PMHNP Programs in New York

Not open to New York residents: Western Governors University. WGU's program page states it does not enroll residents of California, the District of Columbia, Louisiana, New York, North Dakota, or Washington.

Confirm current state authorization with each program. For the full comparison of these programs, see our online PMHNP ranking.

1. 01

   Earn a BSN and an RN license

   Most PMHNP programs admit Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates who hold an active RN license. If you start with an associate degree or a non-nursing bachelor's, bridge programs exist. You'll practice on a New York RN license while you complete graduate school.

2. 02

   Enroll in an accredited PMHNP program

   Choose an MSN or a BSN-to-DNP with a PMHNP focus. The degree must hold CCNE or ACEN accreditation, or it won't qualify you for the certification exam. New York has 13 verified in-state programs (listed above), and 44 accredited online programs also enroll New York residents.

3. 03

   Complete a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours

   The ANCC requires at least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours, and many programs require 600 to 750. Securing local clinical placements is the biggest practical hurdle, so confirm whether a program arranges your preceptors before you enroll.

4. 04

   Pass the ANCC PMHNP-BC certification exam

   The ANCC PMHNP-BC first-time pass rate was 83% in 2024 and 82% in 2025. Either the ANCC exam or the newer AANPCB PMHNP exam qualifies you for state licensure; ANCC's PMHNP-BC is the one most employers list by name.

5. 05

   Get New York APRN licensure and DEA registration

   The New York Board of Nursing issues your APRN license and prescriptive authority once you're certified, and a federal DEA registration lets you prescribe controlled substances. Practice authority varies by state, so confirm current New York requirements with the board before you enroll.

For the full national pathway, including itemized cost, timeline, and program selection advice, see our complete guide on how to become a PMHNP.

State board: New York State Board of Nursing (NYSED Office of the Professions)

• Community mental health centers and FQHCs in New York often qualify for the federal NHSC Loan Repayment Program.

• Accreditation first: every program in the list above is CCNE-accredited, so each clears the bar for ANCC PMHNP-BC eligibility; confirm any online program you compare is CCNE- or ACEN-accredited.
• Cost: the public options are dramatically cheaper. The SUNY schools (Stony Brook, SUNY Upstate, Binghamton, University at Buffalo) are $471 per credit for residents and CUNY's Hunter College is $520 — versus four figures per credit at the private schools.
• Degree level: decide whether you want a master's (MS/MSN) entry point or a doctoral route. New York offers both, including BSN-to-DNP at Binghamton and University at Buffalo and a post-BSN DNP at Columbia.
• Clinical placement support: some New York schools (such as Stony Brook and NYU) arrange your clinical sites; others have you secure your own preceptors — a major practical difference. Each card notes which, where we have verified it.
• Know the gaps: where a program has not published a clinical clock-hour total, a tuition rate, or a program length, the card says so. Ask the school directly before you enroll rather than relying on an estimate.