Program Tracks Overview
| Track | Est. Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MSN PMHNP | ~2–2.5 years | $36,240 |
| Post-Graduate Certificate in PMHNP | ~1.5–2.5 years | $26,425 |
Notes: Frontier reports a 98% ANCC PMHNP pass rate and a national network of 20,000+ clinical sites/preceptors. Rolling admissions; totals above reflect published tuition (fees/aid may vary).
Frontier Nursing University operates a comprehensive PMHNP program with 98% ANCC certification exam pass rates, significantly exceeding the national average of 87%. The university focuses on training practitioners for rural and underserved populations, maintaining a culture of caring with 96% of faculty being certified nurse practitioners or nurse-midwives.
MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN PMHNP program is $36,240 and would take 2-2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 48-credit program spans eight terms with flexible scheduling. Coursework includes:
- PC701 Principles of Health Promotion
- PC705 Advanced Pathophysiology
- MH705 Psychiatric-Mental Health Roles & Modalities of Care
- PC716 Adv. Physical Assessment, Clinical Reasoning & Documentation for APRNs
- MH707 Psychiatric-Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- PC707 Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- MH701 Psychopharmacologic/Neuroscience Foundations of Mental Health Care
- MH708 Principles of Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan
- MH709 PMHNP Concepts: Transition to Practice
- MH720 Substance Use Disorder & Contemporary Issues in Mental Health
- MH711 CB: Clinical Skills for PMHNP
- MH712 PMHNP Clinical I
- MH713 PMHNP Clinical II
- MH714 PMHNP Clinical III
- MH715 PMHNP Clinical IV
- MH716 PMHNP Clinical V
- MH717 PMHNP Final Comprehensive Review
- N400: Health Assessment (for students who did not complete the prerequisite)
Clinical Training
All students must complete 750 clinical hours, reflecting recent national standards adopted across nursing programs. The clinical experience includes specific requirements:
- 50 child/adolescent visits
- 50 adult visits
- 20 geriatric visits
- 20 acute/crisis care management sessions
- 300 medication management cases
- 50 substance use disorder management cases
- 20 psychotherapy sessions.
Students attend a Clinical Bound experience on campus before beginning their community-based clinical practicum.
MSN Program Requirements:
- BSN from CCNE or ACEN accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
- Current unencumbered RN license
- Official transcripts from all institutions
- Personal statement and professional references
- Rolling admissions process with decisions in 4-5 weeks
Post-Graduate Certificate in PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate Certificate program is $26,425 and would take 1.5-2.5 years to complete depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.
Curriculum
The 35-credit certificate includes the following courses:
- MH705 Psychiatric-Mental Health Roles & Modalities of Care
- MH707 Psychiatric-Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
- MH701 Psychopharmacologic/Neuroscience Foundations of Mental Health Care
- MH708 Principles of Psychotherapy Across the Lifespan
- MH709 PMHNP Concepts: Transition to Practice
- MH720 Substance Use Disorder & Contemporary Issues in Mental Health
- MH750 MH CB: Transition to Clinical
- MH751 MH Clinical I
- MH752 MH Clinical II 6 MH753 MH Clinical III
- MH717 PMHNP Final Comprehensive Review
More curriculum details available here:
Clinical requirements mirror MSN standards with supervised practicum hours in psychiatric mental health settings. Students may need additional courses if lacking advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, or physical assessment prerequisites.
Post-Graduate Certificate Requirements:
- Master’s or higher degree in approved APRN specialty including:
- Adult, Family, Geriatric, or Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Nurse-Midwife or Women’s Health NP
- Psychiatric-Mental Health NP or Acute Care NP
- Current certification and unencumbered RN license
- May require additional prerequisite courses based on prior education
Tuition
MSN program tuition totals $36,240 for 48 credit hours ($755 per credit hour). Post-Graduate Certificate tuition totals $26,425 for 35 credit hours ($755 per credit hour).
Rolling admissions allows flexible start dates throughout the year with financial aid and scholarship opportunities available.
You can find more details on the main tuition page.
Accreditation
Frontier Nursing University maintains accreditation from appropriate regional and specialized accrediting bodies. The university participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, enabling nationwide program delivery.
Other Nursing Programs
- Nurse-Midwife specialty track
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) continuation option
- Various post-graduate certificates in multiple specialties
More Programs in Kentucky
View All PMHNP Programs in Kentucky
- Bellarmine University - Louisville
- Northern Kentucky University - Highland Heights
- University of Louisville - Louisville
- Western Kentucky University - Bowling Green