FAQs

Question: Do I need to have a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree to apply?
You must have an earned MSN to apply for the Post-Masters’s PMHNP program. A master’s in a nurse-related field is not acceptable

Question: Do I need to be a Registered Nurse (RN) to apply?
Yes. You will be asked to submit proof of your licensure at the time of application.

Question: If I live out of state can I attend?
Yes, but you must live in a state in which we have Department of Education authorization. Air travel is convenient to the Ontario International Airport, which is 15 minutes from campus. Many area hotels offer shuttle service to the campus. After orientation, many students make acquaintances and share hotel expenses. Distance/Hybrid students enrolled in clinical programs are required to periodically extend their seminar weekends to work with clinical faculty.

Question: Do you give preference to California residents?
No. We are a private institution and do not have to meet certain resident enrollment standards.

Question: Is tuition the same for in-state and out-of-state residents?
Yes. Tuition costs are the same for all students within the same program.

Question: What if I haven’t been in school for a long time?
Many of our students have not been in school for a long time. We find that adults do very well with our learning model as it is designed for the working professional who has typically been out of school for a while.

Question: After I graduate do I have to take a standardized exam before beginning to practice?
National certification is required in 46 of the 50 states. California does not require national certification at this time. However, we strongly recommend taking the national certification examination due to reimbursement restrictions of NPs who are not nationally certified.

Question: Do I need to plan for an interview as part of the admissions process?
No. You will be required to submit a personal statement and a CV as part of your application and that is what is used to gain insight into your motivation for graduate study, and your career goals.

Question: When will I be notified of my admissions decision?
All applications will be reviewed as quickly as possible, followed by decision electronic notices.

Question: Do you require any standardized tests prior to application?
No. We do not require any standardized tests (i.e GRE or MCAT) prior to application.

Question: What are the GPA requirements?
The Post-Master’s PMHNP program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0. GPA is calculated on the last 60 units completed, and an overall GPA of graduate and undergraduate courses.

Question: What should I do if my GPA is not at least 3.0?
If you do not meet the required minimum GPA of 3.0, then include in your personal statement an explanation for your low GPA. We will review your personal statement and possibly interview you by phone or in person. Occasionally, we do admit students with a GPA below 3.0 on a probationary status for the first semester. Also, we may recommend retaking courses with low grades to improve your GPA.

Question: Can I transfer some of my previous graduate coursework to waive out of some of the courses in the program?
If the courses are determined to be of equivalent content and are focused on the NP role and not on the RN role, then previous graduate courses of similar content can be used to challenge any of WesternU’s College of Graduate Nursing courses. There is a challenge policy that is outlined in the student academic policy handbook that is to be followed for this process.

Question: Can I talk to a counselor about my prerequisite coursework?
Yes. Please visit the contact us page.

Question: How do I check my application status online?
You can check your application status by visiting the application status page.

Question: What if I want to change information on my application after I have completed it?
You may not change answers or documents submitted with your application, but you may upload additional, supplemental materials. To do so, visit the application status page and use the “Upload Materials” section of the page to submit your supplemental materials.

Question: What if I want to apply to more than one program? Do I need to create a new account?
You can apply to multiple programs using a single account. Visit our online application, log in, and click “Start New Application” at the bottom of the page.

Question: What address should I use if I need to mail any additional application materials?
For official transcripts please mail to:
Western University of Health Sciences
Attn: Admissions Operations/program you are applying for (MSMS, MSNE, MSPS, etc.)
309 E Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766

For unofficial documents, please upload to the online application as indicated in the application instructions.

Question: How do I pay my application fee?
All application fees require payments made by credit card. Only cards with Visa and Master Card logos will be accepted. No checks, money orders, or cash will be accepted for payment of application fees.

Question: What if I do not have a Visa or Master Card?
Payment may be made with a Visa or Master Card prepaid gift card which can be purchased at many major chain stores or online. Please be aware that the gift card must contain a balance sufficient to cover the application fee in one full payment.

Question: Are fee waivers accepted?
Payment is required at time of application, if a fee waiver is approved a reimbursement will be issued.

Question: How do I withdraw my application?
You may withdraw your application by visiting the application status page. Scroll to the bottom of your application and select withdraw my application.

Question: How do I delete an application I accidentally started?
Applicants cannot delete their own application once started. Please submit a request to Admissions Operations at AO@westernu.eduto have it deleted.

Question: I have applied to more than one program. How do I check my application status for multiple applications?
You can check your application status by visiting the application status page. Select the application you wish to view from the drop down menu located on the right hand side.

Question: Is there an orientation program before I begin?
All students enrolled in the College of Graduate Nursing will be required to attend the University campus orientation in August prior to beginning classes their first year. College orientation will be conducted asynchronously and synchronously/live via Zoom for all post-licensure programs. During orientation week, students will participate in both college and university sessions held virtually. Students will be provided with information regarding the orientation program following seat acceptance.

Question: Is WesternU’s PMHNP program nationally accredited?
Yes. WesternU’s College of Graduate Nursing’s programs are accredited by ACS WASC (Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges)-533 Airport Blvd., Suite 200. Burlingame, CA 94010-2009. Email: mail@ascwasc.org; Phone: 650-696-1060, and professionally accredited by CCNE (Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education) for the MAXIMUM years of accreditation. Our nurse practitioner programs are BRN (Board of Registered Nursing) approved in California.

Question: What is a nurse practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners (NP) are healthcare partners of choice for millions of Americans. As advanced practice clinicians they blend clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions with added emphasis on disease prevention and health management. Nurse Practitioners bring a comprehensive perspective and personal touch to healthcare providing primary, acute, and specialty healthcare to patients of all ages and walks of life. They assess patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, diagnose, and initiate and manage treatment plans including prescribing medications (AANP, 2022). There are several population foci in which nurse practitioners practice that include families-individuals across the lifespan, women’s health/gender related, adult gerontology, neonatal, and psychiatric mental health. This is Inclusive of a variety of other specialty practice environments such as the emergency nurse practitioner.

Question: Is this an online program?
The DNP/PMHNP and the Post Masters PMHNP are hybrid/online learning programs with campus-based and synchronous-virtual seminar weekend intensive sessions delivered throughout the program of study. Dates of mandatory attendance can be located within the academic calendar.

Question: What are the benefits of learning in a hybrid/online program?
WesternU’s program is designed with the non-traditional learner in mind. There are many advantages to a hybrid/online program. First, it allows non-traditional learners to complete an advanced degree while living and working in his/her own community. Second, this offers the student flexibility in completing coursework around job, personal, and family commitments. Finally, the online didactic courses allow synchronous and asynchronous activities to enhance online classroom discussion and socialization to the learning process.

Question: Are WesternU’s hybrid-online learning non-traditional education nursing programs as rigorous as traditional nursing education programs?
Yes. We maintain professional accreditation standards that are no different from traditional based programs of study. The curriculum is developed specifically for the online learners via the Web-Learning Management System (LMS) and follows national guidelines and standards from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. WesternU is ACS WASC accredited. The College of Graduate Nursing received its full professional accreditation from the Committee on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in October 2006 and has maintained accreditation to date. The college is California Board of Registered Nursing approved.

Question: What computer skills will I need?
Students need word processing skills for typing papers, discussions and written clinical cases. Students must also be familiar with using e-mail. Some student presentations will be done using Microsoft Power Point. While new students do not need this skill on admission, applicants will benefit from familiarizing themselves with this computer program.

Since the computer skills required to navigate and complete our curriculum are not difficult, beginners do very well with some focused skill training. We recommend that applicants find a personal computer mentor or complete the basic software tutorials prior to beginning the program. All students will need an Internet Service Provider (ISP) prior to registration and will be given a WesternU e-mail account during registration.

Question: Is CGN on a quarter or semester system?
CGN offers semester-based programs of study that are year-round with 1-to-2-week intersessions between semesters. Courses are taken for 14 weeks (about 3-months) per semester. Please refer to the CGN website for the exact courses that are taken each semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer).

Question: How often do I have to come to WesternU in Pomona, CA?
Attendance is mandatory for all campus-based seminars and synchronous/virtual sessions offered within the program of study across semesters.

Question: How many hours of PMHNP preceptorship practice hours are required?
Students must complete 750 preceptored NP clinical hours over the course of the program.

Question: Can the PMHNP clinical preceptorships be completed close to my home/work location?
Yes. Students are encouraged to complete PMHNP clinical preceptorship in the community where they live and work. CGN also has a vast pool of clinical partners who can assist in your learning. CGN’s clinical coordinators will assist students with clinical placement.

Question: What type of NP clinical hours are needed and who can serve as a preceptor and mentor?
WesternU has a deep pool of clinical preceptorship and practice partner affiliation sites to accommodate our students throughout California and across many other states. A student’s preceptor may be a board-certified physician trained in psychiatric, addiction, and behavioral health medicine, or a master’s degree prepared certified psychiatric clinical nurse specialist/Psych NP, or another health professional including a physician assistant prepared in the psychiatric care or addiction/behavioral medicine arena. The college encourages multiple rotations for specific experience if needed to optimize student learning. A student’s preceptor and/or clinical instructor may suggest or assist with identifying and scheduling these rotations. If the preceptor is a physician, the student is encouraged to also work with a nurse practitioner to promote role development as applicable.

Question: Can I work and attend graduate school at the same time?
Yes. You are encouraged to maintain your role as a Registered Nurse. When starting a graduate degree program, it is important to address the amount of time you must dedicate toward completing your required clinical/practice hours in addition to study time for didactic coursework while balancing family, work, and personal time. Students that have been successful in our programs have developed good time management and organizational skills.

Question: What is the pass rate on the National Certification Exam?
To view our national certification pass rates, please visit the Institutional Research and Effectiveness Academic Outcomes page.

Question: What is expected of me during a preceptorship?
You will learn the role of the Nurse Practitioner by taking histories, performing physical exams, determining a diagnosis and a management plan for your patients. Your preceptor will mentor your growth as you apply the knowledge you gained in your didactic coursework to your clinical setting. Your faculty will oversee your growth via site visits, evaluations, and competency assessments.

Question: What is my liability during the preceptorships?
During your clinical rotations, the University covers all students with accident and malpractice insurance. Additionally, all students are always encouraged to carry and maintain their nursing malpractice insurance as a good practice.

Question: How will you assess my preceptorship when it is located out of the state of California?
A “Site Visit” is performed on each student each semester in various ways. Some students receive live ‘on site’ visits by faculty, while others receive what we have developed as a ‘virtual site visit’ via webcam to the preceptor, camcorder recordings of the site and other evaluations. Additionally, your preceptor evaluates your performance with an assessment tool we have designed to assess your outcome competencies. Lastly, we have live “on campus” simulated patient scenarios that each student participates in as faculty assess your skills and competencies. Overall, you are assessed and evaluated throughout the program in review of your skills and outcome competencies, in preparation of your role as advanced practitioners.

Question: Will past work experience or existing certifications count for a part of the clinical preceptorship hours?
No. All clinical hours are mandated by the Board of Registered Nursing and the accrediting bodies to be actual patient experiences where the student actually assesses the patient and develops the management plan. Therefore, while previous work experience is valued and existing certifications helpful to the student’s nursing practice strength, any past or present work experience, certifications, CEU opportunities, or other educational experiences do not count for any of the 750 hours required when seeking a new role concentration of study.

Question: Do I have to take a national certification exam when I finish the program?
Yes, we highly encourage this. Most states require a National Certification Exam to be certified in that state. Some states are in the process of requiring this, while others are not there as yet. However, the national standard being adopted by states across the country, “Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education” does require national certification for state certification. Many insurers are deciding not to reimburse without a national certification being held by the NP. We encourage all students to sit for a national certification exam to assure practice in their state of choice.

Question: Can I talk to a faculty member about the curriculum?
Sure! Feel free to contact the Director of the PMHNP Program Dr. Christy Cotner at ccotner@westernu.edu.