7 Accredited Online PMHNP Programs in California

Looking to advance your nursing career with online PMHNP programs in California while helping vulnerable populations? Mental health care needs are surging – the American Psychological Association reports tens of millions of people need psychiatric care for mental and substance-abuse disorders. California faces an ongoing shortage of mental health care providers.

California’s psychiatric nurse practitioner programs give you a chance to fill this critical gap. PMHNPs deliver comprehensive mental health care services. Their work includes biopsychosocial assessment and diagnosis of patients with mental illness and co-occurring disorders. This specialty equips you to address mental health needs throughout a patient’s life. Many California psych NP programs offer flexible learning formats. Some programs run up to 90% online with just 10% on-campus intensives.

California’s accredited programs fit various professional goals. Options range from one-year certificate programs at $12,600 to detailed degree paths requiring 540 clinical hours. This piece will guide you toward PMHNP national board certification, whether you choose established universities like UCLA and UCSF or other institutions.

Touro University California PMHNP Program

Touro University California leads the way in addressing mental health provider shortages through its PMHNP certificate program. The program gives you specialized skills to help vulnerable populations of all ages. This approach helps fill crucial gaps in behavioral health workforce.

Program Overview

The PMHNP certificate program combines online learning with hands-on clinical experience. You’ll learn both therapy and disease management skills that work in many settings – from inpatient to outpatient care, and both short-term and long-term facilities. The program builds on National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Competencies. This foundation helps you develop advanced clinical and organizational skills to deliver excellent patient care.

The program is a chance to grow professionally through:

• Clinical rotations in multiple settings
• Learning with medical, pharmacy, PA, and public health students
• Specialty certifications and badges
• Possible recognition by Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society

Curriculum Structure

The curriculum builds your expertise step by step:

Students without prerequisites can take a special semester covering Advanced Pathophysiology, Assessment, and Pharmacology.

Clinical Training Requirements

Clinical experience is the core of your education at Touro, with 750 clinical hours spread across multiple semesters. The program’s strength comes from its rotation opportunities in:

• Inpatient and outpatient settings
• Public health and community environments
• Rehabilitation centers
• Emergency departments
• Street medicine initiatives
• Pain management and addiction medicine

These experiences help you develop practical skills for all aspects of psychiatric mental health care.

Admission Requirements

You’ll need these prerequisites to join:

• A master’s degree in nursing from an accredited institution
• A minimum 3.0 GPA in master’s level coursework
• A valid California RN license without restrictions
• One year of full-time nursing practice before starting

TUC Alumni with MSN degrees from the TUC School of Nursing can skip some requirements like recommendation letters and transcripts.

Program Length and Format

The program takes 20-22 months and uses a hybrid format perfect for working professionals. You’ll find:

• 90% of coursework online
• 10% on-campus sessions for skills development, clinical labs, standardized patient training, and interprofessional education

You can start in Fall or Spring semesters.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Each unit costs $1,090 without transfer credits, plus extra fees. You’ll need 37 PMHNP credits and 1 elective credit – 38 credits total. Other costs include:

• Technology Fee: $85 per trimester
• Annual Student Fee: $345

Touro helps with various financial aid options. These include scholarships, federal loans, work-study opportunities, and veteran programs like Yellow Ribbon.

Certification and Career Outcomes

After graduating, you can apply for California State Certification as a Nurse Practitioner with Furnishing privileges. You’ll also qualify for National Board Certification through AANP and ANCC.

Career prospects look great – over 99% of Touro graduates [link_2] who pass licensing exams find jobs within six months. As a Touro PMHNP graduate, you’ll be ready to:

• Diagnose, assess, treat, and manage behavioral health conditions for all ages
• Deliver various types of therapy
• Use evidence-based treatments with an integrated approach
• Provide patient-centered care alone or in teams
• Support patients and organizations effectively

California State University, Fresno PMHNP Program

California State University, Fresno has a specialized Certificate of Advanced Study program for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. This program will help you expand your practice in mental healthcare. You’ll get the skills to provide detailed psychiatric services throughout a patient’s life, which helps address California’s growing need for mental health providers.

Program Overview

The School of Nursing at Fresno State runs this Certificate of Advanced Study for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program with the Division of Continuing and Global Education. Primary care nurse practitioners learn to provide detailed psychiatric services throughout the life cycle in this post-master’s program. The program meets the Board of Registered Nursing’s “Standards of Education for Nurse Practitioner Programs”. It also has accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, which ensures quality education that matches professional standards.

Curriculum Structure

Students complete 19 units over three semesters with these courses:

Each course runs once a year, and students move through the program together as a cohort. Right now, you can’t take the program part-time.

Clinical Training Requirements

Clinical experience is a key part of your education at Fresno State. You’ll need 540 total clinical hours throughout the program, with 180 hours in each practicum course. These hours must be direct patient care under an approved preceptor or faculty member’s supervision. Clinical placements happen in many behavioral health settings, such as outpatient psychiatric clinics, inpatient psychiatric facilities, drug rehabilitation centers, telehealth environments, and correctional facilities.

Admission Requirements

You’ll need to meet these requirements:

1. An MSN or higher degree (DNP, PhD, EdD) from an accredited college with a minimum 3.0 GPA
2. Current practice as a primary care nurse practitioner (FNP, PNP, AGNP) or CRNA
3. At least one year of clinical experience as an NP or CRNA
4. A valid California Nurse Practitioner license with furnishing number
5. Valid California RN licensure
6. Current Basic Life Support certification

Applications are due by October 15th each year. We recommend applying early since decisions might be made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program Length and Format

The PMHNP program runs for one year, starting in January (Spring semester) and ending in December (Fall semester). Working professionals can benefit from the online format, which only requires four campus visits during the program. You’ll use Canvas, video conferencing, and other distance learning tools to access course content remotely.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Each unit costs $600, and you’ll take 19-21 units. The total program cost comes to about $11,400-$12,600. You should also plan for extra costs like textbooks, liability insurance, clinical onboarding fees, Typhon, vSim, and prep courses. The program doesn’t offer financial aid or discounts.

Certification and Career Outcomes

After graduation, you can take the national board certification exam from either the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) or the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Passing the exam gives you either the PMHNP-C or PMHNP-BC credential.

As a certified PMHNP, you’ll find career opportunities in many settings where you’ll help clients with acute and chronic mental health conditions:

• Inpatient psychiatric facilities
• Outpatient mental health clinics
• Emergency departments
• Correctional facilities
• Telehealth environments
• Substance use rehabilitation centers
• School or college campuses
• Veterans Administration facilities

Your work will include conducting psychotherapy (individual, group, family), managing psychopharmacological interventions, and providing mental healthcare services throughout a patient’s life.

UC PMHNP Certificate Program (UC Davis, UCSF, UCLA)

The University of California system has launched a groundbreaking shared certificate program. UC Davis, UCSF, and UCLA have joined forces to tackle California’s shortage of mental health professionals. This program excels as the first of its kind in the state’s education system.

Program Overview

The UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program prepares advanced practice registered nurses to care for patients with mental health needs throughout their lives. This 12-month hybrid graduate certificate is based at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis. UC Davis, UCSF, UCLA, and UC Irvine work together to help solve California’s shortage of mental health providers. Right now, over 50% of people with mental illness in California can’t get psychiatric care. Many communities, especially in rural and inland areas, have only half as many psychiatrists as other parts of the state.

Curriculum Structure

Students complete 48 units over four quarters (summer, fall, winter, and spring). Most courses are online. Here’s how the curriculum breaks down:

Students get hands-on practice through clinical residency components each quarter.

Clinical Training Requirements

Students spend 16-24 hours weekly in supervised clinical training. They can often train in their own communities across California. Wednesday virtual clinical case conferences are common. Some quarters might need evening and weekend clinical work.

Admission Requirements

You’ll need to:

• Meet UC Davis graduate admission standards
• Have a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) degree or equivalent
• Hold a valid California registered nurse license
• Be a licensed APRN in California during your studies
• Have at least a 3.0 GPA in your bachelor’s degree
• Complete all prerequisites (advanced physiology/pathophysiology, physical/health assessment, and pharmacology)

You must also provide three recommendation letters, official transcripts, a resume/CV, and purpose statements.

Program Length and Format

The certificate takes exactly 12 months (four quarters including summer). The program combines:

• Online core courses
• Three virtual immersion sessions in summer, fall, and winter
• Clinical placements around California
• Weekly virtual classes

Working professionals can manage this schedule while getting detailed education and clinical experience.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The University of California Regents set program fees, which may change. Students can explore several financial aid options. The California Department of Health Care Access and Information’s Behavioral Health Scholarship Program offers up to $25,000. Students must work 12 months in an underserved community in return.

Certification and Career Outcomes

Graduates can take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certification examination (PMHNP-BC™). PMHNPs have many job opportunities. The median annual wage for PMHNPs nationwide is $140,592. Graduates can provide psychiatric care through therapy and medication management in outpatient clinics, schools, prisons, and behavioral health homes.

West Coast University PMHNP Program

West Coast University is notable among online PMHNP programs in California with its flexible completion paths that fit your work schedule. You can complete this online program while continuing your current job to become a specialized psychiatric care provider.

Program Overview

The MSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at WCU gives you the skills needed to diagnose, manage therapy, and plan treatment if you have psychiatric or substance-use disorders. This CCNE-accredited program builds expertise in psychiatric conditions, treatment methods, and the latest mental healthcare trends. The curriculum goes beyond basics to cover specialized topics like telehealth, care for specific populations, and modern psychiatric treatments.

Curriculum Structure

Students must complete 53 total credits split between two main areas:

The specialized psychiatric courses include Neurobiology and Psychopharmacology, Psychiatric-Mental Health Care Across the Lifespan (Theory I & II), and final experience components. Students learn evidence-based practices and apply them during clinical practicum experiences.

Clinical Training Requirements

Students need to complete 500 precepted clinical hours. The program includes two mandatory on-site intensive (OSI) weekends where students practice and demonstrate essential hands-on nurse practitioner skills. The best part is you won’t have to find clinical placements by yourself. Each student works with a coordinator who helps find suitable clinical sites and preceptors that match your goals and meet program requirements.

Admission Requirements

You need these qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree (BSN for standard MSN track)
• An active, unencumbered RN license
• Academic transcripts
• A completed enrollment agreement
• An admissions interview

The PMHNP program requires at least one year of direct patient care RN experience before starting APRN core courses.

Program Length and Format

You can choose between two completion paths:

• Accelerated pace: 20 months (5 trimesters, 80 instructional weeks)
• Working Professional pace: 36 months (9 trimesters, 144 instructional weeks)

Classes are online with strategic on-site sessions for hands-on skill development. Your choice between Accelerated or Working Professional pace determines your course load each term.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Your tuition costs depend on your chosen pace:

• Accelerated path (Texas/California): approximately $47,005-$48,445
• Working Professional path (Texas/California): approximately $49,005-$50,445

These costs cover tuition ($38,905-$40,345), technology fees ($2,500-$4,500), clinical program fees ($3,300), and supplies/licensure preparation fees ($2,300). WCU provides various financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, loans, and special rates for military members and their spouses.

Certification and Career Outcomes

After finishing your coursework and clinical hours, you can take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certification (PMHNP-BC) exam. WCU provides exam prep tools through Lecturio and BoardVitals—mobile-friendly platforms that boost your confidence for certification. You’ll also get support from WCU’s Career Services team with resume writing workshops, interview coaching, professional development resources, and job search assistance.

University of San Francisco PMHNP Program

The University of San Francisco’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is well-known for its flexible career paths. Registered nurses can advance their careers in mental health care through this values-based educational program.

Program Overview

The USF Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program welcomes registered nurses with BSN or MSN degrees who want to provide complete mental health services to patients throughout their lives. We focused on psychiatric diagnosis and management, which includes differential diagnosis of medical disorders with psychiatric symptoms and medication treatment for psychiatric disorders.

The program helps you develop specialized skills to:

• Work in a variety of settings like primary care facilities, outpatient clinics, psychiatric emergency settings, and private practices
• Diagnose conditions, conduct therapy, and prescribe medications for patients with psychiatric disorders
• Provide emergency psychiatric services and psychosocial assessments
• Work as consultants or educators for families and staff

Curriculum Structure

Students experience a mix of online and classroom learning with year-round courses during fall, spring, and summer semesters. The program helps arrange practicum placements, so you won’t have to find clinical sites on your own.

This DNP program requires students to complete an evidence-based quality improvement project in their concentration area. Your project shows that you know how to apply evidence-based practice principles through problem identification, development, implementation, and evaluation.

Clinical Training Requirements

Students must complete between 1,000-1,200 clinical hours throughout the program. Your chosen plan of study determines the exact number. After finishing the program, you’ll meet the AACN Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice requirements.

Admission Requirements

Your entry point determines the admission requirements. The PMHNP certificate needs:

• A DNP or MSN from an accredited program
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
• A recommended 3.0 or higher GPA
• One letter of recommendation
• Professional résumé
• Statement of professional goals
• An unencumbered RN license

Program Length and Format

You can complete the program through two paths:

• Bachelor’s Entry DNP path
• Master’s Entry DNP path

DNP-prepared nurses can earn their PMHNP specialization certificate in just one year. The hybrid program combines online and in-person courses. Teaching weekends happen on Fridays (8 a.m. – 9 p.m.) and Saturdays (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.).

Tuition and Financial Aid

USF provides several financial aid options:

1. Dean’s Graduate Scholarships for Financial Need and Merit ($2,000-$4,000 in the first year)
2. NPCT Scholarships (federal funding from $2,000 to $20,000)
3. Health Professions Education Foundation Scholarships for practicing in California’s medically underserved communities
4. Federal Student Loans up to $20,500 per year
5. Yellow Ribbon Program benefits for veterans

On top of that, the HRSA Nurse Faculty Loan Program offers up to $35,500 yearly with potential 85% loan forgiveness.

Certification and Career Outcomes

The program prepares you for national Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Board Certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Graduates can pursue state-issued Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) licensure or Nurse Practitioner (NP) licensure.

Graduates learn how to:

• Blend nursing, ethics, and medical science knowledge to develop patient care models
• Handle ethical dilemmas in healthcare
• Use evidence-based approaches in healthcare delivery
• Lead health policy development
• Support social justice and ethical healthcare policies

Out-of-state students should check their state’s approval for online learning before applying.

UMass Global PMHNP Program

UMass Global (formerly Brandman University) offers one of the most well-laid-out online PMHNP programs in California. BSN-prepared nurses looking for doctoral-level psychiatric training will find clear pathways to progress through the program.

Program Overview

The Doctor of Nursing Practice with Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialization at UMass Global prepares you to make independent and interdependent decisions. You’ll be directly accountable for your clinical judgment. The program teaches detailed psychiatric care in a variety of settings, such as inpatient, outpatient, forensic, and telepsychiatry environments.

Curriculum Structure

Students need 73 credits to graduate from this BSN-to-DNP track. The curriculum combines advanced nursing theory with specialized psychiatric content to prepare you for delivering detailed mental healthcare. The program director, Dr. Haidy Willis, brings 25 years of experience in mental health and behavioral healthcare. Her expertise spans child, adult, inpatient, and outpatient settings.

Clinical Training Requirements

The program includes 1,020 clinical hours. You’ll get hands-on experience in various psychiatric settings. These clinical experiences help you develop competency in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions.

Admission Requirements

You need to meet these requirements:

• BSN degree
• 0 GPA or higher
• GRE scores (Analytical Writing Score must be 4.0 or higher)
• Additional university requirements

Program Length and Format

This full-time program takes 3 years (9 semesters/18 terms) to complete. Most coursework is online, but you’ll need to attend 7 on-campus immersion sessions during the program. New groups of students start each January.

Tuition and Financial Aid

The program costs about $79,935 plus extra fees, at $1,095 per credit hour. Students can apply for financial aid, and UMass Global’s student loan default rate stays below the national average.

Certification and Career Outcomes

After graduating, you can take certification exams through national credentialing organizations. The program doesn’t accept students from South Carolina, so this limits who can apply based on location.

National University PMHNP Program

National University offers a flexible Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program that’s available to aspiring mental health providers. The program stands out from other online PMHNP programs in California because of its quarter-based system and full accreditation.

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Nursing with PMHNP specialization equips you to deliver primary mental healthcare throughout a patient’s life. PMHNPs diagnose conditions, create care plans for complex psychiatric problems, and manage psychopharmacologic agents. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited this program.

Curriculum Structure

Students need to complete 87 quarter units. The program has:

• 6 MSN foundation courses
• 3 specialization preparation courses that cover pharmacology, assessment, and pathophysiology
• 9 specialization courses focused on psychiatric care

Clinical Training Requirements

Students must complete 540 clinical hours at faculty-approved locations with in-person, preceptored training. The program requires four one-day Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in Costa Mesa.

Admission Requirements

Students need:

• A BSN from an accredited program
• A current, active RN license
• A minimum 3.0 GPA (2.5-2.99 GPA might qualify for conditional acceptance)

Program Length and Format

Most students complete the program in about two years. The coursework happens online, but clinical components require in-person attendance.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Each quarter unit costs $450, bringing the total program cost to around $51,300 with course material fees. Students can access various financial aid options.

Certification and Career Outcomes

The program prepares graduates to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center PMHNP-BC examination. The program’s graduates have achieved an 83% pass rate.

Get Started

California needs more mental health providers. Seven accredited PMHNP programs can help fill this gap and advance your nursing career. These programs range from one-year certificate programs costing about $12,600 to complete three-year doctoral tracks that need over 1,000 clinical hours.

The programs offer different benefits based on your career goals. Touro University California combines a hybrid approach with 750 clinical hours. Fresno State has optimized a certificate program requiring 540 hours of hands-on experience. The UC system program brings together multiple prestigious institutions’ expertise. West Coast University lets you complete the program at your own pace. USF builds on values-based education. UMass Global provides structured doctoral training. National University makes education accessible through its quarter-based system.

Working professionals can complete most coursework online with strategic on-site intensives. Many schools help students find clinical placements, which removes the burden of finding training sites on your own.

Graduating from any of these programs qualifies you to take national board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Your certification opens opportunities in outpatient clinics, inpatient facilities, telehealth environments, correctional institutions, and educational settings.

PMHNPs have excellent career prospects. They earn competitive salaries while making real differences in patients’ lives. Programs have different requirements for nursing experience, GPA minimums, and clinical hours. Yet they share one goal: preparing skilled practitioners who can address California’s mental health needs throughout life.

Your choice should line up with your professional situation, career goals, and priorities about program length, cost, and format. Whatever path you choose, becoming a PMHNP puts you at the vanguard of tackling one of healthcare’s biggest challenges. You’ll start a rewarding career helping vulnerable populations improve their mental health.