Accredited PMHNP programs, checked against the source.

It depends on where you start. A working RN with a BSN can finish a graduate PMHNP program in about 2 to 3 years (MSN) or 3 to 4 years (BSN-to-DNP). Someone starting from scratch needs a BSN and RN license first, making it 6 to 8 years total. The graduate degree includes coursework plus a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours, usually completed concurrently.

You need an active RN license plus a graduate nursing degree with a PMHNP focus from a CCNE- or ACEN-accredited program: an MSN, a BSN-to-DNP, or a post-master's PMHNP certificate if you already hold an NP degree in another specialty. There is no bachelor's-only or RN-only pathway to the role.

The national PMHNP median runs near $138,000, with most earning between $112,000 and $185,000; for reference, the BLS median for all nurse practitioners is $132,300 (May 2025 OEWS). Pay varies more by practice model (employed, 1099/locum, telepsychiatry, cash-pay private practice) than by geography. See our PMHNP salary guide for state-by-state numbers.

Yes, if it holds CCNE or ACEN accreditation. Accreditors do not distinguish online coursework from in-person coursework for certification eligibility, and online formats let you keep working while you study. The thing that actually separates strong online programs from weak ones is clinical placement support: confirm the program secures your preceptors rather than leaving you to find your own.

A psychiatrist is a physician (MD or DO) who completed medical school plus a psychiatry residency. A PMHNP is an advanced practice nurse who completed a graduate nursing degree (typically 2 to 4 years after becoming an RN). Both diagnose mental health conditions and prescribe medication, including controlled substances; in many states PMHNPs practice independently.