Post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
Prepare to Help Meet Your Patients’ Mental Health Needs with Liberty’s BSN to DNP – Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program
Liberty’s post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree seeks to help meet the need for mental health care providers in the United States.
If you are a registered nurse and hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), our program can help you earn a doctoral nursing degree without completing a master’s program.
Throughout your DNP in PMHNP courses, you will receive practical training that can help you pursue top-level nursing roles. Additionally, you can prepare to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner national certification exam and pursue state licensure as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
By honing your expertise in the area of mental health, you can stand out from other nurse practitioners and provide holistic care to your patients. Partner with us and prepare to make a difference in the lives of people of all ages.
Liberty University offers detailed information about the educational requirements for licensure programs. To see if this program aligns with your state, you can research requirements here: https://www.liberty.edu/statelicensure/
Additional Requirements
Students who are accepted and offered a seat each semester will be required to submit a $500 deposit,* which will be applied to your student account to be used towards tuition, fees, etc. If accepted to our program, you will receive additional information via your Liberty email regarding your next steps and payment of the deposit.
If you have any questions, you may reach the School of Nursing at jeast@liberty.edu or by calling (434) 592-6505.
*Deposit refund deadlines apply. Contact the School of Nursing for specific semester refund dates.
What Will You Study in Our Online PMHNP BSN to DNP Program?
- Analyze common causes of mental disorders, including injury, trauma, disease, infection, and genetics
- Learn how to assess and diagnose patients who face a variety of mental health challenges
- Prepare to treat mental health disorders, substance abuse issues, and developmental problems in people of all ages
This post-BSN degree is broken down into core nursing courses, advanced practice courses, project and practicum classes, and the PMHNP specialization. You will complete extensive practicums as well as write and defend a scholarly project. The core DNP courses provide training in advanced nursing research, clinical prevention, applications of evidence-based care, healthcare operations, and ethical issues in nursing. You’ll also explore advanced topics in health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology.
Learn how to provide quality psychiatric care in a variety of settings. With the PMHNP specialization, you can learn how to treat and support patients who suffer from mental health problems. You’ll study how to conduct psychiatric diagnoses using tools like behavioral assessments and diagnostic tests. Additionally, our courses can help you understand the various cultural, legal, ethical, and socioeconomic factors that affect individuals and families seeking psychiatric care. You will also analyze best practices for using psychopharmacology to treat mental disorders across the lifespan.
Potential Careers for Graduates of Liberty’s Online Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program
Prepare to work as a psychiatric nurse practitioner in a variety of settings, including:
- Behavioral health clinics
- Correctional facilities
- Domestic violence shelters
- General practitioners’ offices
- Hospitals
- Inpatient or outpatient psychiatric facilities
- Mental health agencies
- Private practices
- Residential treatment centers
- Veteran psychiatric facilities
Benefits of Pursuing Your DNP in PMHNP Degree with Liberty University
As a leader in distance education since 1985, we understand what it takes to create a flexible and affordable education for busy people. Since we have been investing in distance and online learning for decades, our experience has taught us how to streamline our degree options so you can focus on what really matters to you. While many schools offer online degrees, we believe Liberty stands out.
Here’s what sets us apart:
- Our online programs are backed by our brick-and-mortar campus – ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America – and that commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well. Earning your degree from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
- The majority of tuition for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs has not increased in 9 years.* While many other online colleges have raised tuition, Liberty has been able to keep costs low as a nonprofit university.
- You can complete this DNP in PMHNP program in as little as 3 years!
- Liberty’s BSN to DNP in PMHNP degree is accredited by CCNE, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Prepare to pursue national certification and state licensure as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
- Complete over 1,000 practicum hours before graduation.
- Pursue a doctoral nursing degree without needing to complete a master’s program.
- Receive hands-on instruction, utilize state-of-the-art equipment, and connect in-person with your classmates and professors during 1 residential intensive.
*Please note: Effective Spring 2022, tuition rates for Liberty’s PMHNP programs have increased. For details, please see our tuition and fees page: https://www.liberty.edu/online/tuition-and-fees/.
Credit Hours

Transfer Credits
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Next Start Date
Jun 23, 2025
Accreditation
CCNE










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Our residential campus ranked among Niche.com’s Top 5 College Campuses in America. That commitment to excellence extends to our online students as well.
No tuition increase for 9 years
We want to help you pursue your goals - so while tuition rates at most universities have continued to increase over the years, the majority of our rates haven't.
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