Master of Science in Nursing - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Track
Why pursue a Master of Science in Nursing from North Central College?
North Central College offers an innovative, interprofessional approach to fostering the next generation of healthcare leaders who embrace diversity, promote health equity, and improve population health outcomes.
The Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) track, part of North Central’s Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, prepares nurses to perform biopsychosocial assessments and diagnose patients with psychiatric and mental disorders across the lifespan. The core principles of the program equip students with the skills and foundation necessary for lifelong learning, personal responsibility, and sustained achievement in the nursing profession. The program offers a personalized approach to the online student experience
Learn how you can reduce your tuition cost by up to 25%!
North Central College offers several scholarships and awards, including:
- Alliance Partnership
- Opportunity Award
- North Central College Alumni
- Offer can be extended to family of alumni
Accreditation Statement
North Central College MSN program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommisssion.org), an institutional
accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
The master's degree in nursing and post-graduate APRN certificate program at North Central College is pursuing initial accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (www.ccneaccreditation.org). Applying for accreditation does not guarantee that accreditation will be granted.
Core Values
Caring: We believe caring is essential to the practice of nursing and seek to treat those we serve with sensitivity, respect, and empathy. We embrace holistic care through therapeutic relationships directed toward health, comfort and well-being.
Communication and Collaboration: We believe that open communication and collaboration require accountability, honesty, integrity, and respect for all participants. We seek to practice shared decision-making with our fellow nurses as well as inter-professionally.
Cultural Inclusivity: We believe in the practice of cultural inclusivity, recognizing the rich diversity of humanity. We endeavor to honor that diversity by continually broadening our scope of care to include all members of our community and by modeling respect and equality for all.
Critical Thinking: We believe critical thinking is essential to nursing as a self-reflective and purposeful approach to thinking. We value the ability to make connections between patient data and acquired knowledge, leading to appropriate clinical interventions for our patients.
Evidence-Based Practice: We believe in the use of evidence-based practice to guide our nursing practice. We foster the integration of current research, clinical expertise, and the rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of nursing interventions to make sound decisions in the care of our patients. We identify safety as having the utmost importance to the practice of nursing and strive to prevent harm to our patients and ourselves while delivering quality care.
Social Justice: We believe social justice in nursing embodies the principles of fairness, equality, dignity and equal opportunity for health for all. We embrace a moral mandate to improve access to quality health care for the marginalized and under-serviced.
Program Goals
- Prepare graduates to engage in clinical reasoning that provides safe, lawful evidence-based, patient-centered care to diverse populations across the lifespan that reflects ethical clinical judgment and inter-professional collaboration.
- Guide graduates to integrate scientific findings from nursing, bio-psycho-social fields, genetics, public health, quality improvement, and organizational sciences into the delivery of advanced nursing care for diverse populations to promote health and prevent disease and injury for families, communities, and global health.
- Prepare graduates to utilize patient-care technologies to deliver and enhance care and use communication technologies to integrate and coordinate care.
Certification Exam
Upon completion of the MSN program, graduates are eligible to sit for a targeted certificate examination offered by one of the national credentialing centers. Once certified, graduates from the PMHNP track who have successfully passed their national specialty boards can apply for an Illinois State License and be eligible to practice independently in their specialty as an PMHNP-BC
Important Dates
Launch Your Degree in Spring 2025 or Fall 2025
Spring 2025 Start
December 6, 2024 - Deadline to apply
January 6, 2025 - First day of class
Fall 2025 Start
July 21, 2025 - Deadline to apply
August 20, 2025 - First day of class
Admissions Criteria
Apply using our free North Central application.
- A username and password will be generated and sent to the email you provide. You will have 30 days to complete the online application.
North Central College’s MSN program is committed to holistic admission, which assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores. Admission decisions will be made within two months of the application deadline. Applicants will be invited to participate in an on-campus and/or virtual interview format.
Applicants must have:
- An earned BSN of CCNE or ACEN baccalaureate accredited program
- A current, unencumbered RN license
- While North Central accepts students from multiple states/territories, applicants outside of Illinois should check with their state regulatory body
- A cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for the last 60 hours of their BSN program
- Completed undergraduate statistics (3 credit hours) with a “C” or higher
Required Application Materials
- Submitted official post-secondary academic transcripts
- Submitted a resume/CV with academic and work history, certificates and services
- Submitted three letters of recommendation--at least one from a professional nurse colleague (supervisor or preceptor) and one from a professor or graduate-level prepared nursing colleague who can address the applicant’s professional and/or academic qualifications
- Applicants - please send this recommendation submission link to colleagues and supervisors
- Completed a personal narrative including experiences (healthcare experiences, educational background, community enrichment), and attributes (resilience, integrity, intellectual curiosity, ethnicity/race, socioeconomic status, multilingual abilities, geography, faith, perseverance)
- Completed application
Apply Today!
State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreements
The U.S. Department of Education requires institutions offering distance education to attain authorization from the state where educational services are offered. North Central College is authorized by the state of Illinois to participate in the National Council for State Authorization and Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA). The NC-SARA provides oversight of post-secondary distance education, allowing the institution to provide online education to students in participating SARA member states, without obtaining authorization in that state. Regulations vary from state to state. All states EXCEPT California are currently authorized as SARA member states. SARA provides institutional reciprocity for educational offerings only and does not provide reciprocity for professional licensing. Information regarding NC-SARA can be found here.
Professional Licensure
State Board of Nursing requirements vary by state. Therefore, students considering enrollment in online graduate nursing programs, should contact the licensing agency of the state where their educational institution is located prior to beginning their academic program to ensure that the program meets the standards established by their home state’s licensure regulations.
For Fall 2023 admissions, North Central College Graduate Nursing Program, is offering the MSN and Post-Master Certificates to students in the following states and US Territories:
- American Samoa
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Colombia
- Florida
- Guam
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Texas
- Virgin Islands
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Onsite Requirements
In addition to on-site practicum experiences local to the student at approved institutional affiliates to meet required practicum hours, students in the graduate nursing program are required to come to the Naperville, IL campus for 2-3 campus visits* during the course of their program. The number and length of the visits vary by specialty program. Prospective students may inquire with the Graduate Nursing Program at North Central College to confirm on-campus requirements. Limited assistance to support the visits may be available.
*Dates will be provided prior to the start of the program
Cost of Attendance
When considering the financial cost of attending graduate school, one number does not tell the whole story. Cost of Attendance provides a more complete picture of all costs, direct and indirect, for one academic year at North Central College. Numbers are subject to change on an annual basis.
Direct Costs
Direct costs are expenses that will be included on your semester bill, such as tuition and fees.
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs are expenses that will not appear on your semester bill but should be considered. Examples of indirect costs include housing, supplies, and personal expenses. Indirect costs vary by student lifestyle, living arrangements, and educational choices. Below are estimated indirect costs for students enrolled in graduate programs at North Central College. It is encouraged that students consider opportunities to minimize other costs and borrowing.
Total Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance will be used by the Office of Financial Aid to determine the maximum amount of financial aid you can receive within the specified year. Note: If your actual cost differs from what is listed under indirect cost that is okay. We encourage you to explore budgeting tools that will help you manage your expenses.
2024-2025 Cost of Attendance - Full-Time Schedule
Direct Costs
| Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $16,080.00 | $21,708.00 |
| Program Fee | $2,100.00 | - |
| Wellness Fee | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Yearly Total | $18,280.00 | $21,808.00 |
| Total Direct Costs of Program: | $40,088 |
Indirect Costs
| Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) | |
|---|---|---|
| Housing and Food | $14,076.00 | $21,114.00 |
| Transportation | $2,224.00 | $3,336.00 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,134.00 | $3,201.00 |
| Books and Supplies | $900.00 | $1,350.00 |
| Student Loan Fees | $216.00 | $324.00 |
| Yearly Total | $19,550.00 | $29,325.00 |
Total Cost of Attendance
| Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Attendance | $37,830 | $51,133 |
2024-2025 Cost of Attendance - Part-Time Schedule
Direct Costs
| Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Three (Fall/Spring Semesters) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $9,648.00 | $16,884.00 | $11,256.00 |
| Program Fee | $2,100 | - | - |
| Wellness Fee | $100 | $100 | $100 |
| Yearly Total | $11,848.00 | $16,984.00 | $11,356.00 |
| Total Direct Costs of Program: | $40,188 |
Indirect Costs
| Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Three (Fall/Spring Semesters) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing and Food | $14,076.00 | $21,114.00 | $14,076.00 |
| Transportation | $2,224.00 | $3,336.00 | $2,224.00 |
| Personal Expenses | $2,134.00 | $3,201.00 | $2,134.00 |
| Books and Supplies | $900.00 | $1,350.00 | $900.00 |
| Student Loan Fees | $216.00 | $324.00 | $216.00 |
| Yearly Total | $19,550.00 | $29,325.00 | $19,550.00 |
Total Cost of Attendance
| Year One (Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Two (Summer/Fall/Spring Semesters) | Year Three (Fall/Spring Semesters) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $31,398 | $46,309 | $30,906 |
Please visit Financial Aid to learn more about the financial aid process and resources available.
The Office of Financial Aid can be reached at 630-637-5600 or by emailing finaid@noctrl.edu.
Scholarships and Awards
North Central College offers several scholarships and awards to help you reduce tuition cost by up to 25%, including:
- Alliance Partnership
- Opportunity Award
- North Central College Alumni
- Offer can be extended to family of alumni
Program Overview
- 47 credit hours
- 5, 6 or 7 semester plans of study offered
- Please note that Graduate Nursing does not follow the published NCC Graduate Summer calendar and concludes a week later. Please plan accordingly.
- Click here to see the Nursing Graduate Academic Calendar
- Online program with 2-3 on-campus immersions
- Didactic courses are taught online, asynchronous
- On-site clinical practicums and the completion of 525 clinical hours at various hospitals and clinics is required.
Curriculum
Foundational curriculum content deemed essential for all students who pursue a master’s degree in nursing regardless of the functional focus:
- NURS 500 - Professional Role Development into Advanced Nursing Practice
- NURS 501 - Applied Research and Biostatistics in Evidence-Based Practice
- NURS 502 - Population Health and Healthcare Delivery in a Global Society
- NURS 503 - Healthcare Quality Outcomes, Safety and Informatics
Essential content for students that provide direct patient services at the advanced level:
- NURS 504 - Advanced Pharmacology Across the Lifespan
- NURS 505 - Advanced Physiology/Pathophysiology Across the Lifespan
- NURS 506 - Advanced Physical Assessment, Clinical Reasoning and Diagnosis Across the Lifespan
- NURS 507 Lab - Advanced Physical Assessment Across the Lifespan
Population focus curriculum for MSN: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner:
- NURS 534 Neurophysiology & Psychopharmacological Approaches Across the Lifespan (3CR)
- NURS 535 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management I (6CR)
- NURS 539 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management II (7CR)
- NURS 540 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management III (7CR)
Through the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner track, students will learn how to:
- Assess, diagnose, treat and manage acute episodic and mental chronic illnesses
- Become experts in mental health awareness, treatment, and prevention
- Order, conduct, supervise, and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests
- Prescribe pharmacological agents and non-pharmacologic therapies
- Teach and counsel patients
Faculty and Staff
Post-graduate APRN Certificate: Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
The North Central College Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program provides opportunities for registered nurses, who already have a master’s in nursing in another discipline, to advance their education, and gain the specialized knowledge, skills and abilities to deliver independent care as clinicians.
Students will learn how to perform medical diagnoses and treatment through evidence-based didactic instruction. Problem-based learning, simulation and clinical practice hours will allow students to deepen their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills. Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner programming will prepare nurses to provide a wide range of mental health services across the lifespan, focusing on the bio-psychosocial model of care.
Admission Requirements
Applicants can apply using our free North Central application.
North Central College’s program is committed to a holistic admission process which assesses an applicant’s unique experiences alongside traditional measures of academic achievement such as grades and test scores. Admission decisions will be made within two months of the application deadline and the program will begin in the Spring semester. Applicants will be invited to participate in an on-campus and/or virtual interview format.
Applicants must have:
- An earned MSN from a CCNE or ACEN Master accredited program
- A current, unencumbered RN license
- While North Central accepts students from multiple states/territories, applicants outside of Illinois should check with their state regulatory body
- A cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale for their prior MSN degree course work
Required Application Materials
- Submitted official post-secondary academic transcripts
- Submitted a resume/CV with academic and work history, certificates and services
- Submitted three letters of recommendation--at least one from a professional nurse colleague (supervisor or preceptor) and one from a professor or graduate-level prepared nursing colleague who can address the applicant’s professional and/or academic qualifications
- Applicants - please send this recommendation submission link to colleagues and supervisors
- Completed a personal narrative including experiences (healthcare experiences, educational background, community enrichment), and attributes (resilience, integrity, intellectual curiosity, ethnicity/race, socioeconomic status, multilingual abilities, geography, faith, perseverance)
- Completed application
Apply Today!
Certification Exam
Upon completion of the certificate program, graduates are eligible to sit for a targeted certificate examination offered by one of the national credentialing centers. Once certified, graduates from the PMHNP track, who have successfully passed their national specialty boards certification can apply for an Advanced Practice license in their state of residence to be eligible to practice independently in their specialty as an PMHNP-BC.
*Please see specific state requirements for APN licensure
Curriculum
Traditional Post-Graduate APRN Certificate
- 23 Credit hours
- Must be certified in a different focus from PMHNP
- Population focus courses include:
- NURS 534 Neurophysiology & Psychopharmacological Approaches Across the Lifespan (3CR)
- NURS 535 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management I (6CR)
- NURS 539 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management II (7CR)
- NURS 540 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management III (7CR)
Post-Graduate Entry to Practice APRN Certificate
- 35* Credit hours *dependent on prior APRN core coursework analysis
- Core courses include:
- Population focus courses include:
- NURS 534 Neurophysiology & Psychopharmacological Approaches Across the Lifespan (3CR)
- NURS 535 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management I (6CR)
- NURS 539 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management II (7CR)
- NURS 540 Psychiatric Mental Health NP Theory and Clinical Management III (7CR)