Program Tracks Overview
| Program Name | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Certificate – PMHNP | $38,485 | ~1.5–2 years (part-time) |
| ELM-MSN – PMHNP Specialty | ~$48,330–$50,120 | ~2–3 years (includes prelicensure) |
Postgraduate Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the PMHNP Certificate program is $38,485 and takes approximately 1.5-2 years to complete on a part-time basis.
Certificate Curriculum
The 43-unit certificate includes 14 units of advanced practice core courses and 29 units of specialty courses preparing nurses for psychiatric mental health practice across the lifespan.
Advanced Practice Core Courses (14 units):
- Family Theory in Health Care (2 units)
- Advanced Nursing Practice Role (2 units)
- Advanced Pathophysiology (3 units)
- Advanced Pharmacology (3 units)
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4 units: 3 classroom/1 clinical)
Advanced Practice Specialty Courses (29 units):
- Psychiatric Theories across the Life Span (2 units)
- Integrated Psychiatric and Health Assessment across the Life Span (2 units)
- Psychiatric Interventions and Health Promotion across the Life Span (6 units: 3 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Adults and Older Adults (6 units: 3 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Children and Adolescents (6 units: 3 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Selected Populations (5 units: 2 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychopharmacology (2 units)
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
Clinical hours are embedded throughout specialty courses, totaling approximately 13 clinical units. Students work with clients experiencing severe or chronic mental illnesses to determine biopsychosocial healthcare needs.
Clinical placements are customizable to accommodate working professionals’ schedules and are available at locations in Azusa (Main Campus) and Inland Empire.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
Prerequisites:
- Master’s degree in nursing from NLN- or CCNE-accredited program
- Health assessment course completion
- Pathophysiology course completion
- Nursing research course completion
- Statistics course completion
- Nursing leadership course completion
- Community health nursing course completion
- Undergraduate health assessment course within last 5 years (or must complete UNRS 220)
Admissions Requirements:
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (provisional admission possible with lower GPA)
- Active RN license in California
- Written statement (1-2 pages) describing professional goals and nursing philosophy
- Current résumé including employment history, honors, and volunteer activities
- Two professional recommendations from managers, supervisors, or faculty
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- $45 nonrefundable application fee
- CPR certification, malpractice insurance, TB screening, and immunizations documentation
- Background check (student responsibility for cost)
- TOEFL/IELTS scores (international applicants)
Entry-Level Master’s (ELM-MSN) – PMHNP Specialty
The estimated cost for the ELM-MSN PMHNP Specialty program is approximately $48,330-$50,120 and takes 2-3 years to complete (including prelicensure coursework).
MSN Curriculum
The 54-56 unit program combines academic core courses, advanced practice core courses, and specialty courses preparing students for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner roles. Prelicensure coursework must be completed before beginning advanced practice courses.
Academic Core Courses (10 units):
- Spiritual Concept Analysis in Health Care (3 units)
- Electives (7 units)
Academic and Advanced Practice Core Courses (14 units):
- Family Theory in Health Care (2 units)
- Advanced Nursing Practice Role (2 units)
- Advanced Pathophysiology (3 units)
- Advanced Pharmacology (3 units)
- Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning (4 units: 3 classroom/1 clinical)
Advanced Practice Specialty Courses (29 units):
- Psychiatric Theories across the Life Span (2 units)
- Integrated Psychiatric and Health Assessment across the Life Span (2 units)
- Psychiatric Interventions and Health Promotion across the Life Span (6 units: 3 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Adults and Older Adults (6 units: 3 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Children and Adolescents (6 units: 3 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Care with Selected Populations (5 units: 2 classroom/3 clinical)
- Psychopharmacology (2 units)
Concluding Course (1-3 units):
- Comprehensive Examination Directed Study (1 unit) OR
- Thesis and Research Proposal Writing (3 units)
MSN Clinicals
Clinical hours are integrated throughout advanced practice and specialty courses with approximately 13 clinical units. Students engage in assessment, differential diagnosis, intervention planning, and individual, family, and group psychotherapy with diverse populations across the lifespan.
MSN Prerequisites & Admissions
Requirements:
- Baccalaureate or higher degree in another discipline
- Must meet all ELM-MSN prelicensure requirements before starting advanced practice courses
- Application through Graduate and Professional Admissions
- International students contact admissions for specific procedures
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $895 per unit for the certificate and master’s programs.
Additional fees include a $600 nursing clinical fee per semester (includes malpractice insurance) and a $275 graduate nursing advanced practice lab fee per course.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Application Timeline
For Fall start: Priority deadline April 1, final deadline June 15. For Spring start: Priority deadline July 15, final deadline September 30.
Accreditation
Azusa Pacific University is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The master’s degree in nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the nurse practitioner program is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing.
Related PMNHP Programs
View all PMHNP programs in California
- 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 California San Francisco - San Francisco
- University of San Francisco - San Francisco
- Vanguard University - Costa Mesa
- Western University - Pomona