DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Concentration

The DNP Post-Baccalaureate Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) role concentration prepares clinical experts in the delivery of care to the psychiatric-mental health population.  They work with individuals, families, groups, and communities, assessing, diagnosing and treating individuals and families with psychiatric disorders or the potential for such disorders using their full scope of therapeutic skills.

More information the PMHNP role may be found at the American Psychiatric Nurses Association website.

For information about the DNP - PMHNP concentration, see the Graduate Nursing Student Handbook or contact kayotte [at] nursing [dot] umass [dot] edu (Karen Ayotte). 

Plan of Study 

Students may follow either a 4-year or a 5-year plan of study.  

The PMHNP Certificate courses are completely online. You do not need to come to campus to complete this program.  You will gain experiential learning through clinical practica to be arranged in your area. Individual plans of study will be developed for each student. See the Downloads section for sample plans of study for APRN and non-APRN students.  

Clinical Hours Required:

Non-APRNS: 728

APRNs: 560

Admissions Requirements 

  • A baccalaureate or master’s degree in nursing, or an associate’s degree in nursing and a non-Nursing baccalaureate degree from a nationally accredited school or college of nursing with a grade point average of 3.0 (B) or higher
  • An active RN license
  • Psychiatric mental health nursing experience preferred.  

Application Deadline

Priority admission deadline: October 15. We will continue reviewing all applications until all seats are full.  Start dates may be available in Spring, Summer or Fall terms.

Apply online through the UMass Amherst Graduate School.

Note: We are unable to accept DNP students residing in AL, MN, NY, OR or WA.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
The baccalaureate degree program in Nursing is fully approved by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
The baccalaureate degree program in Nursing, master's degree program in Nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.