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.

Location: Online w/ Residency

Total Credit Hours: 74

Next Session Start: August 25, 2025

Approved Degree Plan: Download PDF

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 the Top National Universities by the U.S. News & World Report (2025).

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.

Accreditation

The baccalaureate degree program in nursing and master’s degree program in nursing at Regent University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program and post-graduate APRN certificate program at Regent are pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.

Career Opportunities

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

Concentration Courses

Table listing featured courses with course code, name, and credit hours.
Code	Name	Credits
APRN 705	Global Health Challenges & Disparities of Mental Health	2	Addresses mental health needs among diverse global populations educating culturally competent skills and strategies which include mental health assessment, interventions, treatment planning, and evaluation. Mental health disorders and treatment efficacy will be examined among different cultures and countries with various levels of available resources and within the context of their specific struggles, societal norms and values. Prerequisites: NURS 540, NURS 541, NURS 550 and APRIN 551.
APRN 775	Neurobiology & Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders	3	Examine mental health disorders through the complex intersections of human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, providing the context necessary to develop foundational knowledge of major mental disorders across lifespan. Genetics, human development, degeneration, behaviors, infection, and injury will be examined related to their potential causation and contribution to exacerbation as well as their impact on treatment. Registration Restrictions: Admission into PMHNP or DNP program. Prerequisites: NURS 540, NURS 541, NURS 550 and APRN 551.
APRN 777	Psychopharmacology	3	Examine best practices in clinical uses of psychotropic drugs to treat mental health disorders across lifespan within a client-centered comprehensive treatment plan. Risk and benefits of various psychopharmacological interventions including pharmacodynamics, neuropharmacological mechanisms, and common drug interactions within the context of patient safety and effective outcomes will be reviewed. Prerequisites: NURS 540, NURS 541, NURS 550, and APRN 551.
APRN 779	Psychotherapeutic Theories & Clinical Interventions	3	This course explores the treatment of mental disorders across lifespan through applications of various evidence-based brief and long-term treatment modalities. It provides an overview of theories of treatment modalities related to pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and alternative interventions, self-reflection, and a clinical outcome measurement tools. Prerequisites: NURS 540, NURS 541, NURS 550, and APRN 551.
APRN 780	Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Practicum I	3	Engage in activities that expand and demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary of the role of a PMHNP in a practice setting with adult clients across the lifespan. Students will demonstrate competencies in safe, collaborative, evidence-based and ethically sound provision of mental health care with a preceptor. The length of this course is 15 weeks (full semester). Prerequisites: NURS 540, NURS 541, NURS 550, APRN 551. Registration Restrictions: PMHNP or DNP students only.

Students should refer to their catalog or audited degree plan (ADP) for required courses to complete their degree.

Other Concentrations

Family Nurse Practitioner

Admissions Requirements

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 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.

Tuition & Fees

2025-26 Tuition Rates

Part-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
DNP	$580	3	$1,740
MSN	$590	6	$3,540

Full-Time Students

Degree	Tuition Cost Per Credit Hour	Average Credit Hours Per Semester	Average Tuition Per Semester
DNP	$580	6	$3,480
MSN	$590	9	$5,310

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (On-Campus Students)	$900 (Fall & Spring) $750 (Summer)
University Services Fee (Online Students)	$750

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

2024-25 Tuition Rates

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

Military Admissions & Aid » | Cost of Attendance »

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Related Programs

Request Information

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Online or On Campus

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Online or On Campus Old

Online

On Campus

On Campus Degree Type(Required)

Online Degree Type(Required)

Choose a Program(Required)

High School Graduation(Required)

Are you an employee or the spouse/dependent of an employee?(Required)

Employee

Spouse/Dependent

Email Address(Required)

Company(Required)

Agency(Required)

Employee's Company(Required)

Employee's Agency(Required)

Company Email Address(Required)

Agency Email Address(Required)

Employee's Company Email Address(Required)

Employee's Agency Email Address(Required)

Employee's First Name(Required)

Employee's Last Name(Required)

Employee's First Name(Required)

Employee's Last Name(Required)

Your Email Address(Required)

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

I live outside the US

Address(Required)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Address(Required)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

City(Required)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

State(Required)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Zip Code(Required)

Phone(Required)

I live in Canada

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Agent's Name(Required)

This field is hidden when viewing the form

Agent GUID

Agent's Notes

I would like to start application process

By entering my first and last name above and clicking “Learn More” below, this shall constitute my electronic signature and I expressly agree that Regent University may call or text me for marketing purposes at the number I provide above, including through the use of an automatic telephone dialing system and/or artificial or prerecorded voice or message according to the TCPA Terms & Conditions below. Accepting this consent is not required to obtain any good or service.

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Thanks to Regent, I finished my degree and took hold of my future.”

Mandy Rogers, 2010

“People, especially kids, need more than clichés. My training at Regent gave me a meaningful way to express my empathy - which is passion and compassion combined - and they could feel the authenticity of it.”

Cedric Rucker, M.A. in Counseling, 2008 Community Counseling

“I chose to go back to school to help advance my career. I’ve used the knowledge, skills and abilities I’ve learned at Regent extensively. When I saw Regent’s motto, Christian Leadership to Change the World, I knew this was for me.”

Julia DuBree, RN to B.S. in Nursing, 2018 School Nurse

“Pat Robertson had a dream, and when you set foot on campus, you see what God has done.”

Kandi Puder, RN to B.S. in Nursing, 2020 RN at Allina Health

“Regent offers a 25% discount for veterans, which is helping me pay for my MSN degree.”

Michelle Schindler, MSN, '22 Registered Nurse, Certified (RNC); Veteran

	
		OSZAR »