Psychiatry Certificate

Increase access to high quality mental healthcare as a fully trained psychiatric Physician Assistant.

Online | 3-5 Semesters | 12-20 Months

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Credits

Courses

Clinical Hours

Psychiatry Certificate Highlights

Prepare for the NCCPA Exam

Demonstrate your qualifications as a PA specializing in psychiatry. Our curriculum is specifically designed to prepare you to pass the NCCPA Psychiatry CAQ exam. Our certificate curriculum includes 1600 hours of high quality didactic content, taught by experienced psychiatric PAs.

1000 Supervised Clinical Hours

Receive dedicated online supervision in psychotherapy while you continue to practice clinically full-time. You’ll complete a total of 1000 guided clinical hours over the course of two semesters, which count toward the two required practicum courses. Doctorate-prepared psychotherapists and clinical psychologists, specially trained in virtual clinical supervision,  will serve in this supportive role. You can complete these supervised clinical hours no matter your current clinical specialty or geographic location.

Transfer Into Our DMSc Program

Take the first step towards earning your Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc), the clinical doctorate for PAs. Credits from our Psychiatry Certificate transfer directly into our DMSc program). Our certificate program is a great option for PAs with an interest in specializing in psychiatry who aren’t interested in earning their doctorate, who aren’t ready to begin earning their doctorate yet, or who have already earned their doctorate and want to specialize further.

Learn while you continue working. Our certificate program is completely online; the structure and pace is designed specifically with busy professionals in mind. Practice what you learn at your own place of employment with feedback and guidance from our student-centered faculty.

Designed for Working PAs

Continue your education and advance your credentials while you continue working as a physician assistant; specialize in psychiatry while you continue practicing as a PA. This certificate is designed for the busy schedule of a PA, and is completely online and mostly asynchronous.

Psychiatry Certificate Curriculum

Our curriculum is designed to help you specialize in psychiatry as a PA. With supervised clinical contact hours, a thorough didactic curriculum, and experienced faculty, you will be prepared to confidently practice in psychiatry.
Psychiatric PA takes notes while meeting with a patient

Psychotherapy Practicum

During the two practicum courses, you will carry out supervised psychotherapy while engaging in full-time clinical practice for a total of 1000 hours over two semesters. You’ll learn motivational interviewing and cognitive-behavior therapy from master practitioners, and increase your knowledge of psychotherapeutic methods and procedures. Our specialized instructors will provide instructive, evidence-based feedback that will increase your proficiency in clinical case formulation and expose you to therapeutic applications of cognitive-behavior therapy.

Psychiatry Diagnostics

Focus on the psychiatric interview for the accurate diagnosis of psychiatric conditions. Learn more about the ethical and legal issues associated with the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. Dive into the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental, psychotic, trauma-related, eating, substance-related disorders and more.

Psychiatry Therapeutics

Learn how to implement comprehensive treatment plans for psychiatric conditions. Deepen your knowledge of psychiatric pharmacology, crisis intervention, and risk management. Broaden your knowledge of treatments for a wide range of psychiatric conditions.

View Full Curriculum

Semester Starts

Winter 2024

Priority Application Deadline

11/6/2023

Final Application Deadline

12/11/2023

Semester Start

1/8/2024

Summer 2024

Priority Application Deadline

3/11/2024

Final Application Deadline

4/15/2024

Semester Start

5/6/2024

Fall 2024

Priority Application Deadline

7/8/2024

Final Application Deadline

8/12/2024

Semester Start

9/3/2024
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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • A bachelor’s or master’s degree from a Physician Assistant (PA) program at a regionally accredited institution, or from a foreign university based on a transcript evaluation completed by an agency from the NACES website,www.naces.org.
  • Proof of unencumbered licensure and/or certification as a physician assistant (PA), or for new graduates, certification or licensure must be obtained during the first semester of the Psychiatry Certificate program.
  • Current full-time clinical practice.
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Clinical Rotation Requirements including required vaccinations: Admitted students to Rocky Mountain University who will be completing a clinical rotation will receive vaccination forms regarding required vaccinations. Not all vaccinations or proof of immunity are required at the beginning of the program but will be prior to the first clinical rotation. The University allows for vaccination exemptions and more information about the University’s position on vaccination can be reviewed at https://rm.edu/vaccination-statement/

RMU requires the following items prior to starting any clinical rotations (these are subject to change depending upon public health concerns and specific clinic requirements):

  • MMR
  • Varicella
  • Hepatitis B
  • TB
  • Tdap
  • Annual Influenza
  • COVID 19
  • HIPAA certification
  • OSHA certification
  • CPR certification

Tuition & Fees

ProgramSemestersCost Per CreditMinimum CreditsTotal TuitionOther Program Specific FeesVarious Lab, Equipment & Association Fees throughout the programUniversity Resource Fee (per semester)Additional Information
Master of Science in Health Science (MSHS)Five or Six Semesters (20 - 24 months depending on curriculum choice)$59030$17,700

Optional Thesis (3 credits in semester 6) $1770

Thesis Commitee Fee $1050

Course Fee for WE 710 & WE 711 $75 for each course if selected for concentration

$36 per credit
Doctor of Optometry (OD)Eleven Semesters (45 months)$914185$169,090

$7,601 program total for various lab fees, equipment, supplies, books and certifications

$36 per credit
Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP)Five Semesters (20 months)$96750$48,350

*FNP Lab Fees: $900 Total

**Preceptor Fees: $1,500 Total

$36 per credit

*Note: FNP Lab Fees are $300 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730), and will cover all program materials for onsite skills labs and use of onsite lab facilities.

**Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.
Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practicioner (MSN-PMHNP)Five Semesters (20 months)$96759$57,053*Preceptor Fees: $1,500 Total$36 per credit

*Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (PMH 708, PMH 718 & PMH 728) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.

Tuition will vary depending on transfer credit awarded.
Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practicioner (MSN-FNP/PMHNP)Six Semesters (24 months)$96777$74,459

*FNP Lab Fees: $900 Total

**Preceptor Fees: $3,000 Total

$36 per credit

*Note: FNP Lab Fees are $300 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730), and will cover all program materials for onsite skills labs and use of onsite lab facilities.

**Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720, FNP 730, PMH 708, PMH 718 & PMH 728) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.
Master of Science in Nursing - Family Nurse Practitioner and Emergency Nurse Practitioner (MSN-FNP/ENP)Six Semesters (24 months)$1,03465$67,210

*FNP Lab Fees: $900 Total

**Preceptor Fees: $3,000 Total

***ENP Course Fees: $3,000 Total

$36 per credit

*Note: FNP Lab Fees are $300 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730), and will cover all program materials for onsite skills labs and use of onsite lab facilities.

**Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720, FNP 730, ENP 712, ENP 722 & ENP 732) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.

***Note: ENP Course Fees are $200 per ENP credit per semester, and cover ultrasound sim, EKG sim, and all disposable supplies.
Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)Seven Semesters (28 months)$1,037114$118,218$36 per credit

*Up to 15 credits. No additional charge above 15 credits.

Please refer to the MPAS program’s Program Costs policy for full details on tuition, fees, and other expenses.
Master of Science in Medical Speech-Language Pathology (MS MedSLP)Six Semesters (24 months)$91069$62,790$36 per credit

Always refer to your curriculum schedule for the most up-to-date tuition payment schedule.

Students choose elective courses, with variable credit loads. At least 6 elective credits required.
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MHC)/Master of Science in School Counseling (SC)Seven Semesters (28 months)$71260$42,720Counseling Student Resource Fee (per semester) $100$36 per credit

*Program requires student to complete 2 elective courses (6 credits total). Elective options are offered with variable timing and should be discussed with program advisor.

Dual‐degree program option exists: Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Masters of Science in School Counseling. This dual-degree option requires student to complete an additional 12 credits (72 credits total). This extends the program to 9 semesters or 36 months.

*Dual‐degree program requires student to complete 1 elective course (3 credits total). Elective options are offered with variable timing and should be discussed with program advisor.
Master of Science in Athletic Training Practice (MSATP)Six Semesters (24 months)$59033$19,470$36 per credit

*5 additional credits consist of HLA 620 (3 credits), ATH 720L (1 credit), ATH 730L (1 credit), which have variable timing.

The Healthcare Leadership course – HLA 620 (3 credits) can be taken in any semester. The lab courses ‐ ATH 720L & ATH 730L (1 credit each) – need to be taken during an on-site summer immersion session. Students can choose which summer immersion session they attend, and only need to attend one session to complete their course of study.
Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)Four or Five Semesters (16 - 20 months depending on curriculum choice)$77736$27,972Course Fee for HLA 620* $100$36 per credit

*Students that select the Healthcare Leadership and Administration concentration track will have a course fee of $100 for the HLA 620 course which will be used to purchase a validated emotional intelligence assessment report.

Students in the DMSc program (regardless of concentration track) choose between two curriculum models to complete the 36 credit hours: the Integrated Model and the Phased Model. Both curriculum models are designed so PA clinicians, educators, and administrators can continue professional work obligations while completing this degree. In the Integrated Model, students complete the practicum and applied scholarly project courses concurrently with the other didactic courses. Students may complete the Integrated Model in as little as four semesters. In the Phased Model, students complete the didactic courses before completing the practicum and applied scholarly project courses. Students may complete the Phased Model in as little as five semesters.

PAs with bachelor’s degrees who have not previously completed a master’s or doctoral degree may enroll in the DMSc program and will be required to successfully complete the following additional courses that are offered by Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions.

HS 504 Research Methods (3 credits)
HS 506 Data & Decision Making (3 credits)
HS 507 Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Post-Master’s)Four Semesters (16 months)$96744$42,548Scholarly Project Fee: $2000 (applied in semester 4 or when enrolled in DNP 775 Scholarly Project III) $36 per credit
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (Post-Baccalaureate FNP)Eight Semesters (32 months)$96780$77,360

*Lab Fee: $900 Total

**Preceptor Fees: $1,500 Total

***Scholarly Project Fee: $2,000 (applied in semester 8 or when enrolled in CC 811A Scholarly Project III)

$36 per credit

*Note: Lab Fees are $300 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730), and will cover all program materials for onsite skills labs and use of onsite lab facilities.

**Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.

***Scholarly Project Fee applied in semester 8 when completing project.
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNPC) Certificate (Post-Master's)Four Semesters (16 months)$96730$29,010

*FNP Lab Fees: $900 Total

**Preceptor Fees: $1,500 Total

$36 per credit

*Note: FNP Lab Fees are $300 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730), and will cover all program materials for onsite skills labs and use of onsite lab facilities.

**Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.
Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENPC) Certificate (Post-Master's)Three Semesters (12 months)$1,17315$17,595

**Preceptor Fees: $1,500 Total

***ENP Course Fees: $3,000 Total

$36 per credit

*Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (ENP 712, ENP 722 & ENP 732) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.

**Note: ENP Course Fees are $200 per ENP credit per semester, and cover ultrasound sim, EKG sim, and all disposable supplies.
Family Nurse Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner (FNPC/ENPC) Certificate (Post-Master's)Five Semesters (20 months)$1,03445$46,530

*FNP Lab Fees: $900 Total

**Preceptor Fees: $3,000 Total

***ENP Course Fees: $3,000 Total

$36 per credit

*Note: FNP Lab Fees are $300 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730), and will cover all program materials for onsite skills labs and use of onsite lab facilities.

**Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720, FNP 730, ENP 712, ENP 722 & ENP 732) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.

***Note: ENP Course Fees are $200 per ENP credit per semester, and cover ultrasound sim, EKG sim, and all disposable supplies.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (Post-Graduate Certificate in Psychiatric/Mental Health)Four Semesters (16 months)$96739$37,713**Preceptor Fees: $1,500 Total$36 per credit

*Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (PMH 708, PMH 718 & PMH 728) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.

Tuition will vary depending on transfer credit awarded.
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)Eight Semesters (32 months)$869129$112,101$1805 program total for various lab fees, equipment, supplies, books and certifications$36 per credit*Up to 15 credits. No additional charge above 15 credits.
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Health SciencesNine Didactic Semesters and minimum of Three Dissertation Semesters (48 months)$95470$66,780

Dissertation Committee Fee $3000

Course Fee for WE 710 & WE 711 $75 for each course if selected for concentration

$36 per credit
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (entry-level)Nine Semesters (36 months)$875105$91,875$36 per credit
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)Four Semesters (16 months)$94530$28,350

Capstone Fee (for two committee members) $1600

Practical Course Fee for WE 710 & WE 711 $75 for each course if selected for concentration

$36 per credit
Doctor of Speech-Language Pathology (SLPD)Seven Semesters (28 months)$98640$39,440Capstone Fee (for two committee members) $2360$36 per credit
Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT)Three or Four Semesters (12 - 16 months depending on curriculum choice)$94824$22,752$36 per credit
Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate (FNPC/PMHNPC)Five Semesters (20 months)$96757$55,119

*FNP Lab Fees: $900 Total

**Preceptor Fees: $3,000 Total

$36 per credit

*Note: FNP Lab Fees are $300 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720 & FNP 730), and will cover all program materials for onsite skills labs and use of onsite lab facilities.

**Note: Preceptor Fees are $500 per clinical course (FNP 710, FNP 720, FNP 730, PMH 708, PMH 718 & PMH 728) and are used to compensate each hosting preceptor.
Healthcare Leadership and Administration Certificate (HLA)$44012$5,280$36 per credit
Healthcare Professions Education Certificate (HPE)$44012$5,280$36 per credit
Emergency & Primary Care in Athletic Training Practice Certificate (EPCAT)$44010$4,400$36 per credit
Health & Wellness Coaching Certificate (HWC)$4406$2,640

Course Fee for WE 710 & WE 711 $75 for each course

$36 per credit
Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Certificates$5009$4,500$36 per credit
Psychiatry Certificate (for PA clinicians)$44015$6,600$36 per credit
Mental Health Couseling Certificate & School Counseling Certificate (MHCC)(SCC)$71215$10,680Counseling Student Resource Fee (per semester) $100$36 per credit
Functional Nutrition Certificate (FNC)$44012$5,280$36 per credit

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) is the cornerstone of establishing a student's financial need, as it sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive. Learn more...

UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION

Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (8060 165th Avenue NE Ste 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the US Department of Education.

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