DNP in APRN – PMHNP
Doctor of Nursing Practice in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (licensure)
Catalyze the Integration Of Mind & Body Across Healthcare Settings
Regent’s fully online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Advanced Practice Registered Nursing (APRN) with a concentration in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is designed to prepare nursing leaders who are looking to obtain a terminal degree in their practice, sit for national certification, and become eligible for their APRN licensure. The PMHNP concentration can prepare you to lead and educate others and use high-quality, evidence-based strategies to evaluate, diagnose, manage, promote, and advocate for safe care for patients, families, and communities with acute, common, or chronic mental health conditions.
Expand Your Career Opportunities with the PMHNP Program
Become an expert clinician and scholar in the mental health field and provide holistic care as an advanced practice nurse.
Build on a Strong Foundation
Learn to respond to the mental health needs of patients across their lifespan through a Christian worldview.
LEARN FROM THE BEST
Be mentored by faculty in Virginia Beach who hold the highest degrees in their field. Regent has been ranked among Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report for four years (2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023).
Fulfill A Need
The United States Bureau for Labor Statistics predicted that openings for nurse practitioners in the U.S. will increase 45% between 2020 and 2030, and that between 2014 and 2024, every state in the U.S. will see an increase in jobs for nurse practitioners.
Please complete the Request Information form on this page to learn more about this program.
Upon successful completion of the PMHNP online program, you can:
- Teach, advocate, promote, and protect the dignity and safety of patients and families living with mental illness.
- Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with evidence-based psychiatric care.
- Research and develop innovative healthcare practices to improve patient delivery and outcomes.
- Advance and transform psychiatric nursing care through education and research.
Career Opportunities
- Psychiatric Center
- Public Mental Health Agencies
- Residential Treatment
- Remote Telehealth
- Advanced Organizational and Professional Nursing Leader
- Clinical or Academic Nursing Educator
This post-master’s DNP program is a minimum of 74 credit hours in length*. Core concentration courses are outlined as follows:
* The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) requires all DNP students to complete a minimum of 1,000 practicum hours post-BSN. The final credit hours required will depend on the number of clinical hours students obtained previously during post-BSN practicum courses.
2024-25 Semester Check-In Deadlines
All students are expected to check-in for the semester two weeks before the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.
Session | Semester Check-In | Session Start Date |
---|---|---|
Session A | Friday, August 9 | Monday, August 19 |
Session C | Wednesday, January 8 | Monday, January 13 |
Session E | Friday, May 2 | Monday, May 12 |
Prerequisites
DNP in APRN applicants must:
- Have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from an accredited institution and a 3.0 GPA in previously completed nursing courses.
- Report no more than two previous documented failures in DNP courses.
Admissions Requirements
Step 1: Apply to Regent University
Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.
Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.
Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts
Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.
Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.
Step 3: Complete an Admissions Questionnaire
Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.
Step 4: Submit Your Resume
All graduate nurse candidates are required to submit a resume demonstrating one year of full time clinical RN experience prior to entering the degree program. Please submit to regent.edu/items.
Step 5: Submit Your Nursing License
To be admitted to the DNP program, you must submit an active unencumbered/unrestricted Registered Nurse license from your state of practice. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.
Step 6: Submit Your Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.
Step 7: Faculty Interview
Interviews for the DNP program are by invitation only after review of the completed application by School of Nursing faculty. Interviews are held virtually with faculty and will take place via Zoom or Skype to best assist with an interactive interview experience for our applicants. It is expected that the candidate will be willing to discuss personal history within the interview process. Additional details will be provided to those invited for an interview.
Applicants invited to the virtual interview should keep in mind that an interview does not assure admission. The School of Nursing reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the DNP program.
Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.
Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 3 | $1,740 |
MSN | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
Full-Time Students
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
MSN | $580 | 9 | $5,220 |
Student Fees Per Semester
University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
Part-Time Students
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 3 | $1,740 |
MSN | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
Full-Time Students
Degree | Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour | Average Credit Hours Per Semester | Average Tuition Per Semester |
---|---|---|---|
DNP | $580 | 6 | $3,480 |
MSN | $580 | 9 | $5,220 |
Student Fees Per Semester
University Services Fee (On-Campus Students) | $850 (Fall & Spring) $700 (Summer) |
University Services Fee (Online Students) | $700 |
*Rates are subject to change at any time.