| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $65,025 | ~2–3 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | $34,425 | ~12–18 months |
Program Tracks Overview
Regis provides extensive financial support through new scholarships for Fall 2025 nurse practitioner students, employer discounts up to 20% for healthcare partners, and transfer credit opportunities allowing up to 9 graduate credits to reduce time and tuition costs.
MSN – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is approximately $65,025 and takes 2-3 years to complete depending on course load and chosen schedule.
Curriculum
The 51-credit program combines 24 credits of core nurse practitioner requirements with 27 credits of specialized psychiatric mental health coursework.
Core curriculum includes:
NU 304 Health Assessment This foundational course develops comprehensive health assessment skills for clients across all ages and healthcare settings, integrating knowledge from prerequisite courses in psychology, sociology, anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and microbiology. Students master verbal and non-verbal communication techniques for health history collection, documentation skills, and essential physical examination techniques including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation while considering the impact of age, gender, culture, religion, socioeconomic factors, and lifestyle on health assessment.
NU 403 Evidence for Nursing Practice Students learn to translate current research evidence into clinical nursing practice through systematic identification of practice issues, critical appraisal and integration of evidence, and outcome evaluation. The course develops essential skills for understanding, evaluating, and applying research evidence to transform nursing practice, including comprehensive study of the research process, literature review development, and dissemination of research findings.
NU 404 Concepts and Challenges in Professional Practice This introductory course explores the evolving role of professional nurses within the dynamic healthcare system, empowering students to navigate contemporary challenges and opportunities. Students examine advances in nursing practice, technology integration, ethical and legal considerations, leadership concepts, interdisciplinary collaboration, systems thinking, and the growing importance of theory and research in advancing the profession and ensuring quality, safe patient care through portfolio development and collaborative learning activities.
NU 510 Community-Based Nursing Students explore the professional nurse’s role in primary healthcare delivery, implementing the nursing process and adaptation models to develop therapeutic interventions for individuals, families, and groups across diverse community settings. The course emphasizes community assessment, communication skills, critical thinking, teaching strategies, epidemiology, research utilization, and group processes while providing hands-on clinical practice experience in community health settings.
NU 601 Nursing Theory This course examines the historical development of nursing theory within the context of nursing science, exploring the relationship between theory, research, and evidence-based practice. Students analyze theoretical concepts, critique major nursing theories against their personal belief systems, and evaluate both early grand nursing theories and contemporary mid-range theories, with emphasis on understanding and applying nursing and borrowed theories to practice, research, leadership, and education.
NU 605 Concepts in Nurse Leadership Students focus on leadership role development in professional nursing using role theory to explore concepts of role mastery, congruence, and conflict within broader organizational contexts. The course emphasizes analysis of leadership theories and their practical application to individual nursing leadership practice.
NU 606 Advanced Pathophysiology This graduate-level course provides comprehensive study of pathological science, covering physiological causes and disease development, functional and secondary changes, disease progression, complications, and appropriate treatments across the lifespan. Students examine pathology at all levels from molecular to organ systems, emphasizing homeostasis and the disturbances that lead to disease conditions.
NU 629 Health Promotion – Disease Prevention Students address health promotion and disease prevention strategies across the lifespan, focusing on developing, evaluating, and educating populations about preventive healthcare behaviors. The course examines population-based care delivery, healthcare disparities, and the impact of social, cultural, ecological, and systemic factors on health outcomes, with emphasis on advanced practice nurses’ role in shaping community-based and population-focused care systems.
NU 631 The Scientific Inquiry for Evidence-Based Practice This course explores the conceptual, theoretical, and ethical foundations of nursing while focusing on the research process and evidence application to nursing practice. Students identify relevant practice problems and develop evidence-based practice proposals, with primary emphasis on understanding research methods as they relate to evidence-based practice in professional and advanced clinical nursing.
HP 609 Health Policy, Politics and Perspectives Students examine U.S. healthcare policy and political challenges related to healthcare delivery, cost, quality, and access through a seminar format that includes field experiences attending policy-related events and meetings. The course provides opportunities to observe the policy-making process and understand the roles of government and private stakeholders in healthcare financing and service delivery.
NU 641 Advanced Clinical Pharmacology This required course for nurse practitioner students addresses pharmacological interventions across disease categories, expanding the pharmacotherapeutic foundation necessary for clinical practice. The course prepares students for prescriber roles based on national guidelines and evidence-based practice principles.
NU 650 Advanced Health Assessment Designed specifically for nurse practitioner students, this course develops advanced assessment skills appropriate for all ages in primary care settings. Students apply critical thinking to analyze assessment data for differential diagnosis, determine needs for additional testing, laboratory work, and specialty referrals, while considering the effects of age, gender, culture, religion, socioeconomic status, lifestyle, and risk factors in developing therapeutic intervention baselines.
NU 668 Roles and Issues in APN This hybrid-format course focuses on the role and scope of advanced practice nursing, addressing professional licensure, credentialing, and prescriptive privilege requirements. Students examine legal and ethical standards of care, professional competencies for primary care practice entry, and current and projected trends affecting advanced practice nurses.
NU 646 Theory and Practice of Contemporary Psychotherapies Students explore theories and methods used by advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurses across treatment settings, studying various therapeutic models including their theoretical foundations, therapeutic actions, techniques, therapist-patient relationships, and applications to different diagnostic populations and family systems. The course emphasizes evidence-based practice and treatment guidelines utilizing diverse theoretical and conceptual models for conducting psychotherapy and supporting recovery through practicum placements, seminars, and classroom applications.
NU 643 Advanced Psychopharmacology This course develops knowledge and skills for safe and effective psychiatric medication use across the lifespan, integrating previous learning in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment with psychiatric mental health curriculum. Students learn psychopharmacological interventions for various psychiatric conditions, expanding their psychopharmacotherapeutic foundation to prepare for prescriber roles based on national guidelines and evidence-based practice.
NU 664C Clinical Concentration Course – Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client I Students develop assessment and diagnostic skills for psychiatric mental health problems across the lifespan, integrating knowledge from pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment courses. Psychiatric nurse practitioner students utilize diverse theoretical sources including neurophysiology, neuropsychology, family systems, and biopsychosocial approaches to develop practical clinical skills.
NU 664C-X Clinical Concentration Seminar – Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client I (300 Clinical Hours) This seminar applies classroom learning about special populations including the elderly and chronically mentally ill through 300 hours of supervised clinical preceptorship experiences, emphasizing practical application of theoretical knowledge in real-world clinical settings.
NU 665C Clinical Concentration Course – Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client II Students continue developing advanced assessment and diagnostic skills for adult mental health problems with in-depth study of geriatric mental health issues including mood disorders, dementia, and delirium, preparing them to work effectively with complex populations upon graduation.
NU 665C-X Clinical Concentration Seminar – Primary Care of the Psychiatric Mental Health Client II (300 Clinical Hours) This seminar provides 300 hours of supervised clinical preceptorship experiences where students apply classroom learning from NU 665C in practical clinical settings, further developing their expertise in psychiatric mental health care delivery.
More information about the curriculum here:
The curriculum meets American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) criteria for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification and emphasizes medication management alongside nursing discipline principles.
Clinicals
Students complete 800 clinical hours distributed across three clinical courses:
- Primary Care of Psychiatric Mental Health I (300 hours)
- Primary Care of Psychiatric Mental Health II (300 hours)
- Clinical Immersion (200 hours)
The 800-hour requirement exceeds national standards to provide extensive hands-on experience in real clinical settings, helping students build essential competencies and develop confidence in managing complex psychiatric care scenarios.
Clinical placements are managed by a dedicated clinical placement team, exposing students to diverse patient populations and healthcare settings including
- hospitals
- community health centers
- mental health facilities
- psychiatric care environments
Recent placements include prestigious institutions such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and other leading healthcare facilities.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from accredited institution
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Completed prerequisite statistics course
- Unencumbered registered nurse license history required
- Completed application via online portal with official transcripts from all attended institutions
- Current resume demonstrating nursing experience
- Statement of purpose addressing career goals and program interest
- Two letters of recommendation from professional sources
- Required interview with admissions committee
- Applications must be completed no later than two weeks prior to term start date
- GRE not required for admission
- Transfer up to 9 graduate credits (equivalent to 3 courses)
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate program is approximately $34,425 and takes 12-18 months to complete depending on prerequisite completion and course scheduling.
Curriculum
The 27-credit certificate program focuses exclusively on psychiatric mental health specialization for nurses who already hold master’s degrees in nursing.
Coursework includes:
- advanced psychopharmacology (prerequisite to primary care courses)
- theory and practice of contemporary psychotherapies (taken concurrently with first primary care course)
- Primary Care of Psychiatric Mental Health I and II (each including 300 clinical hours)
- role and issues in advanced practice nursing
- clinical immersion (200 clinical hours)
The curriculum builds upon existing graduate nursing foundation while providing comprehensive psychiatric mental health training meeting ANCC certification criteria. Students must demonstrate competency in medication management, psychotherapy principles, and holistic patient care approaches.
Clinicals
Certificate students complete the same 800 clinical hours as MSN students through identical clinical course sequence. The clinical immersion component serves as a capstone experience integrating all learned competencies in real-world psychiatric practice settings.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from accredited institution
- Current unencumbered registered nurse license
- Completion of advanced practice foundational courses (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment)
- Official transcripts from all graduate institutions attended
- Professional resume demonstrating relevant nursing experience
- Personal statement addressing goals for psychiatric mental health specialization
- Professional references attesting to readiness for advanced practice
- Interview requirement may apply based on admissions committee discretion
- Must meet same application deadline requirements as MSN program
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $1,275 per credit hour. Additional fees apply but are not included in published tuition rates.
Employer discounts provide 20% tuition reduction for hybrid tracks or 10% for fully online tracks for employees of Regis healthcare partners (over 70 partner organizations available).
Accreditation
The Richard and Sheila Young School of Nursing maintains full accreditation through recognized nursing education accrediting bodies. The PMHNP curriculum meets American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) criteria for certification eligibility.
Regis College’s graduate nursing program is ranked among the top 75 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program receives separate national recognition for academic excellence and advanced clinical training.
Other Nursing Programs
Regis College offers comprehensive nursing education pathways:
Nurse Practitioner Tracks:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Leadership Tracks:
- Health Administration
- Health Informatics
- Health Policy
- Clinical Nurse Leader
Doctoral Programs:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN to DNP)
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-MS to DNP)
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Accelerated BSN programs (16-month and 24-month options)
- RN to BSN degree completion
Specialized Programs:
- RN to BSN to MSN Upward Mobility Track
- Accelerated Direct-Entry MSN
- Post-Master’s Certificates in various specialties