Program Tracks Overview
| Program Track | Cost (In-State) | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MS: PMHNP | $168,082 | 2.5-5 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate: PMHNP | ~$36,720 total | 1.5-2 years |
The College of Nursing provides comprehensive graduate education preparing PMHNPs to deliver psychiatric mental health care to individuals and families across the lifespan in various healthcare settings.
Master of Science: PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MS PMHNP program is $86,323 (in-state) or $168,082 (out-of-state) for the full program and would take 2.5 to 5 years to complete depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.
MSN Curriculum
The MS program requires 47 credits divided into four distinct course groups.
- Core nursing theory courses cover theoretical foundations of advanced practice nursing, translating research to practice, social determinants of health, and graduate seminar.
- Foundational science courses include the 3 Ps: advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment/health assessment.
- Interdisciplinary courses encompass epidemiology and health policy.
- Advanced practice didactic and practicum courses focus on psychiatric mental health specialty competencies.
Core Courses (23 credits):
NUR 535 – Advanced Pathophysiology (3 cr)
In-depth mechanisms of disease across the lifespan, linking biologic processes and current research to clinical decision-making.
NUR 582 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics (3 cr)
Integrates pharmacology with pathophysiology and case management to guide safe prescribing for primary care patients of all ages.
NUR 530 – Advanced Health Assessment Across the Lifespan (4 cr)
Builds comprehensive history-taking and head-to-toe exam skills with lab practice to perform and document complete assessments for all age groups.
NUR 507 – Theoretical Basis of Advanced Nursing Practice (3 cr)
Examines nursing and decision-making theories to support advanced clinical judgment, knowledge use, and influence on practice.
NUR 517 – Health Care Policy (3 cr)
Analyzes policy frameworks, economics, ethics, and politics shaping health policy in the U.S. and abroad across the lifespan.
NUR 521 – Evidence-Based Strategies to Improve Health (3 cr)
Explores how individual behavior and multi-level social, family, community, and macro-system factors interact to affect health.
NUR 505 – Translating Research Evidence Into Practice (3 cr)
Covers qualitative and quantitative methods and how APRNs appraise, translate, and apply evidence to improve outcomes.
NUR 520 – Graduate Study Seminar (1 cr)
Orientation and skill-building seminar that supports graduate study habits, scholarly engagement, and program success.
PMHNP Specialty Courses (24 credits)
NUR 502 – Psychiatric Assessment & Differential Diagnosis (3 cr)
Develops advanced psychiatric interviewing, mental status exams, and differential diagnosis across the lifespan.
NUR 518 – PMHNP: Neuro-psychopharmacology (3 cr)
Integrates neurobiology with psychopharmacology to select, monitor, and adjust psychotropic therapy for diverse patients.
NUR 513 – PMHNP: Integrated Treatment for Adults/Older Adults (3 cr)
Applies evidence-based psychotherapy models to adult and geriatric mental health care, integrating modalities with diagnosis and meds.
NUR 514 – PMHNP: Practicum I (4 cr)
Supervised clinical experience applying assessment, diagnosis, and integrated treatment principles with adult populations.
NUR 545 – PMHNP: Integrated Treatment for Children, Adolescents, & Families (3 cr)
Uses evidence-based psychotherapy approaches tailored to youth and family systems, aligned with developmental needs.
NUR 546 – PMHNP: Practicum II (4 cr)
Clinical immersion implementing pediatric and family-focused assessments and therapies under PMHNP preceptorship.
NUR 547 – PMHNP: Practicum III (4 cr)
Capstone practicum refining comprehensive PMHNP skills across settings, emphasizing independent clinical decision-making.
MSN Clinicals
The program requires completion of over 750 clinical practicum hours with actual numbers depending on specialty concentration and student competence demonstration. Clinical practice occurs in hospital clinics, community health centers, health maintenance organizations, and private offices in urban and rural settings.
One-to-one preceptorship is provided by psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.
Students manage patient caseloads with increasing independence as they progress.
Practicum experiences are planned considering student interests, learning needs, employment plans, and PMHNP competencies. All clinical practica are completed under direct supervision of a nurse practitioner or physician with graduate faculty oversight.
MSN Admissions Requirements
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from program accredited by American Association of Colleges of Nursing or National League for Nursing
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 required (GPA > 3.3 preferred)
- Eligibility for RN licensure in Rhode Island
- Goals statement reflecting graduate-level writing ability and clear goals for pursuing advanced study in nursing aligned with specialty
- Clinical nursing experience preferred prior to enrollment
- Basic statistics course completed
- Three letters of recommendation (academic and professional) attesting to graduate study ability, one from master’s-prepared nurse
- Curriculum vita or resume
- 1 to 2-page goal statement including reasons for pursuing advanced study and planned progression (part-time or full-time)
- TOEFL required for international applicants where English is not primary language of country of origin
- Nursing license history verified for all NP graduate students
- COVID-19 vaccination required (religious exemptions not accepted by clinical partners per RIDOH regulation)
- Criminal background checks required by clinical agency partners
- Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (unofficial accepted initially, official required upon admission)
Post-Master’s Certificate: PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate PMHNP program is $36,733 (in-state) or $71,524 (out-of-state) for the full program and would take 1.5 to 2 years to complete.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires minimum 19-20 credits for nurses with master’s degree in nursing seeking advanced preparation in psychiatric mental health specialty.
The program culminates with written comprehensive examination and submission of major paper extending work from prior coursework.
Required Courses:
- NUR 502: Psychiatric Assessment & Differential Diagnosis (3 credits)
- NUR 513: PMHNP: Integrated Treatment for Adults/Older Adults (3 credits)
- NUR 514: PMHNP: Practicum I (4 credits)
- NUR 518: PMHNP: Neuro-psychopharmacology (3 credits)
- NUR 545: PMHNP: Integrated Treatment for Children, Adolescents, & Families (3 credits)
- NUR 546: PMHNP: Practicum II (4 credits)
Prerequisite Courses:
- NUR 521: Evidence-Based Strategies to Improve Health (may be waived for current nurse practitioners)
- NUR 530: Advanced (Physical) Health Assessment Skills
- NUR 535: Advanced Pathophysiology
- NUR 582: Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
- Comparable courses from other institutions may satisfy requirements
Certificate Clinicals
Certificate students complete clinical practicum hours in variety of settings including hospital clinics, community health centers, health maintenance organizations, and private offices.
One-to-one preceptorship provided by psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists. Students develop competency in managing patient caseloads with increasing independence.
Certificate Admissions Requirements
- Master’s degree in nursing
- Completion of prerequisite courses (NUR 521, 530, 535, 582) within past several years or comparable courses
- Baccalaureate degree in nursing from accredited program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 required (GPA > 3.3 preferred)
- Eligibility for RN licensure in Rhode Island
- Goals statement reflecting graduate-level writing ability
- Clinical nursing experience preferred
- Three letters of recommendation
- Curriculum vita or resume
- Goal statement outlining reasons for pursuing certificate
- COVID-19 vaccination required
- Criminal background check required
- Transportation necessary to reach various clinical practice locations
Tuition
In-state graduate tuition: $1,836 per credit (based on $16,530 for 9 credits)
Out-of-state graduate tuition: $3,576 per credit (based on $32,186 for 9 credits)
Regional graduate tuition: $2,755 per credit (based on $24,796 for 9 credits)
Required fees: $2,076 annually (includes $60 registration, $646 health services, $360 technology, $1,010 student services)
Optional accident/sickness insurance: $3,512 annually (mandatory for full-time students unless waived)
Variety of traineeships, graduate assistantships, and loans available to help finance graduate education.
See the official tuition page for more details
Accreditation
Upon completion of either the master’s program or post-master’s certificate option, students are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) certification examination. The College of Nursing prepares outstanding and compassionate nurse practitioners meeting national certification standards.
Other Nursing Programs
- Master of Science: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
- Master of Science: Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Master’s Certificate: Family Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing
- Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (Post-M.S. to DNP)
- Bachelor of Science (RN to BS) Online
- Traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Related PMHNP Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Rhode Island
- Salve Regina University - Providence