Western University PMHNP Programs

College of Graduate Nursing Pomona, CA

Western University of Health Sciences offers 2 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP
  • Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate
Both programs utilize a hybrid online learning format that combines self-directed coursework with campus-based seminar intensives at the WesternU Pomona, California campus.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramDurationEstimated Cost (Tuition & Fees)
Doctor of Nursing Practice — PMHNP3 years (full-time)$80,217
Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate16 months (4 semesters)$31,801

WesternU’s College of Graduate Nursing pioneered web-based nurse practitioner education in 1997 and continues this legacy with flexible PMHNP programs designed for working professionals who need to balance career, family, and educational commitments.

Doctor of Nursing Practice PMHNP

The estimated cost for the DNP/PMHNP program is approximately $80,217 in tuition and fees and would take 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.

DNP Curriculum

The DNP/PMHNP curriculum is a rigorous 71-credit program delivered over three years that prepares graduates for psychiatric mental health care practice across the lifespan in acute psychiatric hospitals, clinics, behavioral health settings, and private practice.

The program integrates three core components:

  • self-directed hybrid/online courses with assignments and discussions
  • synchronous/virtual or campus-based practice intensives twice per semester for clinical skill-building and assessments
  • extensive clinical experiences in designated communities.

A unique feature of this program is the option for students without one year (1800 hours) of RN experience to complete this requirement during the first year before progressing to the second year.

Year 1 Courses

GN 8500 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
Apply pharmacokinetics/dynamics to treat common and complex conditions.

GN 8601 Advanced Physical Assessment (3 credits)
Perform advanced exams and diagnostic reasoning across the lifespan.

GN 8630 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Connect system pathophysiology to clinical signs and symptoms.

GN 8004 Scholarly Writing (1 credit)
Write clear, professional papers for academic and clinical use.

GN 8100 Psychopharmacology (2 credits)
Prescribe and monitor psychotropic medications across the lifespan.

GN 8181 Psychiatric Mental Health Care Management Across Settings I (3 credits)
Assess, diagnose, and manage mental disorders using meds and therapy.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (1 credit)
Build PMHNP skills through supervised clinical practice.

GN 8006 Reflective Practice and Professional Identity Formation in Advanced Practice Nursing (1 credit)
Use reflection to shape growth and professional identity.

GN 8681 PMHNP Clinical Evaluations I (1 credit)
Demonstrate entry-level PMHNP competencies in structured evaluations.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (3 credits)
Advance PMHNP skills through extended clinical hours.

GN 8015 Humanism in Healthcare (1 credit)
Provide culturally competent, patient-centered care.

Year 2 Courses

GN 8184 Counseling and Diagnostic Decision-Making Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
Apply counseling techniques and diagnostic reasoning for all ages.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (2 credits)
Gain hands-on PMHNP experience in diverse settings.

GN 8005 Advance Practice Inquiry (2 credits)
Formulate practice questions and appraise research for care decisions.

GN 8035 Applied Biostatistics for Health Professionals (2 credits)
Analyze health data with statistical tools to inform practice.

GN 8182 Psychiatric Mental Health Care Management Across Settings II (3 credits)
Manage co-occurring mental, substance, and medical conditions.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (2 credits)
Strengthen PMHNP competencies through additional clinical practice.

GN 8007 Theoretical Perspectives for Nursing Practice (2 credits)
Use nursing theories to guide judgment and innovation.

GN 8055 Organizational Leadership, Collaboration, and the Science of Improvement (3 credits)
Lead teams and improve quality using proven methods.

GN 8682 PMHNP Clinical Evaluations II (1 credit)
Show intermediate PMHNP competency in case evaluations.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (2 credits)
Broaden skills with further supervised clinical hours.

GN 8025 Health Informatics and Outcome Driven Practice (3 credits)
Turn health data into decisions that improve outcomes.

GN 8065 Assessment, Measurement, and Evaluation in Outcomes-Based Advanced Nursing Practice (3 credits)
Select and apply outcome measures to evaluate and improve care.

Year 3 Courses

GN 8045 Population Health (3 credits)
Design and assess population-level interventions using multi-source data.

GN 8075 DNP Systems Thinking I: Developing the Scholarly Project (2 credits)
Create a DNP project proposal aligned with SQUIRE.

GN 8085 Social Justice, Health Policy, and Advocacy in Practice (3 credits)
Analyze policy and advocate for equitable access and care.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (1 credit)
Refine PMHNP skills through focused clinical rotations.

GN 8183 Psychiatric Mental Health Care Management Across Settings III (3 credits)
Integrate full-scope PMHNP practice with evidence-based care.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (2 credits)
Expand competence through additional supervised practice.

GN 8076 DNP Systems Thinking II: Implementing the Scholarly Project (2 credits)
Implement the project and collect/analyze data.

GN 8683 PMHNP Clinical Evaluations III (1 credit)
Demonstrate advanced PMHNP competency across complex cases.

GN 8580 PMHNP Clinical Experience (2 credits)
Complete final clinical hours to consolidate skills.

GN 8077 DNP Systems Thinking III: Evaluation and Dissemination of the Scholarly Project (2 credits)
Evaluate results and present the project for dissemination.

More curriculum details are available here.

DNP Clinicals

Practice hours: 1,000 total

  • PMHNP clinical: 675 precepted hours for certification
  • DNP practice: additional hours in community and healthcare organizations

Population focus: care across the lifespan—children, adolescents, and adults—with acute, chronic, or complex mental health needs.

Preceptors: MDs, DOs, PAs, and NPs; placements arranged as close to home as possible; exposure to addiction medicine and multiple counseling modalities.

Settings: inpatient units, outpatient/ambulatory clinics, behavioral health and substance use treatment centers, and emergency care; most students rotate across multiple sites.

Standards: hours align with the AACN 2021 Essentials and Level 2 sub-competencies; prior post-graduate clinical/practice experience may be considered in the degree plan.

DNP Admissions Requirements

Prerequisites & Admission Requirements:

  • Master of Science in Nursing degree from board-approved program (master’s degrees in related fields considered case-by-case)
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 for overall and last 60 semester or 90 quarter units
  • Active and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in state where practice hours will be obtained
  • One-year (at least 1800 hours) of experience as Registered Nurse (RN), or completion during first program year
  • Completion of statistics course (2 semester units or 3 quarter units) with grade of “C” or higher
  • International Students: All coursework from non-U.S. institutions (including Canada) must be submitted to approved service for evaluation
  • Proof of Legal U.S. Residency: International applicants or non-U.S. citizens living in U.S. must provide proof of legal residency prior to matriculation
  • TOEFL (if required): Internet-Based test (IBT) minimum score 80 or Computer-Based test minimum score 213; valid for two years; waived for permanent/temporary U.S. residents who completed six semester units of communication requirement from regionally accredited U.S. institution or have confirmed bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited U.S. institution
  • State Authorization: State and federal laws require colleges obtain authorization to offer online programs in any state where students reside; applicants from outside California should confirm authorization in their state

Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate

The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP certificate program is approximately $31,801 in tuition and fees and would take 16 months (4 semesters) to complete.

Certificate Curriculum

The Post-Master’s PMHNP certificate is a 25-credit program designed for nurses with a master’s degree in nursing who want to obtain PMHNP certification in as little as 4 semesters.

This hybrid/online program integrates online learning with intensive clinical simulation days and clinical experiences in students’ own communities, preparing graduates to provide comprehensive psychiatric mental health care to patients, families, and communities.

The curriculum focuses on psychiatric mental health care management across settings, counseling techniques, diagnostic reasoning, and clinical practice spanning three progressive semesters plus a final semester.

Semester 1-3 Courses (12 months, 21 units):

  • Core psychiatric mental health care management courses
  • Counseling across the lifespan
  • Diagnostic reasoning
  • Clinical experience practicums
  • Professional practice components

Semester 4 Courses (4 months, 4 units):

  • Advanced clinical evaluations
  • Completion of clinical requirements
  • Final assessments and certifications

Note: Specific course listings for the Post-Master’s certificate program were not provided in the source materials.

Certificate Clinicals

Preceptors: Students work with MDs, DOs, PAs, and NPs who mentor and evaluate clinical performance.

Population focus: Care spans the lifespan—children, adolescents, and adults—with acute, chronic, or complex mental health needs.

Skills gained: Exposure to addiction medicine and multiple counseling modalities.

Settings: Inpatient units, outpatient/ambulatory clinics, behavioral health and substance use centers, and emergency departments.

Site variety: Most students rotate across multiple sites to build broad skills and understand different practice patterns.

Quality assurance: Faculty review progress each semester to confirm standards are met.

Certificate Admissions Requirements

Prerequisites & Admission Requirements:

  • Master of Science in Nursing degree from board-approved program (master’s degrees in related fields considered case-by-case)
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 for overall and last 60 semester or 90 quarter units
  • Active and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in state where practice hours will be obtained
  • One-year (at least 1800 hours) of experience as Registered Nurse (RN)
  • Completion of statistics course (2 semester units or 3 quarter units) with grade of “C” or higher
  • International Students: All coursework from non-U.S. institutions (including Canada) must be submitted to approved service for evaluation
  • Proof of Legal U.S. Residency: International applicants or non-U.S. citizens living in U.S. must provide proof of legal residency prior to matriculation
  • TOEFL (if required): Internet-Based test (IBT) minimum score 80 or Computer-Based test minimum score 213; valid for two years; waived for permanent/temporary U.S. residents who completed six semester units of communication requirement from regionally accredited U.S. institution or have confirmed bachelor’s degree from regionally accredited U.S. institution
  • State Authorization: State and federal laws require colleges obtain authorization to offer online programs in any state where students reside; applicants from outside California should confirm authorization in their state

Tuition

Graduate Cost Per Credit: $1,129 per credit hour

Clinical Fees: $829 per semester (assessed for clinical terms)

Additional Fees:

  • Student Body Fees: $40 per semester
  • Completion Fees: $180 (charged in year 1)
  • Typhon Clinical Log System: $100

DNP/PMHNP Program (71 credits):

  • Estimated Total Tuition: $80,159
  • Estimated Total Fees: Approximately $6,058 (clinical fees vary by semester)

Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate Program:

  • Semesters 1-3 (21 units): $26,416 total tuition and fees
  • Semester 4 (4 units): $5,385 total tuition and fees
  • Total Program Cost: $31,801

Additional Budget Items (Post-Master’s Program):

  • Books & Supplies: $2,750
  • Living Expenses (room + food): $31,791
  • Miscellaneous Personal Expenses: $9,959
  • Transportation: $1,600
  • Typhon Clinical Log System: $100

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The WesternU College of Graduate Nursing holds the highest level of accreditation, ensuring graduates receive quality education that meets national standards for advanced practice nursing education. The college’s programs are designed to produce graduates who are highly respected by employers and prepared for certification and practice as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners.

Other Nursing Programs

WesternU College of Graduate Nursing offers 8 master’s and doctoral level programs:

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP/FNP) – Hybrid
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership (DNP/Leadership) – Hybrid
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (DNP/PMHNP) – Hybrid
  • Master of Science in Nursing – Entry (MSNE) – Campus-Based
  • Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner (MSN/FNP) – Hybrid
  • Post-Graduate Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Hybrid
  • Post-Master’s Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Hybrid
  • Post-Master’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate – Hybrid

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