DNP – Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (Post-BSN) Aligning Mental and Physical Wellbeing

73
Credit Hours
Online* with required intensive
Transfer in up to 50% of the degree total
Help Your Patients Overcome Mental Health Challenges with Liberty’s Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program Online
Are you a nurse looking to develop new skills and expand your career options? Do you want to help people who suffer from mental health issues? Are you seeking a fast track to a doctoral nursing degree? If so, conferring Liberty’s post-BSN Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) degree might be the right next step for you. You can apply to this program if you are a licensed, registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree — which means you won’t need to complete a master’s program before pursuing your doctorate!
Our PMHNP program seeks to help meet the desperate need for mental health care providers in the United States. Throughout your courses, you can develop the skills needed to treat mental health disorders, substance abuse issues, and developmental problems in patients of all ages. Additionally, you can prepare to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner national certification exam and pursue state licensure as a PMHNP.
Partner with us and prepare to help meet a variety of patient health needs — both physical and mental.
Liberty maintains strict compliance with all licensure requirements for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Not a Virginia resident? We want to help find the best program for you! To view educational requirements and whether a specific program aligns with the licensure requirements for your state, please review our licensure/certification requirements webpage.
*Some exclusions apply. Please refer to our exclusions page for more information.
Accreditation
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and the postgraduate APRN certificate program at Liberty University School of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (http://www.ccneaccreditation.org).








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What Sets Us Apart?
- Private Nonprofit University
- 600+ Online Degrees
- No Standardized Testing for Admission
- Transfer in up to 75% of an Undergrad Degree
- Transfer in up to 50% of a Grad/Doctoral Degree
Why Choose Liberty’s BSN to DNP – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree?
Liberty University has been a pioneer in distance education since 1985. A lot has changed since then, but our commitment to Training Champions for Christ has not. We seek to offer high-quality programs that maximize flexibility, affordability, and accessibility.
Our DNP – Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). You can pursue your degree with confidence knowing that our courses have met rigorous academic standards.
While pursuing your post-BSN DNP – PMHNP, you will complete over 1,000 practicum hours. That way, you can gain marketable experience that could help you stand out to future employers. Additionally, you’ll attend 1 residential intensive, giving you the opportunity to visit our beautiful campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. During this intensive, you can further benefit from hands-on instruction, state-of-the-art equipment, and the chance to connect in-person with your classmates and professors.
If you want to earn your nursing doctorate but don’t have a master’s degree, then this program is for you. You can apply to our DNP – PMHNP (post-BSN) program if you’ve completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing — allowing you to start achieving your academic and professional goals sooner.
In our PMHNP online program, you will study under nursing professionals who have years of real-world experience. Our DNP faculty will support you as you complete your scholarly project, and our practicum coordinators can help you gain practicum placement. Additionally, for some of your courses, you’ll have online meetings with your professors so you can further benefit from their mentorship.
What Will You Study in Our BSN to DNP – PMHNP Program Online?
This post-BSN degree is broken down into core nursing courses, advanced practice courses, project and practicum classes, and the PMHNP specialization. In addition to completing extensive DNP and PMHNP practicums, you will research, write, and defend a scholarly project. You’ll also select an elective course so you can explore further topics of interest in the field of nursing.
Throughout the program, you can train to work at the highest level of clinical practice and help improve quality, safety, cost, and patient care in nursing. You can also prepare to lead multidisciplinary nursing initiatives, translate evidence into practice, and work as a PMHNP in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings.
Liberty’s core DNP courses provide a solid foundation in advanced nursing research, applications of evidence-based care, clinical prevention, healthcare operations, and interprofessional collaboration. You’ll also receive advanced training in health assessment, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. Our goal is to help you approach nursing from an ethical perspective so you can make medical decisions that are morally and scientifically sound.
Within the PMHNP specialization, you’ll study methods for treating and supporting patients with mental health problems. You will analyze the most common causes of mental disorders, including injury, trauma, infection, disease, and genetics. You can also learn how to approach psychiatric diagnoses using tools like behavioral assessments and diagnostic tests. Additionally, our program explores how to:
- Account for the cultural, legal, ethical, and socioeconomic factors that affect individuals and families seeking psychiatric help.
- Develop treatment plans and provide quality care to patients facing a variety of psychiatric mental health challenges.
- Make client-centered prescriptive decisions within the context of outcomes, safety, quality, and costs.
- Navigate challenges related to advocacy, policy, health promotion, and disease prevention.
- Use psychopharmacology to treat mental illness and disorders across the lifespan.
Potential Career Opportunities
- 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
Featured Courses
- NURS 742 – Nursing Seminar: Issues in Global Health
- NURS 751 – Neurobiology and Differential Diagnosis of Mental Disorders
- NURS 752 – Clinical Psychopharmacology
- NURS 753 – Psychotherapeutic Theories, Frameworks, and Modalities
Course guides available upon request
Degree Information
- This program falls under the School of Nursing.
- View the Graduate Nursing Course Guides (login required).
- Please review our FAQ sheet for more information.
Additional Information
Disclosures
RN Licensure
Students must hold a current and active RN license within the United States.
Non-Discrimination Statement
View the School of Nursing Non-Discrimination Statement.
For advising, please contact dnp@liberty.edu.
Disclosure Statement
Enrollment in one of Liberty University’s licensure programs does not guarantee a degree from Liberty or qualification for licensure. Students are responsible for meeting all academic and professional requirements for graduation. Further information regarding these academic and professional requirements is outlined on this program page and on the full admission page linked on the Admission Requirements tab. Students enrolled in a licensure program are responsible for knowing the material outlined for their program. Further, it is the sole responsibility of the student, not the institution, to obtain information regarding prerequisites for licensure as outlined by their particular state Board of Nursing.
Licensure requirements for any state are subject to change without notice. Liberty University is not responsible for knowing when changes occur. Additionally, there might be other states with unique licensure requirements. Please reference our State Requirements for NP and APRN Licensure page and contact your State Board of Nursing for further information.
Liberty University Online State Approval Disclosure
Licensure requirements for any state are subject to change without notice. View the licensure/certification requirements for your state.
Practicum Sites
For additional questions related to practicums, please reach out to the School of Nursing at dnp@liberty.edu.
Degree Completion Plan
State Licensure Requirements
Individual state licensure requirements may vary and are subject to change without notice. View your state’s requirements here: licensure/certification requirements.

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Tuition & Aid
PMHNP Programs | $1,200/Credit |
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Tuition rates may change annually. For the most current information, please visit our LU Tuition Cost page.
All Tuition & Fees
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Admission Information for Liberty’s BSN to DNP – Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program Online
Admission Requirements
At this time, our DNP in Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degree is limited in certain states. Please view the licensure/certification requirements for your state. International students can contact the School of Nursing for questions about admission to their specific degree of interest.
Disclosure Statement
Enrollment in one of Liberty University’s licensure programs does not guarantee a degree from Liberty or qualification for licensure. Students are responsible for meeting all academic and professional requirements for graduation. More information about academic and professional requirements can be found below. Students enrolled in a licensure program are responsible for knowing the material outlined for their program. Further, it is the sole responsibility of the student, not Liberty University, to obtain information regarding prerequisites for licensure as outlined by their particular state Board of Nursing.
Licensure requirements for any state are subject to change without notice. Additionally, there might be other states with unique licensure requirements. Please reference our State Requirements for NP and APRN Licensure page for further information.
- Apply online or over the phone with an admissions counselor by calling (800) 424-9596.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required).
- Send official college transcripts (mailed as sealed, unopened copies or sent via a direct electronic transcript system). A regionally or nationally accredited Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or a Master of Science in Nursing degree accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) with at least a 3.0 GPA is required for admission in good standing.
- Transcripts must include a Master of Science degree in Nursing with an advanced practice specialty (Nurse Practitioner only – family, gerontology, adult, neonatal, pediatrics, women’s)
- Admission to this program requires the following additional items to be submitted:
- Current and Active RN License Issued in an Approved State. Applicants must hold RN license in the state that the practicum will occur within one of the 50 United States. RN licensure number and state where license was issued will be required in the application. If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admission Review Committee for further explanation.
- Documentation of Active APRN License and Active National Certification for Nurse Practitioner (if applicable). Note: APRN licensure is not required for the DNP-PMHNP program; however, if an applicant is currently licensed in another advanced practice nursing specialty (i.e., Clinical Nurse Specialist), applicants must submit an APRN license and certification.
- If a past sanction or disciplinary action exists on a professional license, the applicant may be contacted by the Nursing Admission Review Committee for further explanation.
- A copy of the certification form must also be provided, in addition to the license. Please submit a copy of your license and certification to luoverify@liberty.edu.
- Maryland students may submit a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) license in place of an APRN.
- Clinical Education Prerequisites: Must have bachelor’s-level courses in statistics, research methods, and health assessment.
- Consent to contact recent employers to verify 1 year of professional nursing experience. This form is part of the CV template.
- Curriculum Vitae
- American Heart Association BLS CPR Card for Healthcare Providers with AED. Copies must be submitted to luoverify@liberty.edu.
- Military students may submit their CPR certification from the American Red Cross. This is only for Military students.
- 1 Academic, 1 Professional, and 1 Personal Reference: Your references should be able to speak to your work ethic and academic abilities. They should also be able to be reached via phone or email.
- Writing Sample
- A document using APA rules of grammar. First person is permitted; APA formatting (i.e. title page, headers) is not needed. Return completed writing sample to luoverify@liberty.edu. Entire document should be 1,500 words minimum and 3,000 words maximum.
- A document discussing introduction and world view, professional experience/ goals, and vision for professional practice including scholarly project.
- Please also provide the following:
- Name of present or most recent employment and position
- Length of Employment (Indicate in MM/DD/YY to MM/DD/YY. If still employed, write ‘current’ as the end date)
- A document using APA rules of grammar. First person is permitted; APA formatting (i.e. title page, headers) is not needed. Return completed writing sample to luoverify@liberty.edu. Entire document should be 1,500 words minimum and 3,000 words maximum.
- Department Admission Review approval required – upon all documents being received on the checklist, the application will be sent for admission review by the department. An interview will be extended to selected applicants. Please note that not all applicants will be requested to interview with the Nursing departments. Interviews can be conducted remotely, as needed. Review times can vary due to several factors but they will be completed as soon as possible.
- Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy.
Students must have bachelor’s-level courses in statistics, research, and health assessment. A graduate-level biostatistics course is also required as a prerequisite to NURS 832, but this course may be completed after acceptance into the program.
Supplemental Acceptance Steps
Supplemental Acceptance Steps
After reviewing applications, the School of Nursing will contact selected applicants for an interview. Please note that not all applicants will be requested to interview with the School of Nursing. Interviews can be conducted remotely as needed. If an acceptance offer is extended to an applicant, there will be additional application steps needed before attending courses.
Included in these steps is the purchase of a standardized background check and submission of immunization records. More information will be provided to selected applicants.
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 DNP@Liberty.edu or by calling (434) 592-6505.
*Deposit refund deadlines apply. Contact the School of Nursing for specific semester refund dates.
Preliminary Acceptance
If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:
- Be in your final term and planning to start your doctoral degree after the last day of class for your BSN or master’s degree.
- Complete a Master’s or Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
- Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term.The preliminary transcript must show that you are within 6 credit hours of completion for a 30-48 credit hour master’s degree, within 9 credit hours of completion for a 49+ credit hour master’s degree, or show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours for a bachelor’s degree.
- Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new doctoral degree.
Transcript Policies
Official College Transcript Policy
An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to luoverify@liberty.edu.
Admissions Office Contact Information
Liberty University Online Admissions Verification
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24515

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Submit your application online or over the phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this program have any additional accreditation?
Liberty’s BSN to DNP – PMHNP degree is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Will this program provide any hands-on experience?
You will complete over 1,000 practicum hours before graduation.
What is the goal of this program?
You will prepare to pursue national certification and state licensure as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
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