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Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Programs
Your next great step begins today
Connect with an advisor to discuss career outcomes, curriculum, and get your questions answered.
Prepare to meet the patient care challenges of tomorrow.
Be a force for change in people's lives.
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act gave millions of people access to mental health care they were previously unable to obtain or afford. This contributed to almost 23 million Americans being able to receive the mental health treatment they needed in 2019.* However, this influx of patients stressed the delicate balance between available practitioners and patients — igniting a demand for more mental health professionals.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause depression and anxiety related to the ongoing shutdowns and general uncertainty, adding to the growing need for mental health services.
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. Explore our PMHNP curriculum.
With our online nursing degrees, you can:
Learn 100% online with no campus residency requirements
Prepare for the ANCC certification exams
Benefit from multiple entry options*
* Master of Science in Nursing (RNs with an ADN, diploma, non-nursing bachelor’s, or BSN degree)
Doctor of Nursing Practice (BSN entry)
Post-Master’s Certificate (MSN entry)
Higher Learning Commission
The master’s degree program in Nursing, Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Bradley University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Which path is right for you?
Depending on your education level, Bradley offers four online options to earn a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree:
RN to MSN PMHNP
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
BSN to MSN PMHNP
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
BSN to DNP PMHNP
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
MSN to PMC PMHNP
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
Why earn an online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree?
As of 2019, 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
Online Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Program Curriculum
Online BSN to MSN-PMHNP Curriculum
For students with an ADN, nursing diploma, or non-nursing bachelor’s degree.
Bridge Courses
Core Courses
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
Online BSN to MSN-PMHNP Curriculum
For RNs with a BSN.
Core Courses
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
Online BSN to DNP-PMHNP Curriculum
For RNs with a BSN.
Core Courses
Specialty Courses (600 clinical hours)
DNP Courses
Online MSN to PMC-PMHNP Curriculum
For RNs with a MSN.
Core Courses
Specialty Courses
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.
Make the next step in your nursing career a focused one.
Earn an advanced nursing degree online from Bradley University.