Program Overview
| Program | Estimated Tuition | Estimated Duration | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DNP | $104K | 3 years full-time (BSN entry) | 84 | |
| Post-Graduate Certificate | $60K | 28 months | 48 |
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | BSN-to-DNP, MSN-to-DNP, MSN-APRN-to-DNP, Post-Graduate Certificate |
| Format | Hybrid — on campus 1–2 days per week with online components; certificate courses meet mostly on Thursdays |
| Campus Visits | Weekly; this is a campus-based hybrid program, not an online program |
| Clinical Hours | 750 PMHNP clinical hours (five 120-hour rotations + 150-hour capstone); DNP students add project hours |
| Clinical Placement | All placements and preceptors arranged by PLU faculty |
| Population | Psychiatric, mental health, and addictions care across the lifespan |
| Cohort Size | 10–18 students per specialty cohort |
| Tuition | $1,242/credit; cohort pricing requires staying with your cohort |
| Accreditation | CCNE (DNP and post-graduate APRN certificate) |
DNP PMHNP
The estimated tuition for the DNP PMHNP at Pacific Lutheran University is approximately $104,328 and full-time students generally finish in about 3 years (36 months).
Three entry points exist: BSN-to-DNP (3 years full-time, 4 part-time), MSN-to-DNP (2–3 years full-time), and MSN-APRN-to-DNP (about 2 years part-time, depending on a gap analysis of prior coursework).
PLU’s catalog lists the DNP at 80 semester hours, while the 2026–27 cost sheet describes an 84-credit program — the $104,328 total at $1,242/credit works out to 84 credits.
DNP Curriculum
The curriculum layers three components: a DNP core (leadership, quality improvement, biostatistics, health policy, informatics), the APRN three P’s, and a PMHNP specialty sequence that goes beyond the standard concepts courses — PLU requires dedicated courses in substance abuse and addiction management, complex trauma, and primary care skills for psychiatric providers. A DNP scholarly project with its own seminar and clinical-hour sequence runs through the final two years. A January Term includes a Study Away option (Mexico, D.C., Olympia, or Tacoma) for the health policy course.
- Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Physical Assessment
- Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan
- PMHNP Didactic I–IV
- PMHNP Seminar/Clinical I–VI (including capstone)
- Management of Substance Abuse & Addiction
- Management of Complex Trauma
- Primary Care Essentials for PMHNPs
- DNP Project Proposal, Seminars, and Clinical Hours
DNP Clinical Requirements
Clinical training is where PLU separates itself: faculty set up every preceptorship, and students rotate through hospital, outpatient, and community settings during the final two years under supervision of licensed DNP faculty. PMHNP rotations total 750 hours, with DNP project hours on top.
- 750 PMHNP clinical hours: five 120-hour rotations plus a 150-hour capstone
- All placements arranged by PLU — no self-sourced preceptors
- At least 600 direct patient care hours per the university
- Scope includes individual, group, and family therapy plus addictions care
- Clinicals concentrated in Years 2 and 3
DNP Admissions
Admission is competitive with limited seats each year, and requirements vary by entry point.
- BSN (for BSN-to-DNP) or MSN (post-master’s entry) from a nationally accredited nursing school
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Prerequisite: introductory statistics with a minimum B grade
- Official transcripts, professional résumé, statement of professional goals, two letters of recommendation
- Criminal/civil/administrative history clearance in all applicable states
- Unrestricted WA RN license (or multistate compact license) required before any clinical course
- Non-refundable $300 deposit within three weeks of acceptance
Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP
The estimated tuition for the Post-Graduate Certificate PMHNP at Pacific Lutheran University is approximately $59,616 and students generally finish in about 28 months. The program starts each fall, and most PMHNP courses meet on Thursdays — a predictable one-day-a-week schedule working nurses can plan around.
Certificate Curriculum
The 48-credit certificate delivers the full PMHNP specialty sequence rather than a stripped-down add-on: the three P’s, psychopharmacology, four didactic/clinical course pairs plus a fifth clinical and a capstone, and the same distinctive specialty courses as the DNP — substance abuse and addiction management, complex trauma, and primary care for psychiatric providers. Individual start points and required courses are set by a gap analysis of prior graduate work, and nationally certified NPs may have the three P’s waived.
- Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics, Advanced Physical Assessment
- Psychopharmacology
- PMHNP Didactic I–IV
- PMHNP Seminar/Clinical I–V + Capstone
- Management of Substance Abuse and Addiction
- Management of Complex Trauma
- Primary Care for Psych
Certificate Clinical Requirements
The certificate carries 750 clinical hours — five 120-hour rotations plus a 150-hour capstone — substantially more than the 500–600 hours typical of post-graduate PMHNP certificates. PLU faculty arrange placements here as well.
- 750 total clinical hours across six clinical courses
- Faculty-arranged preceptorships
- Clinicals begin in the second summer and run every term through completion
Certificate Admissions
Applications are accepted year-round for fall starts, with early action dates December 1 and February 1 and a final deadline of May 1.
- Current, unencumbered WA State RN license or WA APRN certification
- Master’s degree or higher from a nationally accredited nursing school
- Minimum 3.00 cumulative GPA
- Transcripts from all schools attended
- Professional résumé and two-page statement of professional goals
- Two letters of recommendation
- Criminal/civil/administrative history clearance
- $65 application fee (waived for PLU students and alumni)
- Optional pre-application gap analysis of prior graduate coursework
Tuition
Total tuition is $104,328 for the DNP PMHNP and $59,616 for the post-graduate certificate, both at $1,242 per credit under a cohort pricing model — fall behind your cohort and you lose the locked rate.
Budget for meaningful fees on top: a $730 nursing program fee per term (excluding J-Term), $5,500 in clinical and test prep course fees, a $290/year technology fee, $120/year wellness fee, $225 one-time matriculation fee, and a $70 background check.
PLU alumni receive an automatic $5,000 scholarship, and graduate academic scholarships ($1,000–$4,000), the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship, and the Health Professional Scholarship Program are available.
Why Choose This PMHNP Program?
PLU is built for nurses who want structure and support rather than a self-directed online experience. Faculty arrange every clinical placement — a genuine rarity that removes the biggest stressor in NP education — and specialty cohorts of 10–18 students mean faculty actually know you. The clinical volume is also notable: 750 PMHNP hours, with required coursework in addictions and complex trauma that most programs treat as electives or fold into general content.
The trade-offs are geographic and financial. This is a hybrid, campus-based program requiring on-campus attendance one to two days a week in Tacoma (certificate courses mostly on Thursdays), and a Washington RN license is required — out-of-state nurses looking for a fully online option should look elsewhere. At $1,242 per credit plus fees, it also isn’t cheap: roughly $104K for the DNP and $60K for the certificate, with cohort pricing that penalizes falling off pace.
Choose PLU if you’re a Washington nurse who values faculty-arranged clinicals, heavy hands-on hours, and a small-cohort experience — and can commit to a weekly campus schedule. If cost or full flexibility is your priority, a fully online program will fit better.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice program and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at Pacific Lutheran University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The university states the PMHNP curriculum meets eligibility requirements for PMHNP national certification, and successful completion qualifies graduates to sit for the national certification exam and apply for Washington State APRN licensure.
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