List of TN Schools with PMHNP Programs
Austin Peay PMHNP Program
Clarksville | $500 cpc | MSN
Austin Peay State University (APSU) offers a 42-credit Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) concentration, preparing RNs to assess, diagnose, and prescribe for mental health needs across the lifespan. The program is primarily online, requiring only two on-campus intensives for hands-on skills and networking, and is known for its low in-state tuition estimated at under $21,000. The curriculum covers core advanced practice courses like Advanced Pathophysiology (NURS 5005) and Advanced Pharmacology (NURS 5006), followed by specialized psychiatric care and three practicum courses culminating in an Advanced Psychiatric Residency (NURS 5819) with 240 clinical hours. Admission requires a BSN with a 2.9 GPA, an unencumbered RN license, and successful completion of an undergraduate statistics course...read more.
East Tennessee State University PMHNP Programs
Johnson City | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN / DNP
East Tennessee State University's College of Nursing offers flexible online/blended Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs designed for working nurses, with a focus on lifespan mental health care. These CCNE-accredited tracks prepare graduates for national certification through rigorous coursework in psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and clinical practice, including 500–1,000 required clinical hours. Located in Johnson City, TN, the programs emphasize interprofessional collaboration and evidence-based care to address mental health needs across diverse populations...read more.
Middle Tennessee State University PMHNP Programs
Murfreesboro | $597 cpc | Certificate / MSN
The PMHNP options at Middle Tennessee State University include a 42-credit MSN track and a 20-credit post-master’s certificate, both designed for Tennessee residents. In-state tuition is $597 per credit, with the MSN program estimated at about $26,054 over 2–2.5 years and the certificate at about $11,940 over 1–1.5 years, plus program service fees. Each track includes 630 direct patient care clinical hours and prepares graduates for national PMHNP certification, supported by CCNE accreditation and a roughly 90% first-time certification pass rate for advanced practice nursing graduates...read more.
South College PMHNP Programs
Knoxville | $310 cpc | Certificate / MSN
For nurses in Tennessee, South College delivers online PMHNP programs paired with in-state clinical practicum experiences. The MSN and Post-Graduate Certificate options support career growth in psychiatric nursing with coursework focused on evidence-based treatment and advanced assessment. Graduates qualify to take the national PMHNP certification exam.
Tennessee Tech PMHNP Programs
Cookeville | $792 cpc | Certificate / BSN to DNP / MSN / DNP
Tennessee Tech and ETSU offer three PMHNP pathways: an MSN program, BSN-to-DNP and MSN-to-DNP options in a joint DNP program, and a post-graduate certificate. Tuition ranges from about $18,216 for the certificate to $67,120 for the BSN-to-DNP track, with program lengths spanning roughly 1–4 years depending on entry level and pathway. These options let nurses choose the level of graduate preparation they need while progressing from advanced theory and policy to focused psychiatric family practice and certification readiness...read more.
University of Tennessee PMHNP Programs
Knoxville | $989.12 cpc | Certificate / DNP
The university offers a three-year DNP-PMHNP program and a shorter 1.5-year Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate, both with clearly defined in-state and out-of-state tuition. The DNP program includes 69 credits, at least 840 direct patient care hours within the broader 1,000 DNP hours, synchronous online case discussions, and a structured scholarly project sequence. The PMHNP certificate builds on prior advanced practice preparation, uses a gap analysis to set required credits, and shares the same PMHNP specialty and clinical sequence, with both options accredited by CCNE and aligned with PMHNP certification eligibility...read more.
Vanderbilt University PMHNP Programs
Nashville | $2,057 cpc | Certificate / MSN / DNP
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing offers three nationally-ranked PMHNP tracks: MSN, BSN-to-DNP, and Post-Master's Certificate. All three programs utilize an online/hybrid model requiring 1-3 mandatory on-campus block sessions per semester and a minimum of 560 directly supervised clinical hours. The BSN-to-DNP pathway, which is ranked #1 nationally, is the longest and most comprehensive, estimated at $131,648 over 3 years, while the MSN takes just 16 months at approximately $94,622. All programs are accredited by the CCNE and prepare graduates for national PMHNP certification exams...read more.
WGU PMHNP Programs
online | flat rate cpc | Certificate / MSN
Western Governors University's Leavitt School of Health delivers fully online PMHNP programs through a competency-based education model where students progress by demonstrating mastery rather than accumulating credit hours. The BSN to MSN pathway costs around $36,000 and requires minimum 2.5 years with 650 direct patient care clinical hours completed in students' local communities. Each student receives a dedicated Program Mentor providing regular guidance from enrollment through graduation, with curriculum designed by practicing nurse practitioners and certified by ANCC.