Quick facts about the MSN to DNP-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program
| Accreditation | CCNE accredited†, Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Curriculum | Complete specialty PMHNP courses and core doctoral-level courses to earn the terminal degree in nursing and prepare for certification in a new specialty |
| Format | 100% online didactic classes, hands-on clinical experience, and completion of a DNP Practice Project; final DNP project work is woven throughout the program |
| Admissions | Eligibility requirements include successful completion of an accredited MSN program with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 |
| Certification | We pledge your clinical placement |
| Certification prep | Curriculum designed to help you prepare for the ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) certification exam |
Learn More Today!
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best online graduate nursing programs in 2025
Pursue the PMHNP specialty and earn the terminal degree in nursing in 2 years
The MSN to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree is a 62-credit graduate program which prepares you for a career as a DNP-prepared PMHNP. This online degree program provides students with fundamental knowledge and skills in improvement science, collaborative practice, telehealth, systems-based practice, as well as PMHNP specialty topics.
Transition into a role helping patients improve their mental health while striving for greater heights in the nursing profession. Earn a DNP with a specialization in PMHNP and take your career to the next level.
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.
Your pathway: courses & curriculum details
The MSN to DNP-PMHNP curriculum is designed both for nurses with an MSN seeking certification in their first specialty, as well as those in an existing specialty looking to become a PMHNP—while completing the doctoral courses required to become a leader in the nursing profession.
All didactic courses are delivered online. The curriculum includes 900 combined clinical/project hours, comprising of hands-on PMHNP clinical experience and the DNP Practice Project.
| Program | Months i | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Nursing Practice in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – MSN to DNP | 24 | 62 |
i. Average number of months for students to complete program.
Full curriculum details
Tuition & Cost
Tuition & Cost
The cost of tuition for the MSN 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
Requirements to enroll in the MSN to DNP-PMHNP program include the following criteria:
- 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.)
- Successful completion of an MSN program with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.00 or higher
- MSN must be an ACEN, CCNE, or NLN accredited program
- Must not have failed from previous doctoral program
- Completion of a background/clinical compliance check
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Your clinical placement is our pledge.
We understand securing clinical placement as part of an MSN 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.
Accreditation & Recognition
Our accredited & recognized online school
We strive to earn rank as one of the top private, nonprofit universities in the United States. Just as you work every day to become the best version of yourself, so do we as a university.
We are proud to have attained institutional and programmatic accreditation in addition to industry recognition for our accomplishments helping students earn a college education and find career success.
✝The master's degree, post-graduate APRN certificate, and doctor of nursing practice programs in nursing at Herzing University Madison are 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.
Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best online graduate nursing degree programs in 2025.
Herzing University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
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
Our 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 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.*
Program Finder
MSN to DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
OnlineTo learn more about this program, click the Request Info button.
Request Information
Ready to get started?
Contact us to request more information
The Student Experience at Herzing
It gives me goosebumps knowing I can help shape new nurses pursuing the Nurse Educator pathway. If you love to teach or are looking for a career change, then you will not regret chasing this career!
Tammy A. Boudreaux
Nursing | Online CampusDisclosures
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2023. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.