Distance Education (DE) programs in the College of Nursing that lead to professional licensure or that require clinical placements or clinical coursework must abide by board and state regulations in the state where the student resides and/or will be completing the clinical experiences.
Students who reside outside of Tennessee who plan to complete a clinical placement in a state other than Tennessee, will need to take additional steps to comply with the requirements of that state. Before applying to and beginning a program, you should become familiar with your state’s licensing and professional requirements and that of the state in which you plan to reside as a practitioner. You may also reach out to the College of Nursing and speak to an advisor by calling (865) 974-7606. The university cannot guarantee that its DE programs in the College of Nursing will meet all the requirements for licensure in any particular state. If the student moves from the state of Tennessee after admission to the program, continuation in the program will depend on the availability of the program within the new state where the student physically resides. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the UTK College of Nursing of a change in physical residence.
Distance Education programs at the University of Tennessee cannot currently admit students from the state of California.
You can find additional information about pre-licensure distance education requirements in individual states, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): https://www.ncsbn.org/671.htm.
The PMH nurse practitioner graduate certificate program is designed for MSN and DNP-prepared nurses who desire an additional certification as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Graduates are prepared to care for people with both acute and chronic mental health problems. Students examine mental health theories in the classroom and work with preceptors in the clinical setting to develop reasoning, patient assessment, and patient management skills.
Campus Code
Distance Education
Graduate Certificate Type
Stand-Alone
Add-On (concurrently with another degree in rare cases)
Admissions Standards/Procedures
- A master’s degree in nursing is required for admission.
- Apply for the certificate by submitting an online application through the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Academic Standards
The College of Nursing will observe the following grading scale:
| A = 92 – 100 |
4 quality points |
| B+ = 88 – 91 |
3.3 quality points |
| B = 83 – 87 |
3 quality points |
| C+ = 78 – 82 |
2.3 quality points |
| C = 75 – 77 |
2 quality points |
| D = 67 – 74 |
1 quality point |
| F = 66 or below |
0 quality points |
Credit Hours Required
Minimum of 12 graduate credit hours
Required Courses
- NURS 663 (3 credit hours)
- NURS 655 (4 credit hours)
- NURS 656 (5 credit hours)
- NURS 657 (4 credit hours)
- NURS 658 (5 credit hours)
- Plus additional credit hours determined by the college and chosen in consultation with the certificate advisor
Non-Course Requirements
To receive the certificate, students must:
1) complete the Graduate Certificate Course Verification Form (located on the Graduate School webpage under the Forms Central tab) and
2) through MyUTK, apply to graduate from the certificate program.
