TESU Celebrates First Graduates of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program to Pass National Board Exams

Three graduates achieve certification milestone, positioning them to address growing demand for mental health care professionals.

Thomas Edison State University (TESU) is celebrating a significant milestone for its graduate nursing programs as the first three graduates of its Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program have passed the national certification examination administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

All three graduates completed the program, earned their degrees and participated in TESU’s 54th annual Commencement ceremony on Sept. 26, 2026. With the successful completion of the ANCC examination, the three graduates, Akia Lester, Irene Tofiles and Ivan Guillermo Vargas Charry, are now eligible to pursue the state licensure and other credentials required to practice as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.

Two of the three graduates were participants in TESU’s Expanding Mental Health Nursing in New Jersey program, an initiative supported by a Nursing Expansion Grant* awarded to TESU by the U.S. Department of Labor.

“Having our first three PMHNP graduates pass their national certification examinations is an important milestone for the University and a testament to the quality and relevance of our graduate nursing programs,” said Dr. Ruth Wittmann-Price, dean, W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing at TESU. “These graduates are prepared to take the next step in their professional journeys and help address the critical need for mental health care providers in communities across the country.”

TESU’s PMHNP program combines specialized coursework with supervised clinical practicum experiences to develop students’ competencies in the assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment planning of psychiatric disorders. The curriculum prepares graduates to address the emotional and behavioral health needs of individuals and families in diverse clinical and community-based settings.

National certification is a key step in the professional credentialing process for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. Graduates must also meet applicable state licensure requirements before beginning practice.

The successful certification of the program’s first graduates comes at a time of sustained and expanding demand for psychiatric mental health professionals. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nurse practitioners is projected to grow 35% from 2024 to 2034. The bureau reports a mean annual base salary of $132,050 for psychiatric nurse practitioners.

View more information about graduate nursing programs at Thomas Edison State University.

*This program is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Nursing Expansion Grant Program as part of an award totaling $3,313,525 with 20% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by U.S. DOL, or the U.S. Government.”