Program Tracks Overview
The PMHNP program specifically targets rural and underserved populations, with graduates prepared to mitigate mental health disparities in these communities.
Program | Est. Cost | Duration (Full-Time) |
---|---|---|
MS Nursing – PMHNP | $19,152 | 2–2.5 years |
Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate | $9,177–$14,364 | 1–1.5 years |
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP Emphasis
The estimated cost for the MS Nursing – PMHNP program is approximately $19,152 for online students and would take 2-2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 48-51 credit curriculum includes 23 units of core requirements covering the following:
The 51-credit hour program includes 23 units of core requirements covering theoretical foundations, pathophysiology, pharmacology, evidence-based practice, health policy, and advanced assessment, plus 28 units of PMHNP emphasis coursework.
Courses include:
NUR 510 – Theoretical Foundations
Explores the connections between theory, research, and advanced nursing practice. Students examine processes for knowledge development and strategies for applying nursing knowledge in practice.
NUR 520 – Applied Pathophysiology for APNs
Covers the understanding and clinical application of pathophysiological processes across the lifespan. Focuses on using this knowledge in advanced practice settings.
NUR 530 – Advanced Principles of Evidence-Based Practice
Introduces core methods of inquiry supporting evidence-based nursing and healthcare. Emphasizes principles that guide best practices and clinical decision-making.
NUR 540 – Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses
Provides essential pharmacologic knowledge for managing common health problems. Emphasizes safe prescribing and medication management in advanced practice.
NUR 560 – Rural Theory and Health Policy
Focuses on healthcare needs and challenges in rural communities. Students develop collaborative plans to address rural health issues while exploring policy and leadership principles.
NUR 650 – Advanced Nursing Assessment
Expands health assessment and physical examination skills for advanced practice. Includes two hours of lecture and three hours of lab weekly, with a focus on lifespan care.
NUR 675 – Advanced Roles Transition
Prepares nurses for transition into advanced roles, including leadership, negotiation, and health service management within rural healthcare systems.
NUR 550 – Family Nursing Theory and Practice
Examines family-systems nursing theory and its application in advanced clinical practice. Emphasizes family-centered care approaches.
NUR 653 – Advanced Neuropathophysiology and Psychopharmacology
Covers the neurobiological foundations for psychopharmacologic treatment of psychiatric and behavioral disorders.
NUR 654 – Mental Health Assessment Across the Lifespan
Provides knowledge and skills for evaluating and diagnosing psychiatric disorders in individuals of all ages.
NUR 655 – Advanced Mental Health Therapies: Individual and Group
Examines theoretical and applied strategies for delivering individual, family, and group psychotherapies in advanced practice settings.
NUR 656 – Mental Health Diagnosis and Management of Adults
Focuses on advanced psychiatric care for adults, including assessment, diagnosis, health promotion, and treatment evaluation.
NUR 657 – Mental Health Diagnosis and Management of Children and Adolescents
Covers advanced psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and management for children and adolescents, with attention to developmental needs.
NUR 658 – Mental Health Diagnosis and Management of Geriatric Clients
Addresses advanced psychiatric care for older adults, including assessment, diagnosis, management, and health promotion strategies.
NUR 680 – Assessment and Management in PMH Setting: Clinical Practicum
Offers supervised clinical practice in psychiatric-mental health nursing. Focus includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, documentation, leadership, and evaluation.
NUR 689 – Professional Project
Serves as a capstone experience where students complete a comprehensive project addressing a health need in a rural community. May be repeated for credit and graded pass/fail.
Students must complete formal letter-graded coursework totaling 24 units and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Clinical requirements are integrated throughout the program with extensive practicum experiences in psychiatric mental health settings. Students engage in direct patient care environments and must complete comprehensive clinical evaluations focusing on acute and chronic mental health issues across the lifespan.
Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate is approximately $9,177-$14,364 depending on background and would take 1-1.5 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The certificate requires 23-36 units depending on student background.
Master’s-prepared nurse practitioners complete 23 units of specialized psychiatric coursework, while non-nurse practitioner MSN graduates complete 36 units including foundational advanced practice courses.
Core psychiatric courses cover:
- mental health assessment
- psychopharmacology
- therapeutic interventions
- evidence-based treatment modalities
The program culminates in NUR 680, a comprehensive clinical course requiring in-person engagement.
Certificate students complete the same rigorous clinical requirements as master’s degree candidates. The program prepares graduates for American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) national certification as PMHNPs with full prescriptive authority and diagnostic capabilities.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing from accredited program OR associate degree in nursing with bachelor’s degree in another field
- Current Arizona RN license in good standing or multistate licensure eligibility
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in all nursing coursework
- IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card
- Undergraduate nursing research course with grade of ‘B’ or better
- Public health nursing course (didactic and clinical) with grade of ‘B’ or better
- Statistics course with grade of ‘C’ or better (undergraduate) or ‘B’ or better (graduate)
- Essay responses to specific questions
- Resume or CV (for applicants fall 2026 and beyond)
- For certificate program: Master’s degree in nursing or healthcare-related field preferred
- Active nursing or healthcare professional license
Tuition
Graduate tuition costs $399 per credit hour for online programs with additional fees of $518 per year. See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Northern Arizona University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Other Nursing Programs
- Family Nurse Practitioner (MS and Certificate)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice
- Clinical Nurse Specialist – Prescribing
- BS in Nursing (Traditional, Compressed, Global Format, American Indian Program, Accelerated)
- RN to BS in Nursing (online)
- Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP)
Other Programs in Arizona
View All PMHNP Programs in Arizona
- Arizona State University - Phoenix
- Grand Canyon University - Phoenix
- University of Arizona - Tucson
- University of Phoenix - Phoenix