Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $24,769 – $34,357 | 24–48 months |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP | $16,864 – $34,830 | ~12 months |
Graduate students completing FNP or PMHNP programs are eligible to sit for certification exams through AANP or ANCC, with pass rates available through the college.
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is between $24,769 – $34,357 ($799 CPC x 31-43 credit hours) and takes 24-48 months to complete depending on full-time or part-time enrollment.
MSN Curriculum
The MSN-PMHNP curriculum integrates theoretical and empirical knowledge from nursing and related disciplines with advanced practice psychiatric nursing competencies.
Coursework includes the following:
NURS 620 Advanced Pathophysiology (4)
Examines cellular to system-level pathophysiology and compensatory mechanisms to ground advanced assessment and clinical decisions. Emphasizes prevalent adult conditions, epidemiologic trends, and research-informed rationales for interventions.
NURS 621 Advanced Pharmacology (4)
Covers pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and therapeutic drug selection across the lifespan, linked to disease mechanisms. Prepares for safe prescriptive practice through assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based medication management.
NURS 622 Advanced Health Assessment (4)
Builds advanced interviewing and examination skills to deliver holistic, lifespan assessments that distinguish normal from abnormal findings. Lab/clinical practice strengthens culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate decision-making.
NURS 651 Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing (4)
Provides a neurobiologic, evidence-based approach to psychopharmacology for acute and chronic psychiatric disorders. Stresses prescribing roles, monitoring, and special considerations for children, older adults, and the reproductive lifespan.
NURS 653 Psychiatric–Mental Health NP Clinical Management I (5)
Develops foundational PMHNP skills—therapeutic alliance, screening, DSM-based diagnosis, and early intervention—within legal/regulatory frameworks. Uses research and epidemiology to guide assessment and crisis identification across the lifespan.
NURS 654 Psychiatric–Mental Health NP Clinical Management II (5)
Focuses on psychotherapeutic management, early diagnosis, and risk-oriented care using individual, group, and couples/family therapies. Applies evidence and population risk profiles to select and deliver therapies alongside psychopharmacology.
NURS 655 Psychiatric–Mental Health NP Clinical Management III (5)
Integrates full-spectrum PMHNP competencies—assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and medication management—for diverse populations. Emphasizes interprofessional collaboration, professional boundaries, and connecting patients to supportive resources.
NURS 643 Teaching in Nursing (4)
Introduces the nurse educator role with foundations in learning theory, role socialization, governance, curriculum, and instructional technology. Prepares nurses to design, deliver, and evaluate academic or staff-development learning.
NURS 644 Nursing Education Methods and Measurement (4)
Applies practical strategies for planning instruction, delivering courses (traditional and online), clinical teaching, and test construction. Centers on creating effective learning environments and assessing outcomes in nursing education.
NURS 645 Nursing Education Practicum (4)
Provides a supervised teaching and clinical practicum (minimum 120 hours, including ≥30 direct-care hours) to apply educator theories and methods. Culminates in a classroom/lab teaching presentation and an education-focused project.
More curriculum details available here.
MSN Clinicals
The MSN-PMHNP program requires clinical practicum experiences where students apply classroom theory to real-world psychiatric mental health settings.
Students work across the lifespan providing culturally-sensitive nursing care in various settings including:
- acute emergency psychiatric services
- community mental health centers
- office-based and private practice
- integrated psychiatric and primary care
- and acute and long-term care settings
Clinical experiences prepare graduates to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders and substance abuse problems through psychosocial assessments, therapy planning, and medication management.
MSN-PMHNP Program Requirements
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing from accredited institution
- Active unencumbered RN license
- Meeting general admission requirements for graduate studies at USF
- Review of admission requirements by program available on USF website
Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate PMHNP program ranges $16,864 – $34,830 and takes approximately 12 months to complete.
Estimate based on $544-$810 per credit hour for 31-43 credit hours.
Certificate Curriculum
The Post-Master’s Certificate requires 31-43 credit hours depending on prior coursework and individual needs. Advanced Practice Core courses (16 credits):
- NURS 620 Advanced Pathophysiology (4)
- NURS 621 Advanced Pharmacology (4)
- NURS 622 Advanced Health Assessment (4)
- NURS 651 Pharmacotherapeutics in Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nursing (4)
Practica Courses (15 credits):
- NURS 653 Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Clinical Management I (5)
- NURS 654 Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Clinical Management II (5)
- NURS 655 Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Clinical Management III (5)
Optional Support Courses (0-12 credits):
- NURS 643 Teaching in Nursing (4)
- NURS 644 Nursing Education Methods and Measurement (4)
- NURS 645 Nursing Education Practicum (4)
The certificate prepares nurses who already hold master’s degrees in nursing to provide effective care for patients with complex psychiatric and physical health needs.
Certificate Clinicals
The certificate includes three sequential clinical management practica courses totaling 15 credit hours where students apply advanced psychiatric nursing knowledge in supervised clinical settings.
Clinical experiences enable students to develop expertise in psychiatric mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning across diverse patient populations and healthcare environments.
Students gain practical experience managing complex psychiatric and physical health needs while integrating pharmacotherapeutics into advanced practice psychiatric nursing care.
Post-Master’s Certificate Requirements
- Master’s degree in nursing from accredited institution
- Active unencumbered RN license
- Meeting general admission requirements for post-master’s certificate programs
- Completion of gap analysis to determine required coursework based on prior graduate nursing education
Tuition
MSN graduate programs cost $799 per credit hour.
Post-Master’s Certificate programs range from $544-$810 per credit hour depending on specific program requirements.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The University of St. Francis holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org) and the Illinois Board of Higher Education (ibhe.org).
Leach College of Nursing programs maintain accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (aacnnursing.org/ccne-accreditation), first received in 2005 with subsequent reaccreditation in 2010.
More Illinois PMHNP Programs
Illinois PMHNP Program Comparison
- Illinois State University - Normal
- Loyola University - Maywood
- North Central College - Naperville
- Rosalind Franklin University - Chicago
- Rush University - Chicago
- University of Illinois Chicago - Chicago