Bellin College PMHNP Programs (Psych NP)

Program Tracks Overview

Program	Est. Cost	Full-Time Duration
MSN – PMHNP	$40,800–$41,000	2 years
BSN to DNP – PMHNP	$63,400–$63,700	3 years
Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP	$17,500–$21,000	~1.5–2 years

*Totals include typical fees; actual costs vary by term.

The programs, founded on a holistic model of psychiatric-mental health care, prepare graduates to diagnose and treat psychiatric conditions across the lifespan from adjustment disorders to serious mental illnesses including schizophrenia, bipolar illness, major depression, and anxiety disorders.

Doctor of Nursing Practice – BSN to DNP PMHNP

The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP PMHNP program is approximately $62,184 and takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis or 5 years part-time.

Estimate based on 73 credits at $852 per credit plus fees.

The DNP represents patient care-focused doctorate preparing clinical scholars to transform healthcare systems through leadership roles in psychiatric-mental health care.

DNP Admissions Requirements

Academic Credentials:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from accredited program
Competitive admission based on GPA, interview, goal statement, work experience, references
No GRE required

Licensure:

Unencumbered Wisconsin nursing license required

Application Materials:

Bellin College Graduate Admission Application (free)
Two Graduate Reference/Release Forms
Official transcripts from all post-high school institutions
Goal Statement
Resume or curriculum vita
Personal interview

Prerequisites:

Health Assessment course (within 10 years from nationally accredited BSN program)
Statistics course (baccalaureate level with descriptive and inferential statistics; within 10 years)

Additional Requirements:

Clinical clearance requirements
Background checks and drug screening
Agency-specific mandates

DNP Curriculum

The 73-credit BSN to DNP PMHNP program integrates advanced practice psychiatric-mental health nursing with doctoral-level leadership, research, and systems thinking courses preparing graduates as clinical scholars and transformational leaders.

Fall Semester Year 1

NUR 550: Professional Role Development and Interprofessional Collaboration
Introduces advanced nursing roles, ethical principles, and teamwork across disciplines. Strengthens scholarly writing and the ability to collaborate effectively in complex care settings.

NUR 585: Advanced Pathophysiology
Explores disease processes from cellular to system levels, including genetic and environmental influences. Connects current research to clinical reasoning for advanced practice.

NUR 590: Advanced Health Assessment
Builds comprehensive assessment skills across the lifespan with a focus on screening, prevention, and documentation. Addresses cultural and age-specific variations in health.

NUR 595: Advanced Pharmacology
Reviews pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacogenomics to guide safe prescribing. Covers legal and ethical responsibilities linked to medication management.

Spring Semester Year 1

NUR 635: Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
Teaches the steps for finding, appraising, and applying evidence to improve outcomes. Focuses on identifying practice gaps and translating research responsibly.

NUR 700: Health Policy and Organizational Leadership
Examines how policy, economics, and organizational systems shape healthcare. Prepares nurses to lead improvements in access, safety, quality, and efficiency.

NUR 598: Introduction to Psychotherapy
Presents foundational theories and skills for building therapeutic alliances. Introduces approaches used in individual, group, and family psychotherapy.

NUR 596: Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology
Links neurobiology with psychopharmacology to support treatment of mental health disorders. Focuses on safe, ethical prescribing and factors that influence medication response.

NUR 597: Mental Health Assessment Lab
Develops psychiatric interviewing, screening, and documentation skills. Introduces DSM use and assessment of mental health needs across the lifespan.

Summer Semester Year 1

NUR 780: Epidemiology and Population Health
Covers core epidemiologic methods, data sources, and biostatistics for program planning and evaluation. Applies social determinants to prevention and risk reduction.

NUR 766: Practice Management for the APRN
Prepares APRNs to manage day-to-day clinical operations, including billing, workflow, compliance, and resource planning.

NUR 741: PMHNP Theory 1
Guides assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning for less complex psychiatric conditions using clinical guidelines across the lifespan.

Fall Semester Year 2

NUR 882: Health Care Informatics
Teaches how to gather, analyze, and share data to improve care quality. Reviews legal, ethical, and cultural issues surrounding information use.

NUR 742: PMHNP Theory 2
Advances clinical reasoning for more complex psychiatric conditions. Differentiates acute presentations from chronic, persistent disorders.

NUR 880: Translational Research
Focuses on applying research findings to practice. Strengthens the ability to evaluate evidence and implement improvements.

NUR 931: BSN-DNP PMHNP Practicum 1
Introduces supervised psychiatric practice using a holistic, lifespan approach. Builds advanced beginner competence in collaboration, ethics, and patient-centered care.

Spring Semester Year 2

NUR 721: Educational Theory
Reviews major learning theories and their use in teaching nursing students in classroom and clinical settings. Examines historical foundations of nursing education.

NUR 743: PMHNP Theory 3
Expands treatment planning and therapy skills for specialty populations. Integrates biological, psychological, and environmental factors in care.

NUR 932: BSN-DNP PMHNP Practicum 2
Strengthens clinical competence with broader responsibilities. Emphasizes comprehensive care and continued development of professional accountability.

NUR 576: Quality and Safety
Teaches how to identify system failures and use data tools, including EHRs, to improve safety and quality. Reviews improvement frameworks and safety culture.

NUR 911: DNP Project 1
Defines a practice problem and develops the project scope with a partner site. Establishes the foundation for evidence-based change.

Summer Semester Year 2

NUR 842: Population Health and Emerging Health Issues
Analyzes population data to address disparities and emerging health trends. Considers governmental roles and best practices for targeted interventions.

NUR 912: DNP Project 2
Synthesizes evidence and finalizes a practice change proposal. Prepares the plan for implementation.

NUR 810: Emerging Mental Health Issues Seminar
Examines contemporary mental health topics and the APRN’s advocacy role. Uses seminar discussions to connect concepts to practice.

NUR 933: BSN-DNP PMHNP Practicum 3
Builds higher-level clinical competence across diverse psychiatric settings. Maintains a holistic, lifespan-focused approach.

NUR 915: BSN-DNP Project 3
Implements the proposed practice change and evaluates early outcomes. Works directly with partner sites to refine the intervention.

NUR 822: Health Care Ethics
Explores ethical theory, professional codes, justice, and empathy in patient-centered care. Encourages reflection beyond minimum standards.

Spring Semester Year 3

NUR 916: DNP Project 4
Finalizes evaluation and prepares for dissemination of project outcomes. Focuses on sustainability and advanced systems thinking.

NUR 924: BSN-DNP Practicum 4
Provides immersive clinical experience to refine doctoral-level competencies. Strengthens evidence translation, leadership, and population-focused care.

NUR 886: Translational Leadership
Covers leadership principles for analyzing systems and implementing sustainable improvements. Emphasizes interdisciplinary change management.

NUR 830: Genetics
Reviews genetic mechanisms of disease, testing, and risk assessment. Guides integration of genomic knowledge into prevention and treatment strategies.

Part-Time Track: Available with extended 5-year timeline distributing coursework with same total credits and clinical requirements.

Credit Hour Ratios:

1 credit theory = 15 hours
1 credit lab = 45 hours
1 credit practicum = 95 hours

DNP Program Goals:

Prepare DNPs to excel in advanced clinical leadership roles
Prepare clinical scholars able to transform healthcare system

DNP Scholarly Project: Students complete four-semester DNP project sequence demonstrating advanced clinical scholarship and evidence translation into practice.

DNP Clinicals

The BSN to DNP PMHNP program requires minimum 1,045 supervised direct patient care clinical hours integrating psychiatric-mental health clinical experiences with practice immersion focused on systems leadership and scholarly project implementation.

Clinical Hour Requirements:

NUR 931 BSN-DNP PMHNP Practicum 1: 2 credits (190 hours)
NUR 932 BSN-DNP PMHNP Practicum 2: 3 credits (285 hours)
NUR 933 BSN-DNP PMHNP Practicum 3: 3 credits (285 hours)
NUR 924 BSN-DNP Practicum 4: 3 credits (285 hours)
Total: Minimum 1,045 clinical hours

Clinical Placement: Same process, preceptor eligibility, and settings as MSN program with PMHNP Program Coordinator assigning all clinical preceptors and coordinating placements with Clinical Affiliation Coordinator.

Clinical Requirements:

Experiences across lifespan
Minimum two psychotherapy modalities
Interdisciplinary mix of preceptors
Direct patient care focus
Travel up to 90 minutes each way may be required
16-20 weeks advance notice for preceptor requests

DNP Project Hours: Additional scholarly project hours embedded throughout program in NUR 911, 912, 915, and 916 supporting completion of doctoral scholarly work.

Certification Eligibility: Graduates eligible for PMHNP certification through ANCC or AANPCB upon program completion.

Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP

The estimated cost for the MSN PMHNP program is approximately $40,800 and takes 2 years to complete on a full-time basis or 3 years part-time.

Estimate based on 49 credits at $816 per credit plus fees.

The program launched in Fall 2024 as Bellin College’s newest graduate nursing track addressing the critical mental health workforce shortage affecting 1 in 5 US adults and 1 in 6 US youth annually.

MSN Admissions Requirements

Academic Credentials:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from accredited program
Admission to graduate nursing program is competitive
Consideration given to GPA, personal interview, admission goal statement, work experience, and professional references
No GRE required

Licensure:

Unencumbered Wisconsin nursing license required

Application Materials:

Bellin College Graduate Admission Application (free)
Two Graduate Reference/Release Forms
Official copies of all post-high school transcripts
Goal Statement
Resume or curriculum vita
Personal interview with admissions committee

Prerequisites:

Health Assessment course (must be completed within 10 years; must be from nationally accredited BSN program)
Statistics course (baccalaureate level including descriptive and inferential statistics; must be completed within 10 years)
If prerequisites older than 10 years, must retake through accredited program

Application Timeline:

Applications for Fall 2026 open September 1, 2025
Rolling admissions with enrollment deposit required upon acceptance

Additional Requirements:

Enrollment deposit upon admission
Clinical clearance requirements per agency mandates
Background checks and drug screening as required by clinical sites

MSN Curriculum

The 49-credit MSN PMHNP program integrates advanced practice nursing core courses with specialized psychiatric-mental health content delivered in 15-week online semesters.

Full-Time Track (2 Years) – 49 Credits:

Fall Semester Year 1 (12 credits):

NUR 550 Professional Role Development and Interprofessional Collaboration (2 credits)
NUR 585 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
NUR 590 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
NUR 596 Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology (3 credits)
NUR 597 Mental Health Assessment Lab (1 credit)

Spring Semester Year 1 (9 credits):

NUR 635 Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (3 credits)
NUR 595 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
NUR 741 PMHNP Theory 1 (2 credits)
NUR 598 Introduction to Psychotherapy (1 credit)

Summer Semester Year 1 (6 credits):

NUR 780 Epidemiology and Population Health (3 credits)
NUR 791 Scholarly Project 1 (1 credit)
NUR 781 PMHNP Practicum 1 (2 credits)

Fall Semester Year 2 (12 credits):

NUR 742 PMHNP Theory 2 (3 credits)
NUR 782 PMHNP Practicum 2 (3 credits)
NUR 700 Health Policy and Organizational Leadership (3 credits)
NUR 766 Practice Management for the APRN (3 credits)

Spring Semester Year 2 (10 credits):

NUR 792 Scholarly Project 2 (1 credit)
NUR 743 PMHNP Theory 3 (3 credits)
NUR 783 PMHNP Practicum 3 (3 credits)
NUR 576 Quality and Safety (3 credits)

Part-Time Track: Available with extended timeline distributing coursework across 3 years with same total credits and clinical requirements.

Credit Hour Ratios:

1 credit theory = 15 hours
1 credit lab = 45 hours
1 credit practicum = 95 hours

Program Features:

100% online delivery
Small class sizes ensuring personalized attention
Personalized student practicum placements
Faculty committed to student success
Flexible cohort model accommodating working professionals

More curriculum details are available here.

MSN Clinicals

The MSN PMHNP program requires minimum 760 supervised direct patient care clinical hours providing interdisciplinary experiences across the lifespan. Students complete clinical practicums in diverse behavioral health settings paired with qualified preceptors approved by the Graduate Nursing PMHNP Program Coordinator.

Clinical Hour Requirements:

NUR 781 PMHNP Practicum 1: 2 credits (190 hours)
NUR 782 PMHNP Practicum 2: 3 credits (285 hours)
NUR 783 PMHNP Practicum 3: 3 credits (285 hours)
Total: Minimum 760 clinical hours

Clinical Placement Process:

All clinical placements provided by College; students not responsible for locating sites
Students may request specific preceptor or practicum site
PMHNP Program Coordinator assigns all clinical preceptors
Efforts made to match students within home geographical area
Students may be required to travel up to 90 minutes each way
Students assume all travel responsibility to/from sites
Requests must be made 16-20 weeks in advance

Preceptor Eligibility: Must have current licensure as:

PMHNP
Psychologist
Board Certified Psychiatrist
Licensed Social Worker
Licensed Mental Health/Professional Counselor

Preceptor Qualifications:

If APRN: minimum Master’s in Nursing with NP clinical preparation
Certification in area of expertise strongly preferred
18-24 months experience in clinician role
Interest in preceptor responsibilities

Appropriate Practice Settings:

Private practice
Psychiatric centers
Counseling centers
Substance abuse rehabilitation centers
Hospitals
Crisis centers
Long-term care
Other settings approved by PMHNP Program Coordinator

Clinical Experience Requirements:

Experiences across the lifespan required
Minimum two psychotherapy modalities required
Interdisciplinary mix of preceptors and experiences

Countable Clinical Hours:

Direct clinical care to individuals and families across lifespan
Time documenting patient medical records
Telehealth sessions
International/national direct care experiences (medical missions)
Attendance at educational offerings related to practicum goals (maximum 8 hours with prior approval)

Certification Eligibility: Graduates eligible to sit for PMHNP certification exam through American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP

The estimated cost for the PMHNP Post-Graduate Certificate ranges from $17,136 to $20,976 depending on gap analysis results and takes approximately 1.5-2 years to complete.

Estimate based on 21-25 credits at $816 per credit plus fees

The PGC program enables MSN, PhD, or DNP prepared nurses to add PMHNP specialty certification.

Certificate Admissions Requirements

Academic Credentials:

Master’s degree (MSN), PhD, or DNP from accredited institution
Current certification as APRN reduces required clinical hours from 760 to 570
Non-certified APRN applicants complete full 760 clinical hours

Licensure:

Unencumbered Wisconsin nursing license required
Current APRN certification (if applicable) must be documented

Application Materials:

Bellin College Graduate Admission Application (free)
Two Graduate Reference/Release Forms
Official transcripts from all graduate programs
Goal Statement
Resume or curriculum vita
Personal interview

Gap Analysis:

Required for all PGC applicants
Determines additional required coursework based on prior graduate preparation
Individualized Plan of Study issued after gap analysis completion
Courses must be comparable in scope, subject matter, and rigor to Bellin College courses

Transfer Credits: Graduate Nursing Program may accept up to 9 transfer credits of previous graduate coursework based on:

Coursework completed within 5 years before admission (or approved by Program Director and PMHNP Coordinator)
Comparable scope, subject matter, rigor to Bellin courses
Course description and syllabus required
Must meet Bellin grading and progression policy

Application Timeline:

Applications for Fall 2026 open September 1, 2025
Enrollment deposit required upon admission

Certificate Curriculum

The PGC requires minimum 21 credits of PMHNP-specific coursework with additional courses determined by gap analysis. Certified, practicing APRNs complete reduced clinical hours while non-certified applicants complete full PMHNP clinical requirements.

Sample Plan of Study – Certified, Practicing APRN (21 Credits Minimum):

Fall Semester Year 1 (4 credits):

NUR 597 Mental Health Assessment Lab (1 credit)
NUR 596 Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology (3 credits)

Spring Semester Year 1 (5 credits):

NUR 741 PMHNP Theory 1 (2 credits)
NUR 787 PGC PMHNP Practicum 1 (2 credits)
NUR 598 Introduction to Psychotherapy (1 credit)

Summer Semester Year 1 (2 credits):

NUR 810 Emerging Mental Health Issues Seminar (2 credits)

Fall Semester Year 2 (5 credits):

NUR 742 PMHNP Theory 2 (3 credits)
NUR 788 PGC PMHNP Practicum 2 (2 credits)

Spring Semester Year 2 (6 credits):

NUR 743 PMHNP Theory 3 (3 credits)
NUR 780 Epidemiology and Population Health (3 credits)

Additional Courses Based on Gap Analysis: May include:

NUR 590 Advanced Health Assessment (3 credits)
NUR 585 Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
NUR 595 Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits)
NUR 766 Practice Management for the APRN (3 credits)

Program Structure:

Lock-step program following individualized Plan of Study
Must successfully complete courses each semester to progress
Gap analysis determines final credit total

Credit Hour Ratios:

1 credit theory = 15 hours
1 credit lab = 45 hours
1 credit practicum = 95 hours

Certificate Clinicals

PGC clinical requirements vary based on current APRN certification status. Certified, practicing APRNs complete 570 clinical hours while non-certified applicants complete 760 hours identical to MSN requirements.

Clinical Hour Requirements:

Certified, Practicing APRNs:

NUR 787 PGC PMHNP Practicum 1: 2 credits (190 hours)
NUR 788 PGC PMHNP Practicum 2: 2 credits (190 hours)
Additional practicum hours: 190 hours
Total: Minimum 570 clinical hours

Non-Certified APRNs:

Total: Minimum 760 clinical hours (same as MSN program)

Clinical Placement: Same comprehensive process as MSN and DNP programs with PMHNP Program Coordinator and Clinical Affiliation Coordinator working with students for placement approval.

Clinical Requirements:

Experiences across lifespan
Minimum two psychotherapy modalities
Interdisciplinary preceptor mix
Direct patient care focus
May require travel up to 90 minutes each way
16-20 weeks advance notice for preceptor requests

Preceptor Eligibility: Same criteria as MSN/DNP programs requiring current licensure as PMHNP, Psychologist, Board Certified Psychiatrist, Licensed Social Worker, or Licensed Mental Health/Professional Counselor.

Appropriate Settings: Private practice, psychiatric centers, counseling centers, substance abuse rehabilitation centers, hospitals, crisis centers, long-term care, and other PMHNP Coordinator-approved settings.

Certification Eligibility: PGC completion qualifies graduates to sit for PMHNP certification exam through ANCC or AANPCB.

Tuition

Graduate Nursing Tuition Rates (2025-2026):

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN courses 500-799): $816 per credit
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP courses 800-999): $852 per credit

Semester Fees (as applicable based on plan of study):

Technology Fee (per term/semester): $200
Health Fee (per term/semester): $65
Activity Fee (per term/semester) – MSN Nurse Practitioner only: $25

Course-Specific Materials Fees:

NUR 590 Materials Fee: $45
NUR 760 Materials Fee: $370
NUR 762 Materials Fee: $45
NUR 764 Materials Fee: $80

Scholarly/DNP Project Fees:

NUR 791 Project Fee: $130
NUR 792 Project Fee: $130
NUR 912 Project Fee: $115
NUR 913 Project Fee: $115
NUR 914 Project Fee: $115
NUR 915 Project Fee: $115
NUR 916 Project Fee: $115

Graduation Fee:

One-time fee assessed last term/semester: $250

Estimated Total Program Costs:

MSN PMHNP (49 credits):

Tuition: 49 credits × $816 = $39,984
Fees: Approximately $800-$1,000 (varies by semester)
Estimated Total: $40,800-$41,000

BSN to DNP PMHNP (73 credits):

Tuition: 73 credits × $852 = $62,196
Fees: Approximately $1,200-$1,500 (varies by semester)
Estimated Total: $63,400-$63,700

PMHNP PGC (21-25 credits):

Tuition: 21 credits × $816 = $17,136 minimum
Additional courses based on gap analysis
Fees: Approximately $400-$600
Estimated Total: $17,500-$21,000

Additional Costs:

Books and course materials
Technology requirements for online learning
Travel to clinical sites
Background checks and drug screening (as required)
Professional liability insurance

Financial Aid:

Limited financial aid available
Financial Aid office assists with loan processing
FAFSA required for aid consideration
Scholarships available to those who qualify
Employer tuition assistance strongly encouraged

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

Bellin College’s graduate nursing programs hold full accreditation ensuring quality education meeting national standards for advanced practice nursing education. The College maintains over 100 years of history educating professional nurses with commitment to patient care-focused education and preparing healthcare practitioners to support community health needs.

Related School Nursing Programs

Graduate Nursing Degree Programs:

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – BSN to DNP tracks available in Family Nurse Practitioner and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (hybrid delivery)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – MSN to DNP for nurses with existing Master’s degrees (online)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Family Nurse Practitioner Track (full-time and part-time options; combination online, face-to-face, hybrid; 15-week semesters)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Nurse Educator Track (full-time and part-time options; 100% online; 15-week semesters)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track (full-time and part-time options; 100% online; 15-week semesters)

Post-Graduate Certificate Programs:

Family Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate (FNP PGC) – For nurses with MSN or terminal degree seeking FNP certification
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Post-Graduate Certificate (PMHNP PGC) – For nurses with MSN or terminal degree seeking PMHNP certification (100% online)
Nurse Educator Post-Graduate Certificate (NE PGC) – For nurses with graduate degree seeking educator preparation (100% online)

Other Graduate Programs:

Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography Certificate (DCS) – For working sonographers registered in vascular technology (RVT)
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (DSc)
Orthopedic and Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship (OMPT)

Undergraduate Programs:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
Diagnostic Medical Sonography
Radiation Therapy
Radiologic Sciences
Surgical Assisting

Program Features:

Over 100-year history educating professional nurses
Patient care-focused doctorate programs
Personalized student practicum placements
Faculty committed to student success
Flexible online cohort models
Small class sizes
No GRE required for nursing programs
Free application process

Certification Preparation: All PMHNP tracks prepare graduates to sit for certification exams offered by American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB).

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