Touro University PMHNP Programs

School of Nursing Vallejo, CA

Touro University California offers 1 Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track: Post Master’s PMHNP Certificate. The program features a hybrid format (90% online, 10% on-campus intensives) with robust clinical training across diverse settings including inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and specialty care.

The certificate program is guided by National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Competencies and prepares graduates to practice with all populations and ages.

Program Track Overview

Post Master’s PMHNP Certificate

The estimated cost for the Post Master’s PMHNP Certificate is $40,420-$41,420 (including optional elective) and takes 20-22 months (5 semesters) to complete on a full-time basis.

Curriculum

The curriculum totals 37-38 credits (28-29 credits for students with transfer credits from the 3 APRN core courses).

Students who have completed Advanced Pathophysiology, Advanced Assessment, and Advanced Pharmacology within 5 years receive 9 transfer credits.

Semester 1 (if prerequisites needed)

NRSC 604 – Advanced Physical Assessment
Builds advanced health assessment skills for clients across the lifespan in the APRN role. Emphasizes collecting and analyzing subjective and objective data to complete a thorough, holistic assessment.

NRSC 608 – Advanced Pathophysiology
Deepens understanding of how cellular and system-level changes lead to disease. Highlights how stressors and aging affect major body systems and influence clinical presentations.

NRSC 607 – Advanced Pharmacology
Prepares advanced practice nurses to manage drug therapy safely across the lifespan. Covers pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, indications, dosing, adverse effects, cost, and key teaching points for major drug classes.

Semester 2

NURS 720 – Applied Psychopharmacology
Examines psychotropic medication use in treating psychiatric disorders. Focuses on mechanisms of action, side effects, monitoring, and evidence-based prescribing within ethical and legal guidelines.

NRSC 721 – Psychotherapeutic Principles
Introduces the PMHNP role with emphasis on health promotion, prevention, and holistic care. Reviews DSM-5-TR for assessment and diagnosis and connects major theoretical models to psychotherapy choices.

NRSC 722 – Applied Psychotherapy
Provides 150 supervised clinical hours using psychotherapeutic approaches with clients across the lifespan. Students practice delivering therapy under preceptor guidance while refining core counseling and relationship-building skills.

Semester 3

NRSC 723 – PMHNP I: Management of Acute and Common Behavioral Health Disorders Across the Lifespan
Covers assessment and treatment of common psychiatric conditions in children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Emphasizes DSM-5-TR–based differential diagnosis, use of screening tools and labs, and evidence-based psychotherapy and medication strategies with strong attention to collaboration and cultural competence.

NRSC 724 – PMHNP I Clinical Practice
Offers 150 clinical hours managing acute and common psychiatric disorders under preceptor supervision. Students advance skills in assessment, diagnosis, planning, and evaluation while seminar discussions address advanced practice roles and patient advocacy.

Semester 4

NRSC 725 – Management of Chronic Behavioral Health Disorders Across the Lifespan
Focuses on long-term management of chronic mental health conditions across all age groups. Reinforces DSM-5-TR–based diagnostic reasoning and highlights evidence-based psychotherapies and pharmacologic treatments, with ongoing emphasis on collaboration and culturally responsive care.

NRSC 726 – PMHNP II Clinical Practice
Provides 225 clinical hours caring for clients with chronic psychiatric conditions. Students assume greater responsibility for comprehensive care while refining core advanced practice skills and exploring system-level issues and advocacy in seminar sessions.

NRSC 730 – Telemedicine Applied Lab
Trains students to deliver psychiatric care via telehealth using simulations and structured practice. Covers virtual communication, assessment techniques, evidence-based interventions, and key legal and ethical requirements such as HIPAA and informed consent.

Semester 5

NRSC 727 – Management of Special Populations (Maternal, Substance Use, Elderly, Complex)
Examines psychiatric care for perinatal clients, people with substance use disorders, older adults, and patients with complex conditions. Uses DSM-5-TR to guide assessment and treatment and addresses psychiatric emergencies, safety, and harm reduction.

NRSC 728 – PMHNP III Clinical Practice
Offers 225 clinical hours focused on special populations across the lifespan. Students expand specialty skills and prepare for independent practice and leadership, supported by seminars on professional roles, system challenges, and patient advocacy.

NRSC 729 – Clinical Practice Elective (50 Hours)
Provides an optional 50-hour clinical immersion in high-need settings such as street medicine, pain and addiction medicine, inpatient, or emergency care. Strengthens advanced assessment and management skills for vulnerable groups as students further prepare for the PMHNP role.

More curriculum details are available here.

Clinicals

Students complete 750 total clinical hours across diverse behavioral health settings. Clinical rotations include inpatient psychiatry, outpatient clinics, public health, community settings, rehabilitation centers, emergency departments, street medicine, pain management, and addiction medicine.

Students gain exposure to patients across the lifespan (children, adults, and geriatric populations) and participate in interprofessional experiences alongside Medical, Pharmacy, PA, and Public Health students.

Prerequisites & Admissions

  • Graduate degree in nursing required
  • Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits) – must be completed within 5 years
  • Advanced Physical Assessment (3 credits) – must be completed within 5 years
  • Advanced Pharmacology (3 credits) – must be completed within 5 years
  • Program starts available in Fall or Spring
  • Must maintain minimum 80% score in theory courses and passing grade in clinical courses

Tuition

The PMHNP program costs $1,090 per credit hour. Additional fees include a Clinical Training Fee of $775 per term, Technology Fee of $85 per trimester, and annual Student Fee of $345.

See the official tuition page for more details.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing.

Graduates are eligible to apply for California State Certification as a Nurse Practitioner with Furnishing (prescribing) privileges and qualify to sit for national board certification through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Other Nursing Programs

  • MSN (Master of Science in Nursing)
  • FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner)

Related PMNHP Programs

View all PMHNP programs in California