University of Maryland PMHNP Programs

School of Nursing Baltimore, MD

University of Maryland School of Nursing offers 2 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Tracks:

  • DNP — Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
  • Postdoctoral Certificate — PMHNP

The program uses a blended format with online core courses and in-person specialty courses plus flexible 3-, 4-, and 5-year plans.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEst. CostEstimated Duration
DNP — PMHNP$93,565.503–4 years (full time)
Postdoctoral Certificate — PMHNP~$39,818~2 years (full time)

Highlights include 70 years of psychiatric nursing education, premium clinical placements across Maryland and Washington, D.C., and a 100% PMHNP board pass rate for 2024.

Doctor of Nursing Practice — PMHNP

The estimated cost for the DNP — PMHNP program is $93,565.50 (MD resident) and would take about 3–4 years to complete on a full-time basis.

DNP Curriculum

NPHY 612 — Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology (3 credits)
Study cellular to system-level mechanisms of disease across the lifespan to support diagnostic testing and treatment decisions in advanced practice.

NURS 723 — Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Across the Life Span
Review commonly prescribed drugs, indications, dosing, monitoring, and legal considerations for initiating, maintaining, and discontinuing therapy.

NDNP 819 — Advanced Health Assessment Across the Life Span
Perform comprehensive histories and exams with psychosocial and cultural dimensions, and document findings to support clinical decision making.

NRSG 785 — Professional Writing (1 credit)
Build academic writing skills for manuscripts and scholarly projects, including literature searches, synthesis, abstracts, and peer-review basics.

NRSG 790 — Methods for Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Critically appraise research, synthesize evidence, and apply change frameworks to improve care processes and outcomes.

NRSG 795 — Biostatistics for Evidence-Based Practice
Use common statistical tests and software to analyze data, interpret results, and report findings clearly in text, tables, and figures.

NDNP 870 — Diagnosis & Management I: Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders
Develop critical thinking for differential diagnosis, appropriate workups, and guideline use for patient-centered mental health care across settings.

NDNP 871 — Diagnosis & Management I Clinical Practicum/Seminar (3 credits, 135 hours)
Apply differential diagnosis and initial management under supervision in clinical and simulation settings; translate evidence into practice.

NRSG 780 — Population Health and Promotion (3 credits)
Examine determinants of health, prevention strategies, and policy levers to plan, implement, and evaluate population-level interventions.

NDNP 710 — Evidence-Informed Health Policy and Advocacy
Analyze population health problems and craft evidence-based policy messages and advocacy plans that promote equity and inclusion.

NPHY 862 — Neurophysiology of Mental Disorders (2 credits)
Link neurobiological mechanisms to psychiatric symptoms to inform assessment and treatment planning.

NDNP 804 — Theory for Evidence-Based Practice
Integrate theories from nursing and related sciences to guide advanced practice and systems-level improvement.

NRSG 782 — Health Systems & Health Policy: Leadership & Quality Improvement
Apply leadership, quality, and policy concepts to improve safety and care processes within complex health systems.

NDNP 872 — Diagnosis & Management II: Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health (4 credits)
Formulate age-appropriate assessments, differentials, and treatments using evidence-based guidelines, with attention to safety and ethics.

NDNP 873 — Diagnosis & Management II Clinical Practicum/Seminar (4 credits, 180 hours)
Manage common psychiatric conditions, deliver individual and group psychotherapy, and collaborate with interprofessional teams under supervision.

NDNP 809A — DNP Project Readiness (0 credits)
Assess leadership strengths and evaluate health system models to prepare for quality and safety-focused project work.

NDNP 807 — Healthcare Informatics for Advanced Practice (45 practicum hours)
Apply informatics and data tools to improve care quality, address social determinants, and support clinical decisions within ethical and regulatory standards.

NDNP 810 — DNP Project Identification
Define a practice gap, review evidence, select an implementation framework, and draft a quality improvement project plan.

NDNP 874 — Diagnosis & Management III: Family Systems in Mental Health
Integrate family systems theory with evidence and patient preferences to manage acute and chronic psychiatric conditions across contexts.

NDNP 875 — Diagnosis & Management III Clinical Practicum/Seminar (2 credits, 90 hours)
Practice family assessment and therapy techniques and align treatment plans with cultural context and current evidence.

NDNP 811 — DNP Project Development
Produce a scholarly project proposal through iterative peer and faculty review of aims, literature, and methods.

NURS 834 — Translating Evidence to Practice
Develop, implement, and evaluate an action plan to move evidence into practice, addressing barriers and measurement of outcomes.

NDNP 876 — Diagnosis & Management IV: Psychopharmacology Across the Life Span (4 credits)
Apply psychopharmacology principles to major psychiatric and substance use disorders, with adjustments for special populations and legal/ethical issues.

NDNP 812 — DNP Project Implementation (1 credit, 45 hours)
Execute the approved project with guidance from academic and site mentors.

NDNP 814 — Advanced Practice Leadership in Health Care Systems (3 credits, 45 hours)
Lead change initiatives using systems thinking; analyze organizational dynamics, resource coordination, conflict, and DEI impacts.

NDNP 877 — Diagnosis & Management V: Professional Practice Immersion (4 credits, 180 hours)
Synthesize prior learning to manage complex patients, coordinate team-based care, and apply quality and population metrics in practice.

NDNP 813 — DNP Project Evaluation/Dissemination
Analyze project outcomes and disseminate findings using effective manuscripts and presentations that target sustainability and equity.

NDNP 878 — Diagnosis & Management VI: Integration of Practice and Leadership (5 credits, 225 hours)
Demonstrate advanced CRNP practice at the macrosystem level; integrate leadership, policy analysis, and system redesign to improve outcomes.

More curriculum details are available here.

DNP Clinicals

Students complete 1,035 clinical hours across multiple Diagnosis & Management practicums and a final immersion. Faculty arrange placements at premium partner sites serving children through geriatric populations.

Sub-specialty exposure includes SPMI, substance use, and pediatric mental health.

DNP Admissions

  • BSN from an ACEN/CCNE/CNEA-accredited institution; minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Active, unrestricted RN license; Maryland or compact eligibility
  • At least two years of full-time psychiatric mental health experience by application time
  • Online application with fee, two recommendations, concise essay (≤350 words), CV, and official transcripts
  • Residency form if claiming Maryland in-state status; interview by invitation; priority deadline typically early November and final deadline early July

Postdoctoral Certificate — PMHNP

The estimated cost for the Postdoctoral Certificate — PMHNP program is about $39,818 (MD resident) and would take about 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.

Certificate Curriculum

  • Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology; Clinical Pharmacology; Advanced Health Assessment
  • Neurophysiology of Mental Disorders
  • Diagnosis & Management I–VI with associated clinical seminars
  • Total of ~43 credits focused on certification readiness

Certificate Clinicals

Students complete 990 clinical hours distributed across the Diagnosis & Management practicum sequence. Faculty coordinate appropriate placements; students do not need to secure their own sites.

Practicum schedules vary by site and may include some after-hours time.

Certificate Admissions

  • Graduate degree in nursing plus a doctoral degree (DNP, PhD, EdD, etc.)
  • Active RN license; pre-application assessment and gap analysis required
  • Online application with fee, two recommendations, CV, essay, and official transcripts
  • Proof of the “3 Ps” or plan to complete them per the individualized study plan
  • Fall and spring intakes with priority and final deadlines listed on the admissions page

Tuition

Graduate per-credit tuition is $926 (in-state) and $1,643 (out-of-state); university and school fees vary by term and enrollment.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

Programs align with AACN Essentials for competency-based DNP education and hold CCNE accreditation. Board eligibility includes ANCC or AANP PMHNP certification upon completion of degree and required clinical hours.

Other Nursing Programs

  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Acute Care NP/Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • DNP: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care NP
  • DNP: Family NP
  • DNP: Neonatal NP
  • DNP: Pediatric Acute and Primary Care NP
  • DNP: Nurse Anesthesia
  • DNP: Post-Master’s Option
  • MSN programs, RN-to-MSN, RN-to-BSN, and multiple graduate certificates (e.g., Informatics, Global Health, Teaching)