The BSN to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Online program at the University of North Florida prepares registered nurses to meet the growing demand for advanced psychiatric and mental health care. Designed for working professionals, this primarily online program combines rigorous academic coursework with extensive clinical training to prepare graduates for advanced practice roles serving individuals and families across the lifespan.
Advanced Practice in Mental Health Care
The BSN to PMHNP DNP program prepares registered nurses with advanced clinical expertise to deliver evidence-based psychiatric care across the lifespan. Designed for working professionals, the program blends online coursework with extensive clinical training in mental health settings.
Program Overview
The BSN to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) – Online program at the Brooks College of Health is designed for licensed registered nurses seeking advanced practice preparation in psychiatric and mental health care. This BSN-entry DNP pathway is delivered primarily online to accommodate working professionals, with one required on-campus visit during the first semester. The inaugural cohort is anticipated to begin in Fall 2026, with the approved program of study published in the UNF Catalog in Summer 2026.
The PMHNP DNP curriculum is grounded in the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials: Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education (2021) and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Standards for Quality Nurse Practitioner Education, 6th edition (2022), building upon objectives established for master’s-level nursing education. The program consists of 94 credit hours and includes 1,140 supervised clinical hours, preparing graduates to deliver evidence-based, comprehensive psychiatric mental health care to individuals and families across the lifespan in outpatient, inpatient, and private practice settings. Courses follow traditional full-length semesters and the program is offered full-time only, with 16 seats available each fall beginning in Fall 2026.
The baccalaureate, master’s, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs, as well as the post-graduate APRN certificate programs at the University of North Florida, are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The University of North Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.
Program Contacts
Graduate Program DirectorBrooks College of Health
Nursing Admissions Coordinator
Brooks College of Health
Academic Advisor
Brooks College of Health
Program At-a-Glance
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Admissions Requirements
The below Program Requirements, University Requirements, and International Applicant Requirements*, if applicable, must be submitted no later than the deadline posted above. Incomplete applications or those with required materials post-marked after the deadline are subject to cancellation. Once an application has been canceled, the decision cannot be reversed.
*International students must be fully admitted to a full-time, on-campus, in-person, degree-seeking program at the University of North Florida. Please contact the International Center for more information.
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University Requirements
University Requirements
Application and Application Fee
Prospective students are required to use our online system to create an account and submit an application. The application opens approximately one year in advance and is only good for the term and program in which it is submitted. Applicants who have submitted their application and wish to change their admission term or major/concentration may submit a new application and associated application fee. If you would like to cancel an open application, please contact us.
A $30 (USD) application fee is required regardless of previous enrollment. The application fee is non-refundable and cannot be waived. Undergraduate application fees cannot be used for a graduate application, and vise versa. The application fee must be submitted prior to the review of an application.
Current students who would like to add or change a major, concentration or certificate should submit the Change of Concentration or Major form.
College Transcripts
All applicants must provide transcripts from a U.S. institution accredited by an accepted institutional accreditor or its equivalent from a non-US institution that awarded the bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, if applicable, and transcripts from institutions where any post-baccalaureate and/or graduate credits were earned.
All admits must provide official transcripts.
All international transcripts will require a course-by-course evaluation by an approved third-party credential evaluation agency unless a graduate program has established an alternative credential evaluation procedure that is approved by the graduate school. To be accepted, the evaluation must be:
- Translated to English and be the U.S. equivalent
- Evaluated course-by-course
- Include the overall academic GPA
- Be from an approved third-party accredited evaluation service. Recommended evaluation agencies:
- SpanTran. They have created a custom application for UNF that will make sure you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application through the SpanTran Application - UNF Graduate School portal.
- Josef Silny & Associates, Inc.
- World Education Services
Important Notes
- The UNF Graduate School cannot request transcripts on an applicants behalf.
- Unofficial transcript copies are accepted for admissions but must clearly state the institution name, student name, course information, terms, grades, and credits. Degree audits are not accepted. Admitted students will be prompted to provide official transcripts.
- If currently enrolled in courses, an incomplete transcript must be submitted before the posted deadline.
- Applicants who also have to apply through systems such as ATCAS or PTCAS, must submit separate transcripts to UNF.
- Official transcripts must:
- Must be less than one year old from the date of printing
- Must be submitted in a sealed envelope from your institution, or emailed through official electronic means.
- When requesting college transcripts, please verify with your institution(s) whether or not they are able to submit electronic transcripts in the proper EDI format. Institutions can submit transcripts via e-mail to graduateschool@unf.edu from an approved vendor such as ScriptSafe, Credentials, or Parchment.
- Former or current UNF students should not request UNF transcripts. After application submission, the UNF requirement will be updated to a "waived" status.
Where Do I Send Transcripts and Test Scores?
Mail
UNF Graduate School
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32224Email
Test Score Institutional Codes
GRE: institutional code 5490
GMAT: institutional code CF3QB51 -
Program Specific Requirements
The program will require specific admission requirements above and beyond the ones currently required by the University. Admission requirements for the BSN PMHNP DNP track include:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an institution accredited by an acceptable institutional accreditor with a nursing curriculum based on AACN's Essentials of Baccalaureate Education
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an undergraduate nursing degree
- One (1) years' experience as a Registered Nurse in a clinical setting at the time of application
- Clear and active licensure as a Registered Nurse in FL; out-of-state applicants will need to obtain FL licensure as a RN upon admission to the program
- Copy of actual RN license required
For assistance with self-uploads of materials, please contact the UNF Graduate School at (904) 620-1360
- Written essay in APA format not to exceed 500 words and submitted after interviewing (if selected to interview); essay to address each of the following areas:
- Describe your future career plans and how UNF's PMHNP program will help you achieve those career goals;
- Describe the changes you will make in your personal and professional lives to ensure success in the program given its rigor as a graduate track;
- Identify one significant contemporary mental health-related issue or problem in U.S. healthcare and explore how members of the nursing profession can help address that issue or solve that problem
- Admission interview.