https://nursing.ouhsc.edu/Programs-Academics Parent Page: Programs & Academics id: 35769 Active Page: BSN to DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner id: 35853

The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner pathway prepares skilled nurse practitioners to provide a full range of primary mental health care services across the lifespan. The curriculum equips graduates to apply for and sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification exam. At the OU Health Campus, the program emphasizes interprofessional collaboration and the development of competencies in practice, leadership, quality improvement, and safety—skills that lead to improved outcomes for patients, families, providers, and organizations.

Many classes are offered online to accommodate working nurses, with select on-campus learning experiences such as standardized patient visits, clinical skills labs, and objective structured clinical exams. The program offers both a 4-year part-time and a 3-year full-time option, providing flexibility for students balancing work and education. Graduates earn the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, a practice doctorate that prepares clinical scholars for outstanding leadership and innovative, evidence-based, patient- and population-centered care.

Part-time and Full-time completion options.

Hybrid Program...

currently accepts all qualified applicants

Average Median Salary

$132,050 per year

( source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics )

Curriculum

Program format and/or delivery:

  • Didactic vs. clinical/lab time.
  • BSN TO DNP— PMHNP REQUIREMENTS (76 credit hours, 1152 clinical hours)
  • Didactic for PMHNP: 58 credit hours
  • Clinical/Practica for PMHNP: 18 credit hours and 1152 hours of clinical

Degree/credit requirements:

  • Total Hours for Degree – 76
  • Total Clinical/Practicum Hours – 1152
  • Courses, concentrations, tracks

View the Course Catalog

Admission Requirements

  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree in nursing from a United States regionally accredited institution.
  • Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Oklahoma or compact state by the time of enrollment in the second semester. 
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA for 3.0 in all college coursework at the time of application and at the time of enrollment. 
  • Resume or CV.
  • The most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview.
  • Please Note: The LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificates, PhD, and DNP programs in the OU College of Nursing are hybrid and/or online or part-time programs. The F-1 visa regulations require in-person courses, and these programs do not meet those requirements. Thus, international students are not accepted for these programs (LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificates, PhD, and DNP). International students are only eligible to apply for the ABSN and TBSN pathways as they have in-person requirements.
  • All applicants should refer to the professional licensure disclosure information for the programs.

Applying for Admission  

Please use a personal email address when setting up your NursingCAS account. School email addresses may expire before you receive your admission decision, which could disrupt communication. Using a personal email ensures we can always contact you.  

If after reviewing the qualifications for this program you are unsure of whether you meet them, please contact Nursing@ouhsc.edu. We are here to help and support you as you pursue a career in the health sciences.    

Application Process

Step 1

Complete the NursingCAS application 

  • Undergraduate programs: $60 for the first program; $45 for each additional program 
  • Graduate programs: $80 for the first program; $50 for each additional program 

Click here for detailed NursingCAS application instructions  

Step 2

Complete the OUHSC Supplemental application  

  • Beginning July 1, 2025, the OUHSC Supplemental Application fee will be waived for applicants who first apply to a CAS system.  
  • Applicants are advised to have a copy of their transcript from every College or University attended available as reference when completing the application process. 

Please Note:   

  • Admission requirements are subject to change. It is the applicant’s responsibility to stay informed regarding current applicable requirements. Please check the website for updates.  
  • All transcripts must be submitted to NursingCAS. Transcripts sent to the institutions cannot replace the requirement to submit all transcripts directly to NursingCAS. To meet enrollment requirements, transcripts must also be submitted to Recruitment and Admissions at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences.   
  • The Professional Transcript Entry option in NursingCAS does not replace the requirement to submit all transcripts to NursingCAS. If you choose the Professional Transcript Entry in NursingCAS, the applicant must still go back into NursingCAS and request transcripts.  
  • NursingCAS can take several business days to verify an application. It is important to submit all your items by the deadlines to ensure that your application can be verified by NursingCAS by the verification deadline. 

Graduate (Certificate, Master of Science in Nursing—MSN, Doctor of Nursing Practice—DNP) Fall 2026: Application Deadline: February 2, 2026  

  • Please note that all applicants must be in a verified status with all required materials to be considered a qualified applicant finalized in NursingCAS by February 23, 2026. If the application is not verified in CAS by this date, the applicant will need to reapply in the next cycle. If the applicant is missing the supplemental application or does not have a verified application in CAS by February 23, 2026, the applicant will need to reapply in the next cycle.   

The LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificates, PhD, and DNP programs in the OU College of Nursing are hybrid and/or online or part-time programs. The F-1 visa regulations require in-person courses, and these programs do not meet those requirements. Thus, international students are not accepted for these programs (LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, Post-Graduate Certificates, PhD, and DNP). International students are only eligible to apply for the ABSN and TBSN pathways as they have in-person requirements.  

  • If after reviewing the qualifications for this program you are unsure of whether you meet them, please contact Nursing@ouhsc.edu. We are here to help and support you as you pursue a career in the health sciences.    

Program Details

Location Offered

Hybrid

Degree Acquired

Doctor of Nursing Practice: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

Admissions

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