees, etc. If accepted to our program, you will receive additional information via your Liberty email regarding your next steps and payment of the deposit.

Additional program prerequisites may be required upon your acceptance. This is to meet the requirements of the certifying boards. Syllabi and course descriptions will be reviewed for equivalency if provided by the student.

If you have any questions, you may reach the School of Nursing at jeast@liberty.edu or by calling (434) 592-6505.

*Deposit refund deadlines apply. Contact the School of Nursing for specific semester refund dates.

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.