Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – PMHNP | $38K–$46K | ~2.5–3 years |
| DNP – Post-Bacc to PMHNP | $65K–$78K | ~3.5–4 years |
| Graduate Certificate | $15K–$18K | ~1.5 years (PT) |
The programs maintain Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditation and benefit from partnership with ProMedica healthcare system, providing diverse clinical experiences and real-world perspectives through practicing faculty members. UToledo’s nationally ranked programs prepare outstanding advanced practitioners who often secure employment before graduation, with comprehensive clinical requirements ranging from 780-1,170 hours depending on degree level.
MSN – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is approximately $38,000-$46,000 for Ohio residents or $62,000-$72,000 for non-residents and takes 2.5-3 years to complete depending on enrollment status.
Curriculum
The 52-credit program combines foundational graduate nursing courses with specialized psychiatric mental health content and extensive clinical practice. Core foundation courses include:
Coursework might include:
NURS 5680 – Advanced Physiology and Pathophysiology
Examines advanced physiological and pathophysiological processes underlying human responses to illness across the lifespan, building on foundational anatomy and physiology knowledge.
INDI 6000 – Introduction to Biostatistical Methods
Introduces statistical reasoning and commonly used descriptive and inferential statistics in healthcare research, including computer-based data analysis.
NURS 6530 – Public Policy and Health Care
Explores emerging healthcare policy trends, addressing ethical foundations, financial considerations, and the role of graduate nurses in policy development, implementation, and evaluation.
NURS 6910 – Nursing Research and Practice Application
Critically examines the research process to inform nursing practice, with emphasis on literature evaluation, research methods, statistical applications, and human subject protections, including CITI training.
NURS 5690 – Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Covers advanced pharmacologic principles for clinical decision-making, focusing on drug responses, expected outcomes, adverse effects, interactions, and prescriptive responsibilities.
NURS 6060 – Psychopharmacology for PMHNP Practice
Introduces psychopharmacology principles relevant to psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner practice.
NURS 6610 – Population Health for Advanced Practice Nurses
Addresses the impact of demographics, cultural competence, social determinants of health, and social justice on healthcare delivery systems in advanced nursing practice.
NURS 6150 – Contemporary Practice
Covers key aspects of modern nursing practice, including role development, team communication, leadership, billing, coding, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
NURS 6740 – Advanced Assessment
Develops advanced skills in collecting and documenting health assessment data across the lifespan, with emphasis on differentiating normal from abnormal findings through supervised practice.
NURS 6340 – Advanced Practice Nursing in Psych Mental Health of Adults
Focuses on theory and principles for managing acute and chronic psychiatric conditions in adults, including health promotion and wellness strategies.
NURS 6350 – Advanced Practice Nursing in Psych Mental Health of Adults: Practicum 1
Provides clinical experience in the primary care management of acute and chronic psychiatric conditions in adults.
NURS 6750 – Diagnostic Reasoning
Teaches hypothesis development, data application, and differential diagnosis formulation for clinical problem-solving.
NURS 6360 – Advanced Practice Nursing in Primary Care of Psych Mental Health of Child, Adolescent and Family
Covers theory and practice for managing psychiatric conditions in children, adolescents, and families in primary care settings.
NURS 6370 – Advanced Practice Nursing in Psych Mental Health of Child, Adolescent and Family: Practicum 2
Offers clinical experience in the primary care management of psychiatric conditions in children, adolescents, and families.
NURS 6380 – Advanced Practice Nursing in Psych Mental Health of Older Adults
Examines theory and care strategies for acute and chronic psychiatric conditions in older adults.
NURS 6390 – Advanced Practice Nursing in Psych Mental Health of Older Adults: Practicum 3
Provides clinical practice in managing psychiatric conditions in older adult populations.
NURS 6650 – Transition to Practice
Covers professional role transition, leadership communication, and business aspects of advanced nursing practice, including billing, coding, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
NURS 5220 – Capstone Seminar
Serves as the culminating project, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, research, teamwork, and communication skills to integrate program learning.
More curriculum details available here:
Students complete either a capstone seminar, thesis research, or comprehensive examination to demonstrate mastery of advanced psychiatric nursing concepts and clinical competencies.
Clinicals
Students complete 780 contact hours of clinical practice distributed across three progressive practicum experiences:
- Advanced Practice Nursing in Psychiatric Mental Health of Adults Practicum (4 credits)
- Advanced Practice Nursing in Psychiatric Mental Health of Child/Adolescent/Family Practicum (4 credits)
- Advanced Practice Nursing in Psychiatric Mental Health of Older Adults Practicum (5 credits)
Clinical experiences occur in diverse community and hospital-based psychiatric settings, providing comprehensive exposure to mental health care across the lifespan. Students work under supervision of experienced preceptors in various environments including:
- inpatient psychiatric units
- community mental health centers
- private practice settings
- specialized psychiatric facilities serving vulnerable populations
Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from CCNE or CNEA accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 higher education GPA (unadjusted by grade deletion)
- Current unrestricted RN licensure (must secure Michigan or Ohio license for clinical experiences)
- Official transcripts from all academic institutions submitted to NursingCAS
- Personal statement describing career goals, employment plans, and graduate study expectations
- Current resume or CV listing RN license number and nursing experience
- Three professional recommendations (Master’s in Nursing preferred)
- Completion of undergraduate statistics course recommended
- Computer competency including word processing and electronic communication skills
- Criminal background checks (BCII and FBI) and fingerprinting required
- Interview may be requested based on application review
Post-Baccalaureate to DNP PMHNP
The estimated cost for the DNP PMHNP program is approximately $65,000-$78,000 for Ohio residents or $102,000-$125,000 for non-residents and takes 3.5-4 years to complete on a full-time basis.
Curriculum
The 74-credit program integrates 44 credits of DNP core courses with 23 credits of specialized PMHNP track requirements and 15 credits of DNP project implementation.
DNP core curriculum includes:
- introduction to biostatistical methods
- information technology in nursing and healthcare systems
- theoretical foundations of advanced nursing practice
- population health, advanced physiology and pathophysiology
- advanced research for evidence-based nursing practice
- implementation science, public policy and healthcare
- advanced pharmacotherapeutics
- quality/safety/advocacy strategies
- transformational systems leadership
- advanced health assessment
The PMHNP track features three progressive clinical courses:
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Theory and Clinical I Adult (7 credits)
- Theory and Clinical II Child/Adolescent/Family (7 credits)
- Theory and Clinical III Older Adult (9 credits)
The program culminates with a three-part DNP project sequence focusing on proposal development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based practice initiatives.
Clinicals
Students complete 1,030-1,170 hours of academically supervised advanced clinical practice in accordance with AACN specifications for DNP degrees.
Clinical experiences are embedded within the three PMHNP theory and clinical courses, providing intensive hands-on practice in psychiatric mental health care across diverse age groups and practice settings.
Clinical rotations occur in various psychiatric settings including:
- inpatient units
- community mental health centers
- private practices
- specialized facilities serving adults, children, adolescents, families, and older adults
Prerequisites & Admissions
- BSN from CCNE or CNEA accredited nursing program
- Minimum 3.0 higher education GPA
- Current unrestricted RN licensure (Michigan or Ohio required for clinicals)
- Personal statement addressing DNP program alignment with career goals, rationale for pursuing doctoral education, clinical interests, and challenges identification
- Official transcripts submitted through NursingCAS
- Three professional recommendations with Master’s in Nursing preferred
- Current resume or CV demonstrating nursing experience and leadership potential
- Computer competency and electronic communication skills
- Criminal background checks and fingerprinting clearance
- Interview may be required based on application committee discretion
Graduate Certificate – PMHNP
The estimated cost for the Graduate Certificate program is approximately $15,000-$18,500 for Ohio residents or $24,000-$30,000 for non-residents and takes 1.5 years to complete on a part-time basis.
Curriculum
The 21-credit certificate program requires completion of prerequisite courses before beginning specialized PMHNP content:
- advanced physiology and pathophysiology (3 credits)
- advanced pharmacotherapeutics (3 credits)
- advanced health assessment (3 credits)
- diagnostic reasoning (1 credit)
- psychopharmacology for PMHNP practice (2 credits)
The core certificate curriculum consists of three clinical lecture courses paired with corresponding practicum experiences:
- Clinical 1 Lecture with Practicum 1 (240 clinical hours)
- Clinical 2 Lecture with Practicum 2 (240 clinical hours)
- Clinical 3 Lecture with Practicum 3 (300 clinical hours)
Students also complete Transition to Practice (not applicable for current APRNs), providing comprehensive preparation for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification.
Clinicals
Certificate students complete 780 clinical hours distributed across three progressive practicum experiences with 240, 240, and 300 hours respectively. Clinical rotations occur in approved psychiatric mental health settings under supervision of qualified preceptors.
Students must secure RN licensure in Michigan or Ohio for clinical completion, as all clinical experiences are restricted to these states.
Prerequisites & Admissions
- Master’s degree in nursing or DNP from CCNE or CNEA accredited program
- Current unrestricted RN licensure (Michigan or Ohio required for clinicals)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA in graduate coursework
- Completion of prerequisite courses within acceptable timeframe
- Official transcripts submitted through NursingCAS
- Personal statement addressing certificate program goals and career objectives
- Professional references demonstrating readiness for advanced psychiatric practice
- Resume or CV showing relevant nursing experience
- Computer competency and communication skills verification
Tuition
Graduate tuition for in-state students is $882.93 per credit hour, while out-of-state students pay $1,390.26 per credit hour.
Online programs charge the same in-state rate ($730.51 per credit hour) plus $5 per credit hour surcharge for out-of-state students.
DNP programs maintain higher tuition rates at $882.93 per credit hour for residents and $1,390.26 for non-residents.
General fees of $58.38 per credit hour apply to all programs.
See the official tuition page for more details.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at The University of Toledo are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Graduates are eligible to sit for American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) certification examinations corresponding to their psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner population focus upon graduation.
The School of Nursing is a member of NC-SARA, enabling participation from students in multiple states while maintaining clinical restrictions to Michigan and Ohio.
Other Nursing Programs
The University of Toledo School of Nursing offers comprehensive nursing education pathways:
Graduate Programs:
- Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner
- Doctor of Nursing Practice – Nurse Executive
- Graduate Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- RN to BSN degree completion
Specialized Services:
- Graduate-Entry Master of Science in Nursing (for non-nursing degree holders)
- Graduate funding and scholarship opportunities
- International service learning opportunities in Nicaragua and Haiti
- Interprofessional education and simulation experiences
More PMNHP Programs
View All PMHNP Programs in Ohio
- Cleveland State University - Cleveland
- Kent State - Kent
- Mount Carmel - Columbus
- Ohio State - Columbus
- Ohio University - Athens
- Ursuline College - Pepper Pike
- Wright State University - Dayton