Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $23K–$30K (online) | 2–3 years |
| Post-Master’s Certificate – PMHNP | $10K–$25K (gap analysis dependent) | 1–2 years |
The programs utilize the state-of-the-art Smart Hospital simulation center with 360-degree immersive environments, advanced patient simulators, and real hospital equipment including Pyxis medication stations and Alaris IV pumps.
Master of Science in Nursing – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the MSN PMHNP program is approximately $30,100-$33,550 for Texas residents (campus-based) or $22,725-$30,080 (online) and takes 2-3 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 46-credit hour program combines 9 credits of MSN core courses with 34 credits of specialized PMHNP coursework and 3 credits of functional role preparation.
Core courses are as follows:
NURS 5327 EXPLORATION OF SCIENCE AND THEORIES FOR NURSING
Critically examines philosophical and theoretical foundations of nursing science to inform advanced practice, research, and leadership decisions in complex care settings.
NURS 5366 PRINCIPLES OF RESEARCH IN NURSING
Integrates theoretical and empirical research principles to design, critique, and apply studies that generate evidence for nursing practice and improved patient outcomes.
NURS 5367 EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE
Prepares students to lead EBP initiatives—appraising evidence, planning change, evaluating outcomes, and disseminating results—to sustain practice improvements across systems.
NURS 5315 ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Builds advanced, lifespan understanding of normal and altered physiology, linking cellular mechanisms to clinical presentation to guide differential diagnosis and management.
NURS 5334 ADVANCED PHARMACOLOGY FOR NURSE PRACTITIONERS
Covers pharmacokinetics, dynamics, and therapeutics of major drug classes with emphasis on safe prescribing, monitoring, patient education, and cost‐effective NP practice.
NURS 5220 ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC REASONING
Applies comprehensive, lifespan assessment frameworks to develop diagnostic reasoning, synthesize findings, and initiate evidence‐based plans of care.
NURS 5120 ADULT-GERONTOLOGY ASSESSMENT LAB
Provides hands-on practice performing complete and focused assessments for adult and older adult patients, translating findings into accurate documentation and referrals.
NURS 5130 PEDIATRIC ASSESSMENT LAB
Develops practical skills in pediatric history taking and physical exam, emphasizing developmental norms, family context, and recognition of red flags in children.
NURS 5410 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PMHNP
Establishes neuroscientific foundations of psychiatric disorders across the lifespan, connecting neurobiology, genetics, and epigenetics to symptom expression and care.
NURS 5140 PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT LAB FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
Builds PMHNP assessment skills with pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, emphasizing mental status exams, risk assessment, and culturally responsive interviewing.
NURS 5112 THERAPY CONCEPTS FOR PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONERS
Introduces evidence-based psychotherapies for individuals, families, and groups, focusing on modality selection, treatment planning, and outcomes across the lifespan.
NURS 5213 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FOR THE PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSE PRACTITIONER
Provides advanced psychopharmacologic management of common and complex mental health conditions, including mechanisms, dosing, monitoring, and safety considerations.
NURS 5222 CHILD, ADOLESCENT, AND SPECIAL POPULATIONS PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PMHNP
Covers assessment and management of pediatric and special populations, integrating comorbid medical issues, developmental factors, and evidence-based interventions.
NURS 5223 ADULT AND GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE PMHNP
Focuses on adult/older adult psychiatric care, addressing complex presentations, medical comorbidity, and guideline-driven treatments across settings.
NURS 5324 PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL CLINICAL PRACTICE I
Applies foundational PMHNP knowledge in supervised clinical care for commonly occurring disorders across the lifespan, emphasizing safe, patient-centered management.
NURS 5325 PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL PRACTICE II
Advances clinical proficiency with complex psychiatric conditions, refining diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic planning, and interprofessional collaboration.
NURS 5650 PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NP ADVANCED PRACTICUM
Capstone preceptorship offering intensive, progressive PMHNP practice (1:4 credit-to-hours) across diverse sites, consolidating autonomy, leadership, and clinical decision-making.
NURS 5350 ROLE OF THE NURSE IN ADVANCED PRACTICE
Explores and applies the multifaceted APRN role—clinician, leader, advocate, and change agent—within healthcare systems, policy environments, and collaborative teams.
More curriculum information here: https://catalog.uta.edu/nursing/graduate/np-mental-health-msn/#requirementstext
Clinicals
Students complete 720 clinical hours through three progressive clinical experiences:
- Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Practice I (3 credits)
- Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Practice II (3 credits)
- Psychiatric Mental Health NP Advanced Practicum (6 credits with 1:4 credit-to-clinical hour ratio)
Clinical placement operates as a collaborative process with student assistance in locating aligned preceptors, while the Department of Graduate Nursing provides support when students experience difficulty.
All clinical experiences require active, hands-on practice guided by licensed preceptors with psychiatric mental health expertise. Students must maintain unencumbered RN licensure and complete clinical clearance requirements including background checks and drug screens.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from ACEN or CCNE accredited program
- Minimum 3.0 GPA on last 60 hours of bachelor’s degree (2.8-2.99 for probationary admission with GRE scores)
- Two years of clinical RN experience (international students require US healthcare system experience)
- Undergraduate statistics course with grade C or better
- Current CPR certification
- Unencumbered RN license verification through NURSYS database
- University application through ApplyUTA with official transcripts
- Program-specific requirements may include letters of recommendation and personal statements
- Employment recommendation: maximum 16-20 hours per week during enrollment
Post-Master’s Certificate – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The estimated cost for the Post-Master’s Certificate program ranges from $10,000-$25,000 depending on gap analysis results and takes 1-2 years to complete.
Curriculum
Course requirements are individually determined through gap analysis of the applicant’s MSN transcript and clinical experience. The program director conducts comprehensive review of previous coursework to identify missing components required for PMHNP certification eligibility.
Students may need to complete foundational advanced practice courses (pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment) if not previously completed or if currency requirements are not met.
The curriculum focuses on PMHNP-specific content including psychiatric assessment, psychopharmacology, therapy concepts, and specialized population courses depending on gaps identified during transcript evaluation.
Clinicals
Clinical hour requirements are determined based on gap analysis and previous clinical experience. Students complete supervised clinical rotations in psychiatric mental health settings to meet certification requirements.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing from NLNAC or CCNE accredited program
- Unencumbered RN license
- Current clinical experience as registered nurse
- University application with official transcripts for gap analysis
- Resume/curriculum vitae demonstrating relevant experience
- Clinical clearance requirements including background check and drug screen
- Program-specific requirements determined during application review process
Tuition
Graduate tuition varies by program and residency status. Campus-based programs charge approximately $576 per credit hour for residents ($3,456 per 6-credit semester) plus $75 per credit hour Smart Hospital/Smart Lab usage fee.
Accelerated online programs range from $494.44-$654 per credit hour. Additional costs include third-party vendor fees ($80 criminal background check and drug screen, $60 BLS certification, $133 EXXAT clinical management system fee).
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The College of Nursing and Health Innovation graduate programs are accredited by appropriate nursing accreditation bodies. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) board certification examination with recognition by the Texas Board of Nursing as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC).
The programs prepare graduates to function across diverse psychiatric settings including inpatient institutions, community facilities, and forensic environments.
Other Nursing Programs
UTA’s College of Nursing and Health Innovation offers comprehensive nursing education pathways:
Graduate Programs:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Master of Science in Nursing – Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Post-Master’s Certificates:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Additional Programs:
- Ph.D. in Kinesiology
- Public Health programs
- Athletic Training programs
More PMNHP Programs
- Baylor University - Waco
- Midwestern State University - Wichita Falls
- Texas A&M - Texarkana
- Texas Christian University - Fort Worth
- Texas State University - Round Rock
- Texas Tech University - Lubbock
- Texas Woman's University - Denton
- UT Health Houston - Houston
- UT Health San Antonio - San Antonio
- University of Texas at El Paso - El Paso
- UTTyler - Tyler