Find your place as a decision-making leader in the field of nursing
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited1, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Format | 100% online didactic classes, hands-on clinical experience, and completion of a DNP Practice Project |
| Clinicals | We pledge your clinical placement |
| Admissions | Eligibility requirements include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a minimum 3.0 GPA |
| Certification | Become eligible for the Board Certified PMHNP (PMHNP-BC) exam from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) |
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Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2025
Go from BSN to DNP-PMHNP with Herzing University
The BSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree is a 71-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a PMHNP. The online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in systems-based practice, improvement science, epidemiology, telehealth, psychiatric mental healthcare, counseling and psychotherapy, and much more.
Earn the education required to transition from bedside nursing into an important role addressing a crucial need in mental healthcare. Our program is designed to help you reach greater career heights in nursing—both as a PMHNP and wider contributor to the nursing field.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance, striving to be as flexible as possible for busy non-traditional students.
Virtual services
Access to extensive virtual services, including academic advising, tutoring, support services, technical support and library services.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
BSN to DNP-PMHNP courses & curriculum details
Our curriculum is developed in compliance with the model for advanced nursing education of the AACN new Essentials (2021) Level 2 sub-competencies. The program prepares you for 21st century nursing practice focused on interdisciplinary knowledge, leadership, innovation, and the ability to impact systems and population health change.
All didactic courses are delivered online. The curriculum includes 540 hours of hands-on PMHNP clinical experience and a DNP Practice Project.
| Program | Months i | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – BSN to DNP | 32 | 71 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program.
Full curriculum details
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the BSN to DNP-PMHNP program is $755 per credit.
You can potentially earn even greater savings by transferring credit from prior college coursework, applying for financial aid, or potential partnership opportunities through your employer.
Our goal is your career advancement. That’s why we are always working to improve our curriculum and processes to make our program as affordable as possible while preparing you best for success in your work.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
You may be eligible for multiple scholarships and grants, both through Herzing University and several national scholarship websites.
Military/Veteran Discounts
Veterans, Active Duty U.S. Servicemembers, and spouses may qualify for a 10-20% tuition discount.
Admissions requirements
Prerequisites to enroll in the Herzing University BSN to DNP-PMHNP program include:
- Hold a current, active, and unrestricted license as a registered nurse (RN) in the same state in which they live. (Note: Holding a multi-state, compact state license and being a resident in a compact license state will be deemed to have met this requirement.)
- Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited university or college with an overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Eligible states for enrollment: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Your clinical placement is our pledge.
We understand securing clinical placement as part of a BSN to DNP-PMHNP program is one of the biggest concerns students face. At Herzing, we offer guidance and support through our step-by-step Clinical Guidance Process to ensure you can get the clinical practice experiences you need.
As a Herzing student, we’ll encourage you to find your own preceptor and clinical sites as there are many benefits to doing so. However, we provide extensive support should you find difficulty along the way. With Herzing, you are never on your own.
Because of our strong relationships with healthcare providers across the U.S. and our comprehensive Clinical Guidance Process, we are confident in our ability to help you find clinical placement. So much so that if you are unable to find a clinical site on your own, we pledge to step in and help you secure clinical placement.*
* Subject to terms and conditions outlined in the enrollment documents.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
Earn a DNP and become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The BSN to DNP-PMHNP program is designed to provide you the fastest path to both earn the highest degree in nursing and begin practicing as an PMHNP.
The current minimum degree requirement for PMHNP certification is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a PMHNP specialization.
However, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) has favored increasing the degree requirement to the DNP level for several years. The knowledge and skills earned in a DNP degree program can potentially better prepare you for the broad and complex care demanded from nurse practitioners in the present and future.
Job outlook
Graduate from a BSN to DNP program with a PMHNP specialization and you’ll be prepared to join a career field expected to grow rapidly over the next 10 years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of nurse practitioners is expected to rise 45% from 2022-2032.*
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BSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
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The Student Experience at Herzing
Being a first-time mom and a student was a challenge, but everyone at Herzing was very understanding and were great to have on my team.
Rebecca Anne Shryock
Healthcare | Online CampusAccreditation & Disclosures
1. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program at Herzing University Madison is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org). Herzing University is approved to offer programs in an online learning modality through association with the main campus in Madison, Wisconsin.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
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Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.