MSN - Psych-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Online
Delivered online with embedded supervised clinical residencies in a variety of settings, this nationally accredited MSN program is designed to help you achieve your psychiatric mental health nurse certification while you continue to work.
Program Overview
Learn more about the online MSN – PMHNP program at NKU
Develop the knowledge and clinical expertise you need to provide advanced psychiatric-mental health care for patients across the life span with the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner online program from Northern Kentucky University. This online program prepares you to diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic mental health conditions in individuals and families using comprehensive assessment, psycho-social intervention, and psychopharmacology. As a graduate, you will be eligible to take the Psychiatric-Mental Health NP certification examination.
Core coursework includes fundamentals of theory and research for advanced nursing and evidence-based practice, advanced clinical pharmacology for APRNs, analysis and application of health data, and diagnostic reasoning and advanced physical assessment. Concentration courses build on this foundation, synthesizing neuroscientific principles, neurophysiological theory, and a broad range of therapeutic methods, with attention to how lifestyle, culture, religion, socio-economics, and genetics inform risk assessment. Clinical residencies and a capstone course complete the program, allowing you to synthesize and apply your learning in practice.
In this online MSN – Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, you will:
- Analyze evidence for practice to generate solutions utilizing clinical judgment and innovation within nursing's philosophical framework and scientific foundation.
- Develop person-centered care incorporating a systematic approach that integrates effective communication, cultural sensitivity, and engagement with families and communities.
- Integrate knowledge of socio-cultural and political contexts and health determinants to improve all populations' health.
- Integrate the principles of nursing science within advanced practice roles to develop and evaluate initiatives that enhance the highest levels of practice.
- Apply professional values, accountability, and responsibility to analyze, evaluate, and develop strategies that exemplify nursing practice's quality and safety levels.
- Collaborate in interprofessional communication and teamwork to enhance the health care system.
- Coordinate resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care across healthcare systems.
- Utilize information and communication technologies and informatics tools integrating best practices, regulatory standards, and ethical, legal, and social implications to enhance the quality of care while upholding professional and regulatory guidelines.
- Integrate professional values, accountability, and responsibility into advanced levels of nursing practice.
- Participate in personal and professional development that fosters resilience, self-advocacy, and well-being to promote leadership capacity and contribute to advancing the nursing profession.
- Analyze evidence for practice to generate solutions utilizing clinical judgment and innovation within nursing's philosophical framework and scientific foundation.
- Develop person-centered care incorporating a systematic approach that integrates effective communication, cultural sensitivity, and engagement with families and communities.
- Integrate knowledge of socio-cultural and political contexts and health determinants to improve all populations' health.
- Integrate the principles of nursing science within advanced practice roles to develop and evaluate initiatives that enhance the highest levels of practice.
- Apply professional values, accountability, and responsibility to analyze, evaluate, and develop strategies that exemplify nursing practice's quality and safety levels.
- Collaborate in interprofessional communication and teamwork to enhance the health care system.
- Coordinate resources to provide safe, quality, and equitable care across healthcare systems.
- Utilize information and communication technologies and informatics tools integrating best practices, regulatory standards, and ethical, legal, and social implications to enhance the quality of care while upholding professional and regulatory guidelines.
- Integrate professional values, accountability, and responsibility into advanced levels of nursing practice.
- Participate in personal and professional development that fosters resilience, self-advocacy, and well-being to promote leadership capacity and contribute to advancing the nursing profession.
As a certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, you will be able to practice in many public and private healthcare settings, such as:
- Hospitals, clinics, and mental health facilities
- County and municipal health departments
- Military and veteran hospitals
- Private PMHNP practices or consulting organizations
- Hospitals, clinics, and mental health facilities
- County and municipal health departments
- Military and veteran hospitals
- Private PMHNP practices or consulting organizations
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of Nursing programs online. View our online healthcare programs.
Accreditation
The baccalaureate degree in nursing, master’s degree in nursing, postgraduate APRN certificate, and Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs at Northern Kentucky University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).
Tuition
Invest in yourself for less with our budget-friendly tuition
The MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for in-state and out-of-state students. Financial aid may be available to eligible students.
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Total Program with Fees |
|---|---|---|
| MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP | $600 | $33,990 |
Tuition and fees subject to change at any time. Some fees are course-based and subject to change based on date student enters such course.
Tuition Breakdown:
A Best Value College
Ranked among the “Best Value Colleges in America” by Niche.com, 2026
Calendar
Set a calendar reminder for these key deadlines
The MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program is flexible and efficient for busy schedules, with accelerated courses that start multiple times a year. View the calendar to find the best start date for you, and be sure to submit your application, registration, documents and tuition by the corresponding deadlines.
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2 | 6/29/26 | 6/17/26 | 6/22/26 | 6/26/26 | 6/29/26 |
| Fall 1 | 8/24/26 | 8/12/26 | 8/17/26 | 8/21/26 | 8/24/26 |
| Fall 2 | 10/21/26 | 10/8/26 | 10/13/26 | 10/16/26 | 10/21/26 |
| Spring 1 | 1/11/27 | 1/2/27 | 1/5/27 | 1/8/27 | 1/11/27 |
| Spring 2 | 3/15/27 | 3/3/27 | 3/8/27 | 3/12/27 | 3/15/27 |
| Summer 1 | 5/10/27 | 4/28/27 | 5/3/27 | 5/7/27 | |
| Summer 2 | 6/28/27 | 6/16/27 | 6/21/27 | 6/25/27 | 6/28/27 |
Now enrolling:
Admissions
Know how to apply to the online MSN – PMHNP
The admission process is the first step toward earning your MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP degree online.
Admission Requirements:
- 3.0 GPA or higher on undergraduate coursework
- Current and unencumbered RN license
- 1,000 clinical hours of practice as a Registered Nurse
MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP Online Admission Requirements
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alum or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived. Simply submit the online application without payment of the application fee; the fee will be waived when your credentials are verified. No further action is required.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from both a regionally accredited program and an ACEN, CCNE or CNEA-accredited program
- Students who have earned a BSN degree from a non-US institution will be considered for an exception to the requirement that the BSN come from ACEN, CCNE, or CNEA-accredited program of nursing, where applicable
- Official transcripts of all undergraduate academic work and any graduate work completed
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- Undergraduate course in statistics with a grade of C or better
- Verification of your current, unencumbered RN license with expiration date from the state in which you are licensed and practice
- 1,000 clinical hours of practice as a Registered Nurse; fill out the verification form here
- A criminal background check (state and federal) is required for admission to the program. Applicants are required to use PreCheck StudentCheck to purchase the background check. Instructions on how to purchase and initiate the background check can be found here.
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
NKU Office of Graduate Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Note: The Master of Science in Nursing degree program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. Licenses are granted by the licensing authority in individual states, and those licensing boards might require an additional exam on laws and regulations specific to that state. Some states may also have other requirements. Out-of-state students who require subsequent licensure by the state of residence (e.g., nursing or education) should check with the state licensure office.
If at any time during your program of study you relocate to another state, restrictions may apply and adversely affect your program progression. Change of state residency may affect student program status. Notify your advisor and concentration coordinator immediately if you plan to relocate.
Courses
Get excited about your online MSN - PMHNP courses
For the MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program, students must complete a total of 47 credit hours, which includes eight core courses (24 credit hours), five concentration courses (15 credit hours), five clinicals (5 credit hours) with a total of 750 clinical hours, and a capstone course (3 credit hours). Each course is seven weeks long.
The curriculum for the MSN – Psych-Mental Health NP online program is comprised of 19 courses (47 credit hours), which includes eight core courses (24 credit hours), five concentration courses (15 credit hours), five clinicals (5 credit hours) with a total of 750 clinical hours, and a capstone course (3 credit hours). Each course is seven weeks long. Some students who are not successful with the APEA post-predictor exam during MSN 611 will also need to take a remediation course: MSN 680.
