Best Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs in Alaska (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Alaska’s high suicide and substance abuse rates are signs of a serious mental health crisis. As a graduate of one of the PMHNP programs in Alaska, you’ll be in a position to do something about that. Many PMHNP programs in the Last Frontier State are offered online and allow students to complete clinical rotations in their own communities. Once you graduate, you’ll work with individuals of all ages, from adolescents to senior citizens. You’ll earn $138,920 a year on average, and the demand for your services will be 10 percent higher in 10 years than it is today. Want to find out more? The list below of the best PMHNP programs in Alaska has lots of useful information.
FOLLOWING ARE THE BEST PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN ALASKA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the best campus-based and online PMHNP programs in Alaska.)
1. University of Alaska Anchorage - Anchorage
Programs Offered: MSN and Graduate Certificate
MSN Program Details: Are you a registered nurse interested in making a career move to earn a master’s degree? Do you want to provide psychiatric mental health services to patients? If so, a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is a great way to accomplish that goal! When it comes to PMHNP programs in Alaska, you need to look no further than the University of Alaska at Anchorage.
The MSN-PMHNP program admits students once per year in the spring. Most students follow a part-time schedule, graduating in six semesters’ time. However, if you are interested in full-time study, you may explore that option with a program faculty advisor.
The MSN-PMHNP program is designed in a hybrid format. Core courses and some specialty courses are delivered online with both synchronous and asynchronous schedules. PMHNP clinical courses and the health assessment course combine online learning with short face-to-face visits to campus to complete intensives.
The MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program features a 50-credit curriculum. Some of the classes in the program include Statistics for Advanced Practice, Psychopharmacology for Advanced Nursing, and Nursing Health Policy. Clinical practicums must be completed in the state of Alaska. Program faculty collaborate with you to identify clinical sites and qualified preceptors. When possible, your clinicals may be scheduled in your home community.
MSN Admission Requirements: Candidates desiring admission to the MSN-PMHNP program must possess a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from an ACEN- or CCNE-accredited nursing program. Applicants are required to have a current, unrestricted RN license in the state of Alaska and at least one year of full-time clinical experience as a registered nurse. Candidates with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 are preferred. However, if your GPA is less than 3.0, you may be admitted conditionally and must earn a 3.0 or higher in three graduate nursing courses to remain in the program. All applicants must provide proof of completion of a statistics course that covers inferential and descriptive statistics and an undergraduate or graduate research methods course with a minimum grade of “C” in each class.
To be considered for admission, complete the University of Alaska Anchorage Graduate School online application and apply to the UAA School of Nursing MS program via the Nursing Centralized Application Service (NursingCAS). Additionally, you are asked to provide a copy of your RN license, the names/email addresses of three individuals who can provide a professional reference, and submit a professional resume.
Graduate Certificate Program Details: If you have a graduate degree in nursing and are certified as a nurse practitioner in a field other than psychiatric mental health, you can broaden your scope of practice to include a focus as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner through the Graduate Certificate program at the University of Alaska Anchorage. This PMHNP program in Alaska is designed to prepare graduates to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center or American Academy of Nurse Practitioners national certification exam to become certified as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
The curriculum for the PMHNP Graduate Certificate program includes didactic, seminar, and clinical practicum hours. Didactic coursework is delivered online in both synchronous and asynchronous formats. Clinical courses are hybrid and require one to two visits to campus per semester to complete face-to-face intensives. Clinical practicums are arranged in Alaska. In most cases, students complete clinicals in their own communities.
PMHNP Graduate Certificate students complete a minimum of 23 credits. All students need to have completed advanced classes in pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health assessment in their master’s program. If you did not complete these in your MSN program, they may be added to your plan of study to meet the requirements for earning the graduate certificate. The curriculum includes Psychopharmacology for Advanced Nursing and four Advanced Practice Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing clinical courses. Each clinical course has a corresponding clinical practicum. You will complete a minimum of 600 precepted clinical hours in the program.
Graduate Certificate Admission Requirements: To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate PMHNP program, you must have a master’s or doctoral degree in nursing from a nursing school accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Candidates are required to apply to both the UAA Graduate School and the School of Nursing.
Candidates for this program are required to have a registered professional nurse license in Alaska, an active, unencumbered APRN license in the state of Alaska, and documentation of certification as an advanced nurse practitioner in a specialty other than psychiatric mental health.
Must-Know Highlights For Potential Students
• One of the great things about earning your PMHNP degree at the University of Alaska Anchorage is you will have the opportunity to learn in the school’s College of Health Simulation Center. Your campus visits during the program will consist of instruction in the dynamic Health Sciences Building. The Center features realistic patient rooms with high-fidelity manikins, advanced video technology, virtual reality goggles and equipment, and video debriefing rooms designed to give you a wide range of hands-on training in a controlled setting that mimics real-world patient scenarios.• The PMHNP program at the University of Alaska Anchorage reports outstanding success rates for graduates taking national certification exams. Graduates consistently score above the national average among first-time testers, which is a good indicator of the program’s quality.
• As a nurse and healthcare educator, I believe being involved in advocacy is essential. One of the things I find interesting and appealing about the University of Alaska Anchorage is that program faculty are actively involved in measures to improve community access to education and resources that are most impactful. For example, Alaska has the highest rate of interpersonal violence in the country. To help combat violence and its effects, the University created the Alaska Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy. Through this program, nursing faculty, like Dr. Angelia Trujillo, work to ensure healthcare professionals (and students) have access to trauma-informed training, making it easier to recognize and respond to abuse. This endeavor is important for students in the PMHNP program, as people with mental health issues are three times more likely to be victims of violence than those without mental health issues.
• At the University of Alaska Anchorage, financial aid advisors will work with you to find every available resource to help meet the needs associated with the cost of earning your degree or certificate. Students have access to grants, scholarships, and loans.
HOW MUCH DO PMHNP GRADUATES MAKE IN ALASKA?
WHAT STARTING SALARY CAN NEW GRADUATES OF PMHNP PROGRAMS IN ALASKA EXPECT?
| Hourly | $49.13 |
| Weekly | $1,965 |
| Monthly | $8,520 |
| Annual | $102,200 |
HOW MUCH CAN GRADUATES OF PMHNP PROGRAMS IN ALASKA EARN WITH EXPERIENCE?
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Entry-Level | $49.13 | $1,965 | $8,520 | $102,200 |
| 1-4 Years of Experience | $55.60 | $2,224 | $9,640 | $115,640 |
| 5-9 Years of Experience | $65.63 | $2,625 | $11,380 | $136,510 |
| 10-19 Years of Experience | $73.09 | $2,923 | $12,670 | $152,020 |
| 20 Years or More Experience | $87.34 | $3,494 | $15,140 | $181,670 |
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE PMHNP SALARY IN ALASKA?
| Hourly | $66.79 |
| Weekly | $2,672 |
| Monthly | $11,580 |
| Annual | $138,920 |
HOW MUCH DO PMHNPS EARN IN THE VARIOUS METROS OF ALASKA?
| Metro | Hourly | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
| Anchorage | $65.78 | $2,631 | $11,400 | $136,820 |
| Fairbanks | $66.45 | $2,658 | $11,520 | $138,210 |
PMHNP SALARY IN ALASKA VS. OTHER SALARIES
PMHNP SALARY IN ALASKA VS. PMHNP SALARY IN THE NATION
| Average Alaska PMHNP Annual Salary | Average National PMHNP Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| $138,920 | $141,470 | -$2,550 | -1.80% |
PMHNP SALARY IN ALASKA VS. PMHNP SALARIES IN OTHER STATES
| State | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| California | $177,860 | -$38,940 | -21.89% |
| Nevada | $163,690 | -$24,770 | -15.13% |
| Washington | $160,090 | -$21,170 | -13.22% |
| New Jersey | $159,680 | -$20,760 | -13.00% |
| Oregon | $159,590 | -$20,670 | -12.95% |
| Massachusetts | $158,560 | -$19,640 | -12.39% |
| New York | $157,260 | -$18,340 | -11.66% |
| Connecticut | $150,820 | -$11,900 | -7.89% |
| New Mexico | $150,590 | -$11,670 | -7.75% |
| Minnesota | $148,650 | -$9,730 | -6.55% |
| District of Columbia | $148,470 | -$9,550 | -6.43% |
| Rhode Island | $146,940 | -$8,020 | -5.46% |
| Hawaii | $146,010 | -$7,090 | -4.86% |
| Arizona | $145,950 | -$7,030 | -4.82% |
| Delaware | $144,350 | -$5,430 | -3.76% |
| Iowa | $144,040 | -$5,120 | -3.55% |
| New Hampshire | $143,950 | -$5,030 | -3.49% |
| Texas | $143,140 | -$4,220 | -2.95% |
| Wisconsin | $141,290 | -$2,370 | -1.68% |
| Maryland | $140,920 | -$2,000 | -1.42% |
| Utah | $140,730 | -$1,810 | -1.29% |
| North Dakota | $140,670 | -$1,750 | -1.24% |
| Pennsylvania | $140,320 | -$1,400 | -1.00% |
| Illinois | $139,720 | -$800 | -0.57% |
| Alaska | $138,920 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Vermont | $138,840 | +$80 | +0.06% |
| Montana | $137,230 | +$1,690 | +1.23% |
| Idaho | $137,130 | +$1,790 | +1.31% |
| Oklahoma | $136,890 | +$2,030 | +1.48% |
| Wyoming | $136,040 | +$2,880 | +2.12% |
| Indiana | $135,780 | +$3,140 | +2.31% |
| Maine | $135,360 | +$3,560 | +2.63% |
| Ohio | $135,280 | +$3,640 | +2.69% |
| Colorado | $134,310 | +$4,610 | +3.43% |
| Nebraska | $133,970 | +$4,950 | +3.69% |
| North Carolina | $133,870 | +$5,050 | +3.77% |
| Georgia | $133,390 | +$5,530 | +4.15% |
| South Dakota | $133,200 | +$5,720 | +4.29% |
| Virginia | $133,080 | +$5,840 | +4.39% |
| Michigan | $132,870 | +$6,050 | +4.55% |
| Florida | $131,800 | +$7,120 | +5.40% |
| Kansas | $131,320 | +$7,600 | +5.79% |
| Louisiana | $130,660 | +$8,260 | +6.32% |
| Mississippi | $129,360 | +$9,560 | +7.39% |
| South Carolina | $128,750 | +$10,170 | +7.90% |
| Missouri | $128,470 | +$10,450 | +8.13% |
| West Virginia | $124,910 | +$14,010 | +11.22% |
| Arkansas | $124,870 | +$14,050 | +11.25% |
| Kentucky | $121,520 | +$17,400 | +14.32% |
| Alabama | $121,130 | +$17,790 | +14.69% |
| Tennessee | $114,200 | +$24,720 | +21.65% |
PMHNP SALARY IN ALASKA VS. OTHER NURSE SALARIES IN ALASKA
| Type of Nurse | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | $138,920 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Nurse Midwife | $128,800 | +$10,120 | +7.86% |
| Registered Nurse | $109,210 | +$29,710 | +27.20% |
| Nursing Instructor and Teacher, Postsecondary | $98,870 | +$40,050 | +40.51% |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse | $74,260 | +$64,660 | +87.07% |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,080 | +$91,840 | +195.07% |
PMHNP SALARY IN ALASKA VS. SALARIES OF OTHER CLOSELY RELATED OCCUPATIONS IN ALASKA
| Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Difference | |
| Number | % | ||
| Dentist | $201,720 | -$62,800 | -31.13% |
| Pharmacist | $151,600 | -$12,680 | -8.36% |
| Physician Assistant | $148,480 | -$9,560 | -6.44% |
| Optometrist | $148,460 | -$9,540 | -6.43% |
| Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner | $138,920 | $0 | 0.00% |
| Chiropractor | $134,020 | +$4,900 | +3.66% |
| Radiation Therapist | $118,180 | +$20,740 | +17.55% |
| Dental Hygienist | $115,980 | +$22,940 | +19.78% |
| Physical Therapist | $110,830 | +$28,090 | +25.35% |
| Occupational Therapist | $98,960 | +$39,960 | +40.38% |
| Audiologist | $98,200 | +$40,720 | +41.47% |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $96,870 | +$42,050 | +43.41% |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1. Who Accredits PMHNP Programs In Alaska?
| S.No. | Accrediting Agency |
| 1 | Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) |
| 2 | Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) |
2. How Many Accredited PMHNP Schools Are There In Alaska?
| 1 |
3. On Average, How Much Does A Psychiatric NP Make Per Hour In Alaska?
| $66.79 |
4. On Average, How Much Does A Psychiatric NP Make Per Week In Alaska?
| $2,672 |
5. On Average, How Much Does A Psychiatric NP Make Per Month In Alaska?
| $11,580 |
6. On Average, How Much Does A Psychiatric NP Make Per Year In Alaska?
| $138,920 |
7. What Is The Job Outlook For PMHNPs In Alaska?
| 10-Year Job Outlook (2022-2032) |
| +10.00% |
Darby Faubion BSN, RN
Darby Faubion is a nurse and Allied Health educator with over twenty years of experience. She has assisted in developing curriculum for nursing programs and has instructed students at both community college and university levels. Because of her love of nursing education, Darby became a test-taking strategist and NCLEX prep coach and assists nursing graduates across the United States who are preparing to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).
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