The Best Psychiatric NP Programs Online of 2023

As a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP), you can help fill a critical need for PMHNPs and provide care to those struggling with mental health challenges. These advanced practice nurses are qualified to diagnose and treat people with mental health disorders.

Completing an online program may allow you to use self-paced options and continue to work. Although many programs are completely online, be sure to check your preferred program as it may require on-campus visits.

As you search for a program among our ranked list of online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs, consider how your life circumstances, personal preferences, and long-term career goals will fit with the program.

We use a data-driven methodology to rank the best online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs, making it easier for you to find a program that works for you. Our methodology is based on metrics that we believe matter most to students, including academic quality, affordability, reputation, and program offerings.

This list of online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs was evaluated and ranked based on specific metrics. These same data points are crucial to a student’s evaluation of a nursing program. They are an indication of how well the program will fit with the student’s life and educational needs.

Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process by an organization. The program’s curriculum and clinicals are evaluated to ensure they meet minimum national standards. The accreditation process is used by federal and private financial aid institutions to demonstrate the program prepares students for success.

The process is meant to protect employers and the public by graduating students who are fully prepared to take on a professional psychiatric nurse practitioner role. The best online PMHNP programs are accredited, which ensures the student can:

Candidates may choose a master’s or doctorate-level online psychiatric NP program to complete their education. A master of science in nursing (MSN) program offers the opportunity for nurses to function as an NP and earn a higher salary.

The terminal degree in nursing is a DNP, which a nurse can also earn through an online psychiatric NP program. Both programs have required clinical components.

Depending on the school, an MSN or a DNP may also have lab components that require in-person attendance, or the school may allow the clinical preceptor to check off the skills. This also depends on the school requirements so students should verify if they are required to attend in-person labs.

Students who are attending an online program find clinical placement assistance as an online nursing student an important factor in program choice. This takes added stress off the student as they are moving into a new role.

It should be noted that due to the national shortage of PMHNPs, clinical experiences may be hard to find, even for schools that provide placements.

National board certification for a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The computer-based test is offered year round. After application, students can test during a 90-day window at a time and location that is best for them.

Accreditation is important for any college, but it is even more important for your online psych NP program.

Several factors affect the cost of an online psychiatric NP program, which in turn affects the student’s ability to pay out-of-pocket for nursing degrees. These factors include many of the criteria used in the ranking of the best online PMHNP programs.

For example, the length of the program influences the amount of money it will cost a student. Students should be aware of the cost per credit hour and the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs.

Some students may be able to work to help cover the cost of living during school. Each of these factors should be evaluated before enrolling. Attending an accredited program allows the student to apply for federal financial aid, including nursing grants, loans, and federal scholarship programs.

Accreditation also influences the ability to qualify for private grants and loans. Students should search for scholarship programs that help cover the cost of an online psychiatric nurse practitioner program. It is important to seek out information about financial aid for nurses to help pay for your program, including loan forgiveness for nurses and programs to help support economically disadvantaged and minority students.

Roughly 21% of all adults experience some type of mental illness. This is a sharp increase since before 2020 and an increase in the demand for qualified psychiatric nurse practitioners.

A licensed and nationally board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner can care for patients in a variety of settings. They focus on mental health disorders and most frequently address the needs of patients with:

These professionals are highly analytical and adept at problem-solving. Some of the common areas where they work include hospital mental health departments, private clinics, mental health clinics, or mental health departments.

According to the 2020 American Association of Nurse Practitioners Salary Report, the median annual salary of a psychiatric nurse practitioner is $131,500. This is one of the highest-earning NP specialties.

Licensed psychiatric NPs must hold both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in nursing or higher. Many universities offer MSN programs with a concentration in psychiatric mental health. Some students earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) instead of a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) and bypass a bachelor’s degree by enrolling in an RN-to-MSN program.

The quickest way to become a nurse, such as an PMHNP, depends on your current level of education. You may consider a 3-4 year RN-to-MSN program if you have an ADN. Online BSN-to-DNP programs can take 3-4 years, depending on if you are full time or part time.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the pandemic sparked a roughly 25% rise in depression and anxiety. The rise in patient population in a short time, coupled with the time it takes to become a psychiatric NP, has meant the market is not oversaturated. However, it may be more difficult to find employment in a small town or an attractive private practice.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center requires candidates to hold an active and unencumbered RN license and an MSN or a DNP from an accredited PMHNP program.

A candidate must also have graduate-level courses in pathophysiology/physiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology. Additional eligibility requirements include clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic interventions.

Page last reviewed November 14, 2022. Note: The ranking list and school descriptions on this page were created and reviewed independently by our Rankings Team.