Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
Overview
Prepare to meet the patient care challenges of tomorrow. Be a force for change in people's lives.
Bradley University is preparing highly skilled psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners to meet this growing demand and provide the best possible level of mental health care.
With our online nursing degrees, you can:



Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN entry)
Post-Master’s Certificate (MSN entry)


Why earn an online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree?
As of 2021, more than 50 million people in the United States were living with mental illness.* A recent report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration predicts that the mental health field will be short 250,000 mental health professionals by 2025. As a result, psychiatry-mental health is one of the fastest growing, non-physician specialties in the health care field.**
At Bradley University, we prepare you to:
- Deliver psychiatric mental health advanced practice nursing to all ages in various mental health settings
- Assess, diagnose, treat, and evaluate mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and substance use disorders
- Take the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification exam
Need help deciding if an online degree aligns with your current needs and future goals? We can help.
An online PMHNP program is right for you if:
- You have a passion for patient-centered, holistic, and collaborative approaches to care
- You are interested in psychological communication skills and therapeutic treatments
- You are empathetic with strong communication and relationship-building skills
- You would like to connect with patients on a different level and provide life-altering care
- You want to collaborate with and learn from other aspiring nurse practitioners
- You want a flexible online learning environment that fits your busy schedule
- You're eager to learn from a faculty of passionate and experienced clinicians
Careers
You became a nurse because you want to help people. And you are. Every day, you’re making a difference in the lives of patients and their loved ones.
Now you’re ready to have an even greater impact in your career. Earning an online Master of Science in Nursing from Bradley University can get you one step closer to accomplishing this goal. Our program can help you develop the skills to:
- Expand the scope of care you provide
- Specialize your expertise in an area you’re passionate about
- Lead and mentor the next generation of nurses
Your master's degree can also qualify you for a wide range of new roles. Bradley’s MSN program offers three tracks - Nursing Administration, Family Nurse Practitioner, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner - which means you can focus your studies in the area that aligns with your interests and desired career path.
Continue reading to learn more about the industry outlook and some of the opportunities you can pursue when you earn your Bradley degree.
What's your growth potential?
When you earn your online MSN from Bradley, you can position yourself for a rewarding career where skilled professionals like you are in high demand.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) ranks nurse practitioner as the second-fastest growing occupation nationally, with more than 211,000 jobs expected to be added by 2029 — a 52% increase.
The BLS also anticipates significant growth in the nursing administration field, predicting a 32% increase (133,200 new jobs) in the medical and health services managers sector over the same time period.
Let’s take an in-depth look at a few of your career options:
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (MSN-PMHNP)
Where can you work?
Where can you work?
- Hospitals
- Private practice
- Psychiatric and behavioral treatment clinics
- Corporations
- Residential treatment facilities
- Public health agencies
- Correctional facilities
Curriculum
If you are a RN with an ADN, nursing diploma, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree, we offer bridge courses that can start you on the path toward an MSN-PMHNP.
- 60 Credit Hours*
- 3.3 Years
- 10 Semesters
- 650 Clinical Hours
*Includes 9 undergraduate hours from RN completion courses
If you already have your BSN, you may be eligible to start working toward your MSN-PMHNP right away. No bridge courses are required for this entry path.
- 51 Credit Hours
- 2.7 Years
- 8 Semesters
- 600 Clinical Hours
This option is for BSN-credentialed nurses looking to earn a doctorate with a focus in psychiatric mental health.
- 74 Credit Hours
- 3.7 Years
- 11 Semesters
- 1,000 Clinical Hours
This option is for MSN-credentialed nurses looking to earn a post-master's certificate in psychiatric mental health.
- 36 Credit Hours
- 2 Years
- 6 Semesters
- 600 Clinical Hours
Online BSN to MSN-PMHNP Curriculum
Bridge Courses
Core Courses
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
Online BSN to MSN-PMHNP Curriculum
Core Courses
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
Online BSN to DNP-PMHNP Curriculum
Core Courses
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
DNP Courses
Online MSN to PMC-PMHNP Curriculum
Core Courses
Specialty Courses
Admission Requirements
Online Master of Science in Nursing
To be eligible for Bradley’s online RN or BSN to MSN-PMHNP program, you must meet the following qualifications:
- ADN, diploma, or BSN from a regionally accredited college or university and an NLNAC-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited* nursing program. If you have an ADN, diploma, or non-nursing baccalaureate degree must complete NUR 300, 303, 404, and 407.
- Proof of a current, unencumbered RN license
- Students may be admitted unconditionally if they have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework. Applicants with previous graduate coursework must have achieved a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework and have completed a minimum of 12 graduate credit hours for the graduate grade point average to be considered for admission.
You must also submit the following:
- Completed online application
- Non-refundable $40 application fee
- Official transcripts of academic credentials
- One admission essay
- Applicants in advanced practice programs must also include/discuss potential mentors for clinical experiences to deliver care across the lifespan.
- Two letters of recommendation
- CV/Résumé
Online Doctor of Nursing Practice
To be eligible for Bradley’s online BSN to DNP-PMHNP program, you must meet the following qualifications:
- BSN from a regionally accredited college or university and an NLNAC-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited* nursing program.
- Proof of a current, unencumbered RN license
- Students may be admitted unconditionally if they have achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework. Applicants with previous graduate coursework must have achieved a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework and have completed a minimum of 12 graduate credit hours for the graduate grade point average to be considered for admission.
You must also submit the following:
- Completed online application
- Nonrefundable $40 application fee
- Official transcripts of academic credentials
- Admission essay and portfolio
- Applicants in advanced practice programs must also include/discuss potential mentors for clinical experiences.
- CV/Résumé
- Two letters of recommendation
Online Post-Master's Certificate
To be eligible for Bradley’s online post-master's certificate program, you must meet the following qualifications:
- MSN from an NLNAC-, ACEN-, or CCNE-accredited* nursing program
- Proof of a current, unencumbered RN license
- Students may be admitted unconditionally if they have achieved at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework. Applicants with previous graduate coursework must have achieved a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all graduate coursework and have completed a minimum of 12 graduate credit hours for the graduate GPA to be considered for admission.
You must also submit the following:
- Completed online application
- Non-refundable $40 application fee
- Official transcripts of academic credentials
- One admission essay
- Applicants in advanced practice programs must also include/discuss potential mentors for clinical experiences.
- CV/Résumé
- Two letters of recommendation

Learn from innovative nursing leaders.
The dedicated faculty members who lead our online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program are committed to helping you succeed as you take the next step in your nursing career. They bring a broad base of clinical expertise and professional experience into our online classrooms each day and are eager to share their knowledge with you.
For more than 60 years, Bradley University has been setting the standard for excellence in nursing education. Our graduates work as advanced practice nurses and leaders in clinical and non-clinical settings across the country. They’re transforming the way health care is delivered in the 21st century — and so can you.
