Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Master’s Certificate | $23.3K | 15 months (4 semesters, part-time) | 26 |
Brenau’s defining advantage is a built-in doctoral on-ramp: students in the PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate can start Brenau’s DNP program at the same time as the certificate, rather than finishing one credential before applying to the next.
Coursework is mostly online, with monthly in-person weekend intensives in North Atlanta.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Post-Master’s Certificate only (with an optional simultaneous DNP dual-enrollment path) |
| Format | Hybrid: mostly online, with monthly in-person weekend intensives in North Atlanta |
| Clinical Hours | Not clearly stated; Brenau’s program page names four practicum courses without publishing an hours total |
| Clinical Placement | A dedicated graduate clinical coordinator helps students find clinical sites; most students practice within 50 miles of campus |
| Population | Across the lifespan |
| Distinctive Coursework | A four-course Clinical Practicum sequence (I-IV) plus a dedicated ANCC board-certification review and prep seminar |
| Concentrations | Single PMHNP focus; no sub-concentrations |
| RN License Requirements | Current RN licensure |
| Tuition | $896/credit (2026-2027 graduate nursing certificate rate) |
| Accreditation | CCNE (BSN, MSN, post-master’s certificate) |
| Dual Enrollment | Students may start Brenau’s DNP program simultaneously with this certificate |
Post-Master’s Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated tuition for the Post-Master’s Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Brenau University is approximately $23,296 (26 credits at $896/credit), before university fees. The program is designed to be completed in 15 months across 4 semesters, part-time.
Certificate Curriculum
The 26-credit curriculum runs a four-stage clinical practicum sequence alongside coursework on psychotherapeutic approaches, applied psychopharmacology, and specialized care for child/adolescent and older-adult populations, closing with a dedicated board-certification review course.
- NG 919 Psychotherapeutic Approaches Across the Lifespan
- NG 920 Applied Psychopharmacology & Psychopathology
- NG 921 PMHNP Clinical Practicum I
- NG 922 Diagnosis, Care & Management of Adults
- NG 923 PMHNP Clinical Practicum II
- NG 924 Child/Adolescent & Older Adult Psychiatric Care
- NG 925 PMHNP Clinical Practicum III
- NG 926 PMHNP Clinical Practicum IV
- NG 927 PMHNP Seminar: Board Certification Review & Prep
You Should Know
- Brenau’s own program page names the four practicum courses above but does not publish a total or per-course clinical hour count; confirm the current total directly with the Department of Nursing.
Certificate Clinical Requirements
- Total clinical hours: not clearly stated on Brenau’s public program pages
- Four clinical practicum courses provide hands-on experience across acute and outpatient settings, including community mental health, private practice, hospital settings, and integrated care models
- Training covers both in-person and telehealth practice settings
- Placement: a dedicated graduate clinical coordinator helps students find clinical sites, and most students practice within 50 miles of campus
Without a published clinical hour total, it isn’t possible to independently confirm this program against the 500-hour national certification floor or the 750-hour NTF Standards benchmark; ask the Department of Nursing for the current figure before enrolling.
Certificate Admissions
- Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree
- Current RN licensure
- Completed application for admission
- Meeting Brenau’s general program admission requirements
You Should Know
- Applications for the Spring 2027 start close November 4, 2026.
Dual Enrollment Option
Brenau students in the PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate can dual-enroll in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the same time as the certificate, rather than waiting to apply to the DNP until after finishing the certificate. Brenau frames this as a way to graduate with both credentials faster and move into advanced-practice leadership roles sooner.
Because the certificate and DNP are two separate programs with their own admission standards, dual enrollment still means meeting both sets of requirements; it removes the sequencing delay, not the DNP’s own admissions bar.
Tuition
Brenau University bills graduate nursing certificate coursework at a published rate of $896 per credit hour for 2026-2027. All totals below are estimates built from that rate plus Brenau’s published per-semester fees.
| Fee | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $896/credit | 26 credits |
| I&I Development Fee | 2.5% of tuition | Per semester |
| University Services Fee | $375 | Per semester |
Added together, that comes to roughly $25,378: $23,296 in tuition (26 credits x $896), about $582 in Development Fees across 4 semesters, and $1,500 in University Services Fees (4 semesters x $375). This excludes books, supplies, and any indirect costs of attendance.
- $896/credit graduate nursing certificate rate, confirmed on Brenau’s own 2026-2027 tuition schedule
- 26 credits for the certificate
- Active-duty military personnel, dependents, and spouses receive tuition discounts
Be aware that:
- The published per-credit rate has increased. Brenau’s rate moved from $845/credit to $896/credit for 2026-2027; confirm the current rate directly before budgeting.
- Books, supplies, and living costs are not included above. Brenau’s own cost-of-attendance estimate for graduate nursing students (6 credits/semester over 9 months) runs closer to $32,000 once those indirect costs are added.
- The clinical-hour total isn’t published, so it’s not possible to independently confirm the program clears the NTF Standards benchmark before enrolling.
The real lever for a Brenau applicant is the dual-enrollment path: starting the DNP alongside the certificate avoids a second application cycle later, though it does not reduce either program’s own admission requirements or total cost.
See Brenau’s official tuition page for current rates.
Why Choose This PMHNP Program?
Best suited for MSN-prepared nurses in or near North Atlanta who want a defined path toward a DNP without a second application cycle, and who are comfortable with monthly weekend intensives rather than a fully online format.
A doctoral on-ramp built into the certificate, not an afterthought. Starting the DNP at the same time as the certificate removes the usual gap between finishing a certificate and being admitted to a doctoral program, a genuine scheduling advantage for a nurse who already knows she wants the DNP eventually.
The trade-offs are real: Brenau does not publish a total clinical hour figure for this certificate, so applicants can’t independently verify it against national benchmarks before enrolling, and the monthly in-person weekend intensives in North Atlanta mean this isn’t a fully remote option for someone living far from Georgia.
Accreditation
Brenau University’s baccalaureate, master’s, and post-master’s certificate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), which covers this PMHNP certificate. The Department of Nursing also holds full approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing.
Brenau University holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Institutional accreditation is separate from CCNE’s program-level review and is what makes the university’s credits and degrees eligible for federal financial aid and generally transferable to other accredited institutions.
Graduates are prepared to sit for the national PMHNP certification exam (ANCC or AANPCB) and, once certified, to apply for APRN licensure in their state of practice.
Review More PMHNP Programs in Georgia
- Augusta University - Augusta
- Emory University - Atlanta
- Georgia College & State University - Milledgeville
- Georgia Southern University - Statesboro, Savannah
- Georgia State University - Atlanta
- Mercer University - Macon
- Valdosta State University - Valdosta