Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP – PMHNP | ≈ $94,339 | 2.75 years |
| PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate | ≈ $50,000–$60,000 | 12 months |
The UC PMHNP Certificate is a 12-month collaborative program with UC Irvine, UCLA, and UC Davis, featuring primarily online coursework with three virtual immersion sessions and regional clinical placements across California.
BSN Entry to Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP-PMHNP program is approximately $94,339 for California residents ($106,584 for non-residents) and takes 11 quarters (approximately 2.75 years) to complete on a full-time basis.
BSN to DNP Curriculum
The BSN to DNP-PMHNP track requires a minimum of 43-71 units depending on incoming practice hours and practicum requirements.
The curriculum includes core DNP courses, specialty-specific PMHNP coursework, and a DNP Project developed over multiple quarters addressing health care practice issues.
Core DNP Courses:
- NURSING 263: DNP Prologue (2 units)
- NURSING 263.11: Concepts and Contemporary Issues for the DNP (3 units)
- NURSING 263.12: Critical Appraisal of Evidence-Based Practice (3 units)
- NURSING 263.24: Organizational Systems and Economics for DNPs (2 units)
- NURSING 263.21: Strategic Leadership for the DNP (2 units)
- NURSING 263.14: Improving Health Outcomes Through QI and Patient Safety (3 units)
- NURSING 263.13: Methods and Measurement for Translational Practice Inquiry (3 units)
- NURSING 263A: DNP Project I: Project Conceptualization and Planning (2 units)
- NURSING 263.18: Advanced Concepts in Clinical Prevention & Population Health (3 units)
- NURSING 263B: DNP Project II: Project Planning and Implementation (2 units)
- NURSING 263.1: DNP Intersession (1 unit)
- NURSING 263.23: Healthcare Finance for DNP Leaders (2 units)
- NURSING 263C: DNP Project III: Project Implementation and Evaluation (2 units)
- NURSING 263.19: Informatics for the Nurse Leader (2 units)
- NURSING 263.2: DNP Epilogue (1 unit)
- NURSING 263.15: Advanced Health Policy and Advocacy (3 units)
- NURSING 463.1: DNP Practicum (1-5 units per quarter, enrolled each quarter)
Approved Electives:
- NURSING 363: Foundations of Academic and Clinical Teaching in Nursing (2 units)
- NURSING 363.1: Teaching in the Online Environment (2 units)
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN to DNP Clinicals
The DNP program requires a minimum of 1,000 post-baccalaureate practice hours for degree conferral, pro-rated based on incoming eligible practice hours. Students must provide evidence of at least 240 incoming practice hours for program admission.
Clinical placements are arranged by UCSF throughout the Bay Area at many sites.
BSN to DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from accredited institution with official transcripts
- Minimum 3.0 GPA requirement
- Active California RN license (non-California applicants must review Licensure by Endorsement rules)
- College-level statistics course completed within 5 years of program start
- No GRE required
- English proficiency required for non-native speakers: TOEFL minimum 92 (24 speaking, 24 writing) or IELTS minimum 7
- Resume or CV (2-5 pages) detailing work history, academic accomplishments, volunteer activities, professional affiliations, licenses, and certifications
- Four letters of recommendation for PMHNP specialty:
- One from current/recent employer or supervisor (preferably advanced practice nurse in specialty)
- One from faculty member assessing academic performance (can be replaced with additional employer/supervisor letter)
- One from individual well-acquainted with professional preparation and experience
- Fourth letter from individual well-acquainted with clinical practice experience OR health-related work/volunteer experience (for those without clinical experience)
- Goal statement (maximum 500 words) addressing professional rationale, specialty choice, and future career goals
- Personal statement discussing how personal background influenced decision to pursue graduate degree
- Application fee: $120 for U.S. citizens/permanent residents, $140 for international applicants
- No previous practice experience required for PMHNP specialty
- Use of artificial intelligence (AI) strictly prohibited in goal statement completion
PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate
The estimated cost for the UC PMHNP Certificate program is approximately $50,000-$60,000 and takes 12 months (four consecutive quarters including one summer) to complete on a full-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The UC PMHNP Certificate requires 48 units of graduate academic coursework combining psychiatric assessment, psychopharmacology, and therapy modalities.
Core courses are offered primarily online with virtual sessions typically on Wednesdays for clinical case conferences. The program includes three virtual immersion sessions in summer, fall, and winter quarters.
Program Structure:
- Summer quarter: Core courses with virtual immersion
- Fall quarter: Core courses with virtual immersion and clinical experiences
- Winter quarter: Core courses with virtual immersion and clinical experiences
- Spring quarter: Clinical experiences and course completion
Specific course listings are determined through gap analysis based on prior graduate nursing education. Students work with specialty coordinators to identify required curricular components.
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical placements are arranged throughout California at regional sites to accommodate students’ geographic locations. Clinical experiences provide comprehensive training in psychiatric and mental health care across the lifespan in diverse settings.
Students attend virtual clinical case conferences typically on Wednesdays and complete practicum hours in various inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master of Science degree in nursing (MS, MSN, or MN) completed and received
- Licensed by California Board of Registered Nursing with valid license for practice in California (Licensure by Endorsement available for out-of-state RNs)
- Eligible APRNs include: Nurse Practitioners (NPs), Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs), Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs), Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs)
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
- Goal statement describing professional objectives
- Minimum 3 letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV documenting professional experience
- English proficiency for non-native speakers: TOEFL minimum 92 or IELTS minimum 7
- Gap analysis performed to determine specific curricular requirements
- Minimum 3.0 GPA required for successful program completion
- Prerequisite course requirements determined during admission process
Tuition
The BSN to DNP program costs approximately $94,339 for California residents and $106,584 for non-residents.
This includes summer fees ($12,682), annual tuition and fees ($41,037), 12-month cost of living ($38,736), books and supplies ($840), and commute costs ($1,044). Non-resident supplemental tuition adds $12,245.
UC employees in eligible titles receive a two-thirds reduction in Student Services Fee and Tuition when enrolled in regular session courses (up to 12 units or four courses per quarter) through spring 2031.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of California, San Francisco is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
The BSN Entry to DNP Advanced Practice pathway is currently under review by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Graduates are eligible to apply for American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) national certification as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and for California BRN licensure as a nurse practitioner.
Related PMNHP Programs
View all PMHNP programs in California
- Azusa Pacific University - Azusa
- Charles R Drew - Los Angeles
- CSU Fresno (Fresno State) - Fresno
- National University - San Diego
- San Diego University - San Diego
- Touro University - Vallejo
- UC Davis - Sacramento
- UCLA - Los Angeles
- University of San Francisco - San Francisco
- Vanguard University - Costa Mesa
- Western University - Pomona