Thomas Edison State University (TESU) has reached a major milestone for its graduate nursing programs, announcing that the first three graduates of its Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program have successfully passed their national certification exams.
Administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the board certification marks a critical step for graduates Akia Lester, Irene Tofiles, and Ivan Guillermo Vargas Charry. All three individuals earned their degrees and walked in TESU’s 54th annual commencement ceremony on Sept. 26. With certification complete, they are now eligible to pursue state licensure and begin practicing.
Two of the three pioneering graduates participated in TESU’s Expanding Mental Health Nursing in New Jersey initiative, which is supported by a federal Nursing Expansion Grant awarded to the university 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,” Dr. Ruth Wittmann-Price, dean of the W. Cary Edwards School of Nursing at TESU, said. “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 curriculum merges specialized coursework with hands-on, supervised clinical practicums. This training equips students to evaluate, diagnose, manage, and formulate treatment plans for psychiatric disorders, preparing them to support the behavioral health needs of families and individuals across diverse settings.
The debut of certified graduates arrives amid soaring demand for mental health specialists. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment for nurse practitioners is projected to skyrocket 35% from 2024 to 2034, with psychiatric nurse practitioners commanding a mean annual base salary of $132,050.
