Emory University PMHNP Programs

School of Nursing Atlanta, GA

Emory University offers 2 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner tracks:

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – PMHNP
  • Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP

The programs are delivered in a distance-friendly format with virtual synchronous/asynchronous classroom sessions and designated onsite or virtual intensives.

Emory also offers the Blake Scholars Program, a specialized post-graduate certificate with full tuition coverage focused on child and adolescent behavioral and mental health.

Program Tracks Overview

ProgramEstimated CostDuration
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – PMHNP$166,564~2.5 years
Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP$54,340~1–1.5 years

Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP

The estimated cost for the DNP-PMHNP program is approximately $166,564 for students taking 12+ credits per semester and would take 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.

For students taking fewer than 12 credits, tuition is $1,936 per credit hour (86 total credits = $166,496).

Estimate based on $23,229 per semester for 7 semesters.

DNP Curriculum

The DNP-PMHNP program totals 86 credit hours across 7 semesters with 1,080 direct clinical practice hours. The curriculum promotes the core centrality of the nurse-client relationship while maintaining a neurobiologically-informed approach.

Semester 1 (Fall) – 14 credits:

  • NRSG 771D Diagnostic Reasoning and Clinical Assessment: Role Development for the PMHNP (2 credits, 15 clinical hours)
  • NRSG 701D Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NRSG 704D Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NRSG 708D Person-Centered Care (3 credits)
  • NRSG 709D Design, Methods, Analyses (3 credits)

Semester 2 (Spring) – 14 credits:

  • NRSG 706D Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
  • NRSG 746D Knowledge for Practice, Role, Professionalism (5 credits)
  • NRSG 719D Population Health (3 credits)
  • NRSG 772D Individual Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan (3 credits, 15 simulation hours)

Semester 3 (Summer) – 9 credits:

  • NRSG 773D Group and Family System Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan (3 credits, 15 simulation hours)
  • NRSG 718D Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
  • NRSG 720D Quality, Safety, and Systems-Based Practice (3 credits)

Semester 4 (Fall) – 13 credits:

  • NRSG 774D Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan I (5 credits, 15 simulation hours)
  • NRSG 775D PMHNP Practice I: Foundations of PMH Practice Across the Lifespan (3 credits, 180 clinical hours)
  • NRSG 745D Information and Healthcare Technologies (3 credits)
  • NRSG 726D DNP Scholarly Project I (2 credits, 60 practicum hours)

Semester 5 (Spring) – 13 credits:

  • NRSG 839D Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan II (5 credits, 15 simulation hours)
  • NRSG 840D PMHNP Clinical Practice II: Advanced Psychiatric Care Across the Lifespan (4 credits, 240 clinical hours)
  • NRSG 744D Interprofessional Partnerships (3 credits)
  • NRSG 727D DNP Scholarly Project II (1 credit, 30 practicum hours)

Semester 6 (Summer) – 12 credits:

  • NRSG 841D Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan III (4 credits, 15 simulation hours)
  • NRSG 842D PMHNP Clinical Practice III: Advanced Integrative Clinical Practice (5 credits, 300 clinical hours)
  • NRSG 843D Novel Psychotherapeutics: Contemporary Practice Across the Lifespan (2 credits)
  • NRSG 728D DNP Scholarly Project III (1 credit, 30 practicum hours)

Semester 7 (Fall) – 11 credits:

  • NRSG 844D Advanced Clinical Practicum Immersion (6 credits, 360 clinical hours)
  • NRSG 845D Health and Substance Use Disorder (2 credits)
  • NRSG 729D Health/Social Policy and Ethics (3 credits)

Program graduates are board-eligible for certification as a PMHNP-BC through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC).

DNP Clinicals

The DNP program requires 1,080 direct clinical practice hours plus 90 simulation hours and 120 DNP practicum hours.

Clinical training occurs at sites where students are geographically located in various psychiatric settings including outpatient clinics, inpatient facilities, psychotherapy practices, substance use disorder programs, and specialty settings.

Students must allocate at least 90 hours each towards pediatric populations, inpatient mental health settings, and at least two psychotherapy modalities. The program emphasizes therapeutic communication, psychiatric evaluation, differential diagnosis, psychopharmacology, and treatment planning across the lifespan.

DNP Prerequisites & Admissions

  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited nursing program (CCNE, NLNAC)
  • Unencumbered RN license in Georgia or multi-state RN license
  • Minimum one year full-time direct patient care experience as an RN in psychiatric/mental health or behavioral health settings (preference given to psych RN experience)
  • Application for admission with $50 fee
  • Official transcripts from all schools attended
  • Resume
  • Personal statement (500 words) describing why you want to be a DNP student, project interests, and psychiatric nursing experience/goals
  • Essay responses addressing professional strengths/growth, professional setback experience, and work-life balance management
  • Three professional references (preferably from colleagues, supervisors, or faculty)
  • International nursing degrees require CGFNS evaluation
  • International non-nursing transcripts require WES evaluation
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores if English is second language
  • F1 visa students not eligible due to online content

Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP

The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate program is approximately $54,340 (based on 26 credit hours at $2,090 per credit hour) and would take 1-1.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.

Certificate Curriculum

The Post-Graduate Certificate is a 26 credit hour program over three semesters comprised of six courses. The curriculum includes 720 precepted direct clinical hours plus 45 contact hours of simulated onsite/virtual experiences.

Coursework includes:

  • NRSG 774D Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan I
  • NRSG 775D PMHNP Practice I: Foundations of PMH Practice Across the Lifespan
  • NRSG 839D Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan II
  • NRSG 840D PMHNP Clinical Practice II: Advanced Psychiatric Care Across the Lifespan
  • NRSG 841D Psychotherapeutic Interventions Across the Lifespan III
  • NRSG 842D PMHNP Clinical Practice III: Advanced

Certificate Clinicals

The certificate program requires 720 direct clinical practice hours. Clinical rotations must be in psychiatric settings unless prior specialty director approval is obtained. Students allocate at least 90 hours each towards pediatric populations, inpatient mental health settings, and at least two psychotherapy modalities. Clinical practica occur at sites where students are geographically located, allowing APRNs to continue working while completing the program.

Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions

  • Master’s degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program (CCNE, NLNAC)
  • Unencumbered APRN license in Georgia or multi-state RN license
  • Current nurse practitioner (NP) board certification
  • Minimum one year full-time direct patient care experience as an RN in psychiatric/mental health or behavioral health settings
  • Application for admission with $50 fee
  • Official transcripts from all schools attended
  • Resume
  • Personal statement describing psychiatric nursing interest, experience, and career goals
  • Essay responses addressing professional strengths/growth, professional setback experience, and work-life balance management
  • Three professional references (preferably from colleagues, supervisors, or faculty)
  • International nursing degrees require CGFNS evaluation
  • International non-nursing transcripts require WES evaluation
  • TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores if English is second language
  • F1 visa students not eligible due to online content

Tuition

Graduate tuition for DNP programs is $23,229 per semester for students taking 12+ credit hours or $1,936 per credit hour for students taking fewer than 12 credits.

Post-Graduate Certificate tuition is $2,090 per credit hour. This program is not available for federal student loans as it is a non-degree seeking program.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Emory University undergoes accreditation at the university level and throughout its colleges and schools to ensure educational programs meet the highest standards.

More PMHNP Programs in Georgia

View All PMHNP Programs in Georgia