Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PMHNP BSN to DNP | $61,183 | 3 years |
| PMHNP MSN to DNP | $31,110 (minimum) | 1.5–2 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP | $23,851 | 1.5–2 years |
Penn State’s program is taught by expert faculty from the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, designated as a Center of Excellence by the National League for Nursing, with over 700 clinical partners globally enabling students to complete practicums close to home.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP (BSN to DNP)
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP-PMHNP program is approximately $61,183 and takes 3 years (8 semesters) to complete on a part-time basis.
Estimate based on 59 credits × $1,037/credit.
DNP Curriculum
The BSN to DNP-PMHNP program requires 59 credits and 1,031 practice hours (600 clinical practicum hours plus 431 DNP project hours). The curriculum emphasizes comprehensive mental health care including individual and family psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication management, and evidence-based interventions.
DNP Core Courses
NURS 510 – Theoretical and Scientific Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
Covers nursing theories and scientific evidence that guide advanced nursing practice and research.
NURS 587 – Ethics in Health Research
Introduces ethical standards and decision-making skills for designing and conducting responsible health research.
NURS 588 – Healthcare Policy for Nurse and Healthcare Scholars
Focuses on health policy analysis, development, and advocacy using social justice and policy theory at regional, national, and global levels.
NURS 590 – Colloquium
Provides seminar-style presentations led by faculty, students, and guest experts on advanced nursing topics.
NURS 808 – Population Health Perspectives
Explores population health frameworks, health trends, disparities, and evidence-based strategies for prevention and health promotion.
NURS 831 – Evidence-Based Practice II: Inquiry, Methods, and Translation
Builds skills in evaluating research and translating findings into clinical practice to improve care outcomes.
NURS 836 – Healthcare Informatics
Introduces healthcare information systems and technology used to support clinical decision-making and improve outcomes.
NURS 837 – Evidence-Based Practice III: Project Development
Guides students in planning and developing their DNP project, including research design, IRB steps, and stakeholder collaboration.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Courses
NURS 802 – Advanced Health Assessment of Adult Populations
Teaches advanced physical and psychosocial assessment skills for adults across the lifespan.
NURS 802M – Integrative Biopsychosocial Assessment and Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan
Covers comprehensive psychiatric assessment and differential diagnosis using biological, psychological, and social frameworks.
NURS 803 – Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Examines advanced disease mechanisms and physiological changes related to illness development.
NURS 804 – Pharmacologic Therapy for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Reviews evidence-based pharmacologic treatments for common and complex health conditions.
NURS 810 – Foundations and Application of Psychotherapy
Covers core psychotherapy theories and introduces therapeutic interventions for varied psychiatric diagnoses.
NURS 870M – Neuroscience and Psychobiology Across the Lifespan
Examines neurological processes and the biological basis of psychiatric conditions with case-based applications.
NURS 871M – Neuropsychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
Focuses on psychiatric medication management, prescribing principles, and considerations across age groups.
NURS 872M – PMHNP Doctoral Practicum I
Provides supervised clinical experience applying assessment and treatment skills with diverse psychiatric populations.
NURS 873M – PMHNP Doctoral Practicum II
Expands clinical competency in psychiatric care with continued supervised practice and case discussions.
NURS 874M – PMHNP Integrative Doctoral Practicum
Refines independent practice skills, clinical reasoning, and professional role integration under supervision.
NURS 877M – Clinical Practice Synthesis for PMHNP
Combines online learning, simulation, and an on-site intensive to demonstrate readiness for PMHNP clinical practice.
Culminating Requirement
NURS 835 – Doctor of Nursing Practice Project
Capstone project demonstrating advanced clinical scholarship and application of evidence-based practice.
More curriculum details are available here.
DNP Clinicals
BSN to DNP students complete 1,031 total practicum hours including 600 clinical practicum hours (CPH) in direct patient care settings and 431 doctoral practicum hours (DPH) focused on evidence-based practice projects and clinical synthesis.
Practicum planning begins at admission with development of site affiliation agreements and preceptor identification. Penn State’s clinical placement team supports students in finding sites and preceptors, though students are responsible for initiating this process early. Some students complete practicums at their workplace while others identify alternate sites.
The program includes three intensive experiences:
- orientation/NURS 590 intensive
- NURS 802 course intensive
- DNP Practice Synthesis course intensive.
DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from U.S. regionally accredited institution or equivalent international degree
- Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA on 4.0 scale with B or better in all science and nursing courses
- College chemistry and statistics required
- Valid Pennsylvania RN license (as majority of clinical partnerships are in Pennsylvania)
- Active RN license in state(s) where clinical hours completed
- Three professional/academic references
- Current curriculum vitae
- Published or unpublished scholarly writing sample
- Statement of purpose
- Required interview (in-person or via video conferencing)
- GRE scores NOT required
- International applicants: minimum TOEFL score 80 with 25 on speaking section or IELTS composite 7.0
- Priority application deadlines: March 1, June 30, October 1
- Rolling admissions with priority status for deadline submissions
Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP (MSN to DNP)
The estimated cost for the MSN to DNP-PMHNP program is approximately $31,110 (minimum 30 credits × $1,037/credit) and takes approximately 1.5-2 years depending on previous coursework and practicum hours.
MSN DNP Curriculum
The MSN to DNP program requires minimum 30 post-master’s credits completed at Penn State with individualized curriculum based on previous coursework and practicum hours.
Maximum 550 practicum hours from previous master’s program accepted toward required 1,000 hours. Up to 8 credits of NURS 834 (Doctor of Nursing Practice Clinical Practicum) may be required depending on previous practicum hours.
Required DNP Core Courses: Students complete same core courses as BSN to DNP track plus any PMHNP concentration courses not completed in previous MSN program. Curriculum individualized through gap analysis conducted by program faculty.
MSN DNP Clinicals
MSN to DNP students complete minimum 500 additional practicum hours (if 550 hours accepted from MSN program) for total 1,000 post-baccalaureate hours. Clinical experiences focus on advanced practice competencies and DNP project implementation in psychiatric-mental health settings.
MSN DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- MSN with major in nursing from nationally accredited program
- Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA on 4.0 scale for master’s and subsequent coursework
- Valid Pennsylvania RN license and active license in clinical completion state(s)
- Three professional/academic references
- Current curriculum vitae
- Scholarly writing sample
- Statement of purpose
- Required interview
- GRE scores NOT required
- College chemistry and statistics (completed during BSN or MSN)
More curriculum details are available here.
Clinicals
BSN to DNP students complete 1,031 total practicum hours including 600 clinical practicum hours (CPH) in direct patient care settings and 431 doctoral practicum hours (DPH) focused on evidence-based practice projects and clinical synthesis. Practicum planning begins at admission with development of site affiliation agreements and preceptor identification. Penn State’s clinical placement team supports students in finding sites and preceptors, though students are responsible for initiating this process early. Some students complete practicums at their workplace while others identify alternate sites. The program includes three intensive experiences: orientation/NURS 590 intensive, NURS 802 course intensive, and DNP Practice Synthesis course intensive.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from U.S. regionally accredited institution or equivalent international degree
- Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA on 4.0 scale with B or better in all science and nursing courses
- College chemistry and statistics required
- Valid Pennsylvania RN license (as majority of clinical partnerships are in Pennsylvania)
- Active RN license in state(s) where clinical hours completed
- Three professional/academic references
- Current curriculum vitae
- Published or unpublished scholarly writing sample
- Statement of purpose
- Required interview (in-person or via video conferencing)
- GRE scores NOT required
- International applicants: minimum TOEFL score 80 with 25 on speaking section or IELTS composite 7.0
- Priority application deadlines: March 1, June 30, October 1
- Rolling admissions with priority status for deadline submissions
Post-Master’s Graduate Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s PMHNP Certificate is approximately $23,851 and can be completed in approximately 1.5-2 years.
Estimate based on 23 credits × $1,037/credit.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate prepares individuals with master’s degrees or higher in nursing seeking additional PMHNP certification. The program requires 23 credits of PMHNP-specific coursework plus additional advanced practice core courses that may be waived based on transcript evaluation.
Required Courses (23 credits):
- NURS 802M Psych MHNP Integrative Biopsychosocial Assessment & Differential Diagnosis Across the Lifespan (2)
- NURS 810 Theoretical Foundations and Application of Psychotherapy and Advanced Therapeutic Interventions (4)
- NURS 870M Neuroscience and Psychobiology of Mental Illness and Across the Lifespan (3)
- NURS 871M Neuropsychopharmacology and Biologically Based Treatments Across the Lifespan (3)
- NURS 872M Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Practicum I (3)
- NURS 873M Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Practicum II (2)
- NURS 874M Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner Integrative Doctoral Practicum (3)
- NURS 877M Clinical Practice Synthesis for Psychiatric Mental Health Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner (3)
Additional Coursework (may be waived based on transcript review):
- NURS 802 Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- NURS 803 Pathophysiology for the Advanced Practice Nurse
- NURS 804 Advanced Pharmacologic Therapy for the Advanced Practice Nurse
Certificate Clinicals
Post-master’s certificate students complete clinical practicum hours embedded within the three practicum courses totaling 600 clinical hours. Students gain supervised clinical experience in psychiatric-mental health settings preparing for comprehensive PMHNP practice and national certification examination.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree or higher in nursing from U.S. regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA on 4.0 scale for master’s degree with B or better in science and nursing courses
- Valid Pennsylvania RN license
- Two professional/academic references
- Current curriculum vitae
- Statement of purpose
- College chemistry and statistics (may be completed previously)
- GRE scores NOT required
- Certificate program chair evaluates transcripts to determine if advanced practice core courses can be waived
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition for 2025-26 is $1,037 per credit for students taking 11 or fewer credits per semester.
Students taking 12 or more credits per semester pay flat rate of $12,448 per semester.
For 2026-27, rates increase to $1,048 per credit (11 or fewer credits) or $12,572 per semester (12+ credits).
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
Penn State’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Graduates of the PMHNP program are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner national certification examination.
Other Nursing Programs
Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing offers additional programs including:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) – traditional, second degree, and RN to BSN options
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Nurse Administrator and Nurse Educator options (fully online)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) options: Leadership, Nurse Educator, Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- PhD in Nursing
- Dual-Title PhD in Nursing and Bioethics
- Dual-Title PhD in Nursing and Clinical and Translational Sciences
- BSN-PhD program incorporating MS degree
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificates (2 programs, online)
- Post-Master’s Certificates (various specialties, online)
Related Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Pennsylvania
- Drexel University - Philadelphia
- Jefferson University - Philadelphia
- University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
- University of Scranton - Scranton
- York College - York