Walden University PMHNP Programs

Walden's MSN in psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner has two entry points. Nurses with a bachelor's degree take the BSN-to-MSN, 63 quarter credits finished in as few as 24 months. RNs with a hospital diploma, an associate degree or a non-nursing bachelor's take the RN-to-MSN, 89 quarter credits. Nurses who already hold an MSN take the post-master's certificate, 40 quarter credits in as few as 15 months. Walden also runs a BSN-to-DNP with a PMHNP specialization.

Walden counts quarter credits, not semester credits, so its credit totals look larger than a semester-based school's for the same amount of work. Compare costs on the program total rather than on the credit count.

Walden's itemized cost table for the BSN-to-MSN lists tuition of $49,455 at $785 per quarter credit, plus a $185 program fee each quarter and four $160 clinical course fees, for $51,760 in all. Walden applies a Believe & Achieve Scholarship of $6,280 on that table, which brings it to $45,480. Books, estimated at $1,800 to $2,500, and practicum costs are not included.

The post-master's certificate is $33,150: $31,400 in tuition, a $1,295 program fee and a $640 clinical course fee. Walden accepts up to 30 transfer credits into the BSN-to-MSN and up to 40 into the RN-to-MSN, which lowers the total for nurses with prior graduate coursework.

Both the MSN and the certificate require 640 practicum hours. For MSN students, Walden's Practicum Pledge covers the search: after you register, "if you can't identify a site and preceptor, our dedicated Field Placement Team partners with you to secure your site and preceptor." Certificate students work with Walden's field experience coordinators, and the certificate has no in-person classes.

Between practica, Walden runs virtual Grand Rounds, where students work through real clinical cases with faculty, and MSN students receive ANCC exam preparation resources at no cost.

Walden cannot enroll residents of Louisiana, New York, Oregon or Rhode Island into any of its nurse practitioner specializations, so applicants there need another program. The BSN-to-MSN asks for a bachelor's degree or higher and a current RN license, plus Walden's Technical Standards Policy Form. The certificate asks for a current, active RN license and an MSN or equivalent from an accredited school, and it requires no essay or GRE.

Walden's Master's and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate programs hold CCNE accreditation through December 31, 2030.