Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| BSN to DNP PMHNP | $113,920 | 36 months |
| MSN to DNP PMHNP | $46,080 | 24 months |
| PMHNP Certificate | $43,520 | 20 months |
All programs prepare graduates for ANCC or AANPCB national certification and Pennsylvania CRNP licensure with prescriptive authority.
BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the BSN to DNP-PMHNP program is approximately $89,000 and takes 3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
BSN to DNP Curriculum
The BSN to DNP-PMHNP track requires 89 total credits combining core DNP coursework, nurse practitioner foundations, and psychiatric specialty content. The curriculum progresses through pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment before advancing to psychiatric-specific courses and clinical management.
Year 1 Courses:
- NUR 2004: Pathophysiology Across the Life Span
- NUR 2011: Applied Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 2010: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Culturally Diverse Populations
- NURNP 2026: Role Seminar 1
- NURSP 2075: Introduction to Health Informatics
- NUR 2000: Research for Evidence-Based Practice 1
- NUR 2034: Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- NUR 2682: Human Genetics and Clinical Applications
- NUR 3099: The Science of Health Care Delivery
- NURNP 2540: Pediatric Well Child Care Theory
- NUR 2031: The Diagnostic Physical Exam Across the Life Span
- NUR 3031: Methodologies for DNP Projects
- NURSP 2092: Leadership Development
Year 2 Courses:
- NUR 2032: Differential Diagnosis Clinical
- NUR 2033: Differential Diagnosis Theory Across the Life Span
- NURNP 2320: Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders
- NUR 3012: Public Policy in Health Care
- NURSP 2062: Organizational and Systems Management for Healthcare Leaders
- NURNP 2330: Psychiatric Diagnosis Theory
- NURNP 2331: Psychiatric Diagnosis Practicum
- NURSP 2099: Financial, Business, and Economics Drivers in Healthcare Management
- NURNP 2321: Health Topics Concerning Psychiatric Management
- NURNP 2325: Psychopharmacology
- NURCNS 2354: Individual Psychotherapy Theory
- NURCNS 2355: Individual Psychotherapy Practicum
- NURNP 2340: Management of Acute Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
- NURNP 2341: Management Practicum of Acute Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
Year 3 Courses:
- NUR 3013: Ethics in Healthcare
- NURSP 2388: Database Management
- NURNP 2345: Management of Chronic Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
- NURNP 2346: Management Practicum Chronic Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
- NURNP 2327: Principles of Substance Use Treatment
- NURNP 3038: DNP NP Role Practicum
- NUR 3037: DNP Project Clinical
- NUR 3032: Data Analysis for DNP Projects
- NURNP 2318: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Management
- NURCNS 2352: Family Theory/Therapy Techniques
- NURCNS 2353: Family Therapy Role Seminar and Clinical Practicum
- NURNP 2029: Role Seminar 2
- NUR 3052: Manuscript Development
More curriculum details are available here.
BSN to DNP Clinicals
Clinical hours are integrated throughout the curriculum with intensive psychiatric practicum experiences.
Students complete practica in psychiatric diagnosis, individual psychotherapy, acute and chronic psychiatric patient management, family therapy, and specialized populations.
The program includes multiple clinical management courses paired with theory components across diverse inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings.
BSN to DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Current RN license in US State/Territory or location where clinical requirements will be completed
- BSN degree with minimum 3.0 GPA from ACEN, NLN, or CCNE accredited program
- Statistics course with B- or better (or completion of nursing statistics modules)
- Pre-admission interview (virtual available for distance applicants)
- Three professional recommendation letters
- Personal essay addressing multiple elements evaluated by holistic admissions rubric
- Current CV or resume
- Completed applicant survey
- Non-refundable application fee
- Three components of DNP Comprehensive Exam required (DNP Scholarly Project, DNP Portfolio, Clinical Comprehensive Exam)
MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN to DNP-PMHNP program is $36,000-$45,000 and takes 2 years to complete on a full-time basis.
MSN to DNP Curriculum
The MSN to DNP track requires 36-45 total credits depending on prior coursework completed during the MSN program. The curriculum focuses on advanced practice leadership, healthcare systems, research methodologies, and DNP project development.
A gap analysis determines additional coursework requirements.
Year 1 Courses:
- NUR 2011: Applied Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice
- NUR 3099: The Science of Health Care Delivery
- NUR 3012: Public Policy in Health Care
- NUR 3013: Ethics in Healthcare
- NUR 2682: Human Genetics and Clinical Applications
- NUR 3031: Methodologies for DNP Projects
- NURSP 2099: Financial, Business, and Economics Drivers in Healthcare Management
- NURSP 2075: Introduction to Health Informatics
- NURSP 2092: Leadership Development
Year 2 Courses:
- NURSP 2388: Database Management
- NURSP 2062: Organizational and Systems Management for Healthcare Leaders
- Cognate (3 credits)
- NUR 3037: DNP Project Clinical
- NURNP 3038: DNP NP Role Practicum
- NUR 3052: Manuscript Development
- NUR 3032: Data Analysis for DNP Projects
More curriculum details are available here.
MSN to DNP Clinicals
Clinical requirements include DNP project clinical hours and DNP NP role practicum experiences focused on organizational leadership and advanced practice role development in psychiatric settings.
MSN to DNP Prerequisites & Admissions
- Current RN license in US State/Territory or location where clinical requirements will be completed
- MSN degree with minimum 3.0 GPA from accredited program or master’s in related field (must have BSN from ACEN, NLN, or CCNE accredited program)
- Statistics course with B- or better (or completion of nursing statistics modules)
- Pre-admission interview (virtual available for distance applicants)
- Three professional recommendation letters supporting ability to complete demanding graduate program
- Personal essay addressing specific questions about nursing career progression and DNP expectations
- Current CV or resume
- Non-refundable application fee
- Two components of DNP Comprehensive Exam required (DNP Scholarly Project and DNP Portfolio)
Post-Professional Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Professional Certificate program is approximately $34,000 and takes 12-24 months to complete depending on prior academic preparation.
Certificate Curriculum
The certificate program requires 34 total credits with 640 clinical hours. Designed for graduate-prepared Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Specialists seeking PMHNP certification, the curriculum covers foundational and advanced psychiatric care content for managing psychiatric disorders across the lifespan.
Certificate Courses:
- NURNP 2026: Role Seminar 1
- NURNP 2320: Neurobiology of Psychiatric Disorders
- NURNP 2540: Pediatric Well Child Care Theory
- NURNP 2330: Psychiatric Diagnosis Theory
- NURNP 2331: Psychiatric Diagnosis Practicum
- NURNP 2325: Psychopharmacology
- NURCNS 2354: Individual Psychotherapy Theory
- NURCNS 2355: Individual Psychotherapy Practicum
- NURNP 2340: Management of Acute Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
- NURNP 2341: Management Practicum of Acute Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
- NURNP 2345: Management of Chronic Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
- NURNP 2346: Management Practicum Chronic Health Problems of Psychiatric Patients
- NURNP 2327: Principles of Substance Use Treatment
- NURNP 2321: Health Topics Concerning Psychiatric Management
- NURCNS 2352: Family Theory/Therapy Techniques
- NURCNS 2353: Family Therapy Role Seminar and Clinical Practicum
- NURNP 2029: Role Seminar 2
- NURNP 2318: Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Management
More curriculum details are available here.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate requires 640 clinical hours providing comprehensive management to psychiatric clients across intensive and varied clinical settings. Clinical experiences include practica in psychiatric diagnosis, individual and family psychotherapy, and acute and chronic psychiatric patient management, culminating in synthesized psychiatric care delivery.
Certificate Prerequisites & Admissions
- Valid registered nurse license (Pennsylvania license required for all students)
- Previous MS or MSN as NP or CNS from accredited program (ACEN, NLN, or CCNE)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in MS or MSN degree
- Minimum one year nursing experience recommended
- Statistics course within 10 years with B- or higher
- Pre-admission interview
- Three letters of recommendation (director/faculty, recent employer, professional colleague)
- Rolling admissions with online application submission
- PMHNP Clinical Specialty Comprehensive Exam required for completion
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition rates vary by program level.
Specific per-credit rates are not published but total program costs range from approximately $34,000 for the certificate to $89,000 for the BSN to DNP track.
Additional fees include application fees, health insurance requirements, and clinical clearances.
See Application Deadlines and specific program pages for current tuition information.
Accreditation
The Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) from February 24, 2024 through December 31, 2034.
Related Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Pennsylvania
- Drexel University - Philadelphia
- Jefferson University - Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania State University - University Park
- University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
- University of Scranton - Scranton
- York College - York