| Program | Est. Cost * | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $27,049 | ~2.5 years (7 semesters) |
| Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP | $22,099 | ~1.5–2 years |
The MSN-PMHNP program requires 49 credit hours completed over 7 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer) with 675 total clinical hours including 630 specialty clinical hours. The program features innovative simulation lab experiences, courses delivered in seven-week formats for working professionals, and two admission cycles annually (Fall and Spring).
UTEP graduates consistently surpass local and national NCLEX pass rates, with over 60% of El Paso nurses being UTEP graduates, demonstrating nearly 50 years of excellence in preparing healthcare professionals.
Program Tracks Overview
Master of Science in Nursing – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN-PMHNP program is approximately $27,049 for Texas residents ($38,318 for non-residents) and takes 2.5 years to complete on a full-time basis across 7 semesters.
Curriculum
The 49-credit program combines core graduate nursing courses with specialized PMHNP clinical courses.
Core courses include:
NURS 5310 Nursing Theory
Introduces scientific inquiry in nursing and examines major theories as the foundation for advanced practice and research, linking conceptual models to clinical decision-making.
NURS 5319 Advanced Pathophysiology
Analyzes mechanisms and manifestations of altered physiology across the lifespan, building on prior science to support advanced assessment, diagnosis, and management.
NURS 5362 Pharmacotherapeutics
Covers advanced pharmacokinetics/dynamics and evidence-based drug therapy for common conditions, preparing clinicians to select, monitor, and evaluate medication regimens.
NURS 5370 Research Appraisal & Application
Develops skills to search, critique, and synthesize interdisciplinary evidence, translating findings into solutions for targeted practice problems and quality outcomes.
NURS 5121 Advanced Health Assessment Practicum
Refines comprehensive assessment through supervised clinical hours, integrating physical, developmental, mental, cultural, and family evaluations across the lifespan.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment
Expands history-taking, focused and head-to-toe exams, and diagnostic selection to generate differential diagnoses and document findings for patients of all ages.
NURS 5338 Health Policy and Advocacy
Analyzes health system structures, policy formation, and social determinants, preparing nurses to advocate for equitable population health and practice environments.
NURS 5122 Advanced Clinical Psychopharmacology
Builds competence in prescribing and monitoring psychotropics across the lifespan, emphasizing safety, efficacy, and ongoing evaluation of treatment response.
NURS 5219 Neuro Across the Lifespan
Explores neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, genetics, and epigenetics underlying psychiatric disorders, linking brain-based mechanisms to presentation across age groups.
NURS 5232 Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan
Teaches systematic psychiatric assessment and DSM-based differential diagnosis using interviews, screening tools, mental status exams, and relevant diagnostics.
NURS 5233 Theoretical Foundations of PMH Nursing with Individuals
Applies psychotherapy theories and evidence-based interventions to individual care, clarifying PMHNP scope and competencies for conducting individual therapy.
NURS 5128 Telehealth Rural Service Delivery for PMH NP
Prepares PMHNPs to deliver comprehensive mental health care via telehealth in rural settings, addressing access, technology, workflow, and regulatory considerations.
NURS 5234 Theoretical Foundations of PMH Nursing with Groups and Families
Examines models of family and group therapy, developing skills to plan, lead, and evaluate therapeutic processes across diverse populations.
NURS 5235 Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health for PMH NP
Integrates developmentally informed assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric psychiatric disorders within family and school contexts using evidence-based care.
NURS 5238 Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum
Provides 90 supervised clinical hours applying pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions for youth, emphasizing family engagement and community resources.
NURS 5123 Diagnosis & Management of Substance Use Disorders
Covers prevention, screening, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of SUDs across the lifespan, including co-occurring conditions and harm-reduction strategies.
NURS 5239 Adult & Older Adult Psychiatric Mental Health for PMH NP
Applies advanced PMH frameworks to adults and older adults, integrating medical comorbidities into assessment, diagnosis, and multimodal treatment planning.
NURS 5330 Adult & Older Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum I
Offers 135 supervised hours managing major mental illnesses in adults/older adults, emphasizing evidence-based interventions and interprofessional collaboration.
NURS 5333 Adult & Older Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum II
Adds 135 hours advancing care for special populations and complex comorbidities, strengthening integrative, person-centered management and continuity of care.
NURS 5254 Advanced Practice Nursing Role
Explores evolving CNS and NP roles, ethics, and legal standards while cultivating leadership, collaboration, and systems thinking for advanced clinical practice.
NURS 5344 Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum I
Extends adult/geriatric practice with 135 hours focused on complex cases and integrative care, refining diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
NURS 5346 Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum II
Culminating 135-hour synthesis practicum implementing the full PMHNP role across the lifespan, emphasizing prevention, intervention, and team-based care.
More curriculum details can be found in the course catalog here.
Clinicals
Students complete 675 total clinical hours including 45 hours in advanced health assessment and 630 specialty clinical hours across diverse psychiatric mental health settings.
Clinical experiences span:
- child and adolescent populations (90 hours)
- adult and older adult populations (270 hours in practicums I & II)
- and advanced practice experiences (270 hours in advanced practicums I & II)
Students work under preceptor supervision providing bio-psychosocial model care in community settings, acute care facilities, and telemental-health environments. Clinical placements include:
- assessment
- diagnosis
- treatment planning
- medication prescribing
- psychotherapeutic interventions across the lifespan
Students may be required to travel up to 200 miles to fulfill appropriate clinical requirements due to limited clinical site availability. Mandatory on-campus attendance occurs maximum three times per semester during specialty courses for formative evaluations using innovative simulation lab experiences.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Current valid, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license from state of current practice
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from accredited U.S. institution with minimum 3.0 GPA
- Current direct patient care experience required
- One to two years nursing experience (psychiatric nursing experience preferred but not required)
- Complete Graduate School application at UTEP
- Statement of Nursing Professional Purpose (500 words or less, specific format required)
- Current resume identifying appropriate graduate education objectives
- Official transcripts from all institutions (uploaded unofficial pending official)
- Personal interview with NP concentration program coordinator (by invitation only for qualified applicants)
- International applicants must provide satisfactory TOEFL scores
- Two admission cycles: Spring 2026 (November 14, 2025 deadline), Fall 2026 (July 10, 2026 deadline)
- GRE scores and letters of recommendation not required
- Mandatory two-day on-campus new student orientation
Post-Graduate Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Post-Graduate PMHNP Certificate is approximately $22,099 for Texas residents ($31,311 for non-residents) and takes 1.5-2 years to complete depending on APRN status.
Curriculum
The 40-credit certificate program serves two distinct populations with different pathways. Advanced Practice Core Courses (11 credits) include:
- Advanced Health Assessment with Practicum (3 credits, 45 clinical hours)
- Advanced Practice Nursing Role (2 credits)
- Advanced Pathophysiology (3 credits)
- Pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
Psychiatric Mental Health Concentration courses (29 credits) feature:
- Advanced Clinical Psychopharmacology (1 credit)
- Diagnosis & Management of Substance Use Disorders (1 credit)
- Telehealth Rural Service Delivery for PMH (1 credit)
- Neuroscience Across the Lifespan (2 credits)
- Differential Diagnosis Mental Disorders Across Lifespan (2 credits)
- Theoretical Foundation PMH Nursing with Individuals (2 credits)
- Theoretical Foundations PMH Nursing with Groups & Families (2 credits)
- Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Mental Health NP with Practicum (4 credits, 90 clinical hours)
- Adult & Older Adult Psychiatric Mental Health with Practicum I & II (8 credits, 270 clinical hours combined)
- Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Practicum I & II (6 credits, 270 clinical hours combined)
Clinicals
Certificate students complete identical 675 clinical hours as MSN students across the same lifespan populations and clinical settings.
Clinical experiences include comprehensive mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and psychotherapeutic interventions under qualified preceptor supervision in community, acute care, and telemental-health environments.
Prerequisites & Admissions
For Applicants with MSN and APRN Recognition:
- Proof of current unencumbered license as Nurse Practitioner, CNM, CNS, or CRNA
- Master’s degree in Nursing from accredited U.S. institution
- Current resume or CV
- One-page formal Letter of Intent (business format, specific content requirements)
- TOEFL scores for international applicants
For Applicants with MSN without APRN Recognition:
- Proof of current unencumbered RN license
- Master’s degree in Nursing from accredited U.S. institution
- Current resume or CV
- One-page formal Letter of Intent
- Statement of Nursing Professional Purpose (500 words or less)
- TOEFL scores for international applicants
- Spring and Fall admission cycles available
Tuition
Graduate nursing tuition is $552 per credit hour for Texas residents ($782 for non-residents) with a Nurse Practitioner major fee applied.
Based on 9 credit hours per semester, costs are approximately $3,702.55 per semester for Texas residents.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Master’s degree program in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate program at The University of Texas at El Paso are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Graduates are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) national certification examination.
Other Nursing Programs
UTEP’s College of Nursing offers comprehensive nursing education pathways:
- Master of Science in Nursing Programs: Nursing Administration and Management, Nursing Education, Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner with Primary Care Focus, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Post-Graduate Certificates with APRN Recognition: All six NP concentrations available
- Post-Graduate Certificates without APRN Recognition: All six NP concentrations available
- Post-Graduate Nurse Certificates: Nursing Administration and Management, Nursing Education
- Doctoral Programs: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Post-Master’s Degree
- Undergraduate Programs: Traditional BSN, RN to BSN
Other Programs in Texas
- 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 Arlington - Arlington
- UTTyler - Tyler