5 Best Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs in Georgia (Online & Campus) – 2025
Written By: Darby Faubion BSN, RN
As a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner in the Peach State, you’ll find employment opportunities in a variety of practice settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, community mental health centers, and private practice. Demand for your services is anticipated to increase by 79 percent in the next 10 years. Graduates of PMHNP programs in Georgia work with all age groups, from children and teens to adults and senior citizens. They make good money, too: The average PMHNP salary in the Peach State is $122,820. If you’re an RN interested in mental health, this is a smart career move. Find out more by reading about the 5 best psychiatric nurse practitioner programs in Georgia for 2025.
FOLLOWING ARE THE 5 BEST PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAMS IN GEORGIA (ONLINE & CAMPUS) FOR 2025
(Based on our Ranking Methodology, we have ranked the 5 best campus-based and online PMHNP programs in Georgia.)
1. Augusta University - Augusta
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School: Ranked by
U.S. News & World Report in its Best Nursing Schools: Doctor of Nursing Practice category and Best for Vets list by the Military Times, it comes as no surprise that Augusta University is at the top of our list for best psychiatric nurse practitioner programs in Georgia. The university graduated its first nursing students in 1943 and has continued to demonstrate academic excellence, which is evidenced by high retention and graduation rates and student success on licensure and certification exams following graduation.
The Augusta College of Nursing is dedicated to student success, offering in-depth, rigorous programs designed to prepare you for academia, leadership, and clinical practice. The College of Nursing’s mission is
“to provide leadership through excellent and innovative nursing education, research, practice, and service in diverse environments and to promote health, healing, and well-being of individuals, families, and communities in any healthcare setting.”
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The BSN-to-DNP Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program in Georgia at Augusta University offers a hybrid learning format combining online and offline learning. You can choose to attend full-time and graduate in three years or part-time and complete the program in four years.
The BSN-to-DNP PMHNP program features a 77-credit hour
curriculum. You will study classes such as Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Across the lifespan, Complex Issues in Heathcare Delivery, and Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Families & Groups.
Students in the BSN-to-DNP Psychiatric Mental health Nurse Practitioner program complete 1,156 clinical practicum hours. Practicum hours are earned as follows: 156 semester lab hours, 732-semester clinical hours, and 268 semester DNP residency hours.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: Master's prepared nurse practitioners with advanced practice certification in a discipline other than psychiatric care, can pursue the Post-Master's PMHNP program at Augusta University. The program, which is an excellent choice for a psychiatric nurse practitioner program in Georgia, is considered web-based as more than half the content is taught online. It is designed for part-time study and can be completed in 18 months.
The Post-Master's PMHNP program curriculum includes 22 credit hours. Classes in this pathway include Advanced Studies in Lifespan Development, Advanced Pathophysiology, and Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses. Students complete 504 clinical/lab hours.
2. Georgia State University - Atlanta
Programs Offered: RN-to-MSN,
MSN, and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School: Whether you’re a registered nurse with an associate, baccalaureate, or master’s degree in nursing, if you’re looking for a great PMHNP program in Georgia, Georgia State University has an option for you! The GSU School of Nursing promotes diversity and inclusion at all levels and promotes student success by offering dedicated staff who are experts in nursing. The School of Nursing reports excellent national PMHNP certification exam pass rates and high employment rates among graduates, supporting the belief that students are well-prepared for certification and practice.
RN-to-MSN Program Details: The RN-to-MSN Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program is offered online, making it a great choice for busy, working professionals. Students who enroll full-time can complete the program in two to three years. Part-time students graduate in three to four years.
Candidates seeking admission to the RN-to-MSN Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program must have a minimum associate degree in nursing and one year of work experience as a registered nurse. Prospective students must meet university and College of Nursing requirements for non-nursing undergraduate coursework and complete two bridge courses before beginning master’s level coursework.
The total number of credits needed for students in the RN-to-MSN program, which is one of the best RN-to-MSN Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner programs in Georgia, varies, depending on GAP analysis results. All students complete a minimum of 48 semester hours and 500 clinical hours. Examples of classes in the RN-to-MSN pathway include Advanced Psychiatric Care Across the Adult Lifespan, Interprofessional Collaboration for Advanced Practice, and Theories of Advanced Psychiatric Nursing.
BSN-to-MSN Program Details: The MSN PMHNP program in Georgia at Georgia State University is designed for registered nurses who have earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from an accredited school of nursing and possess an active, unrestricted license to practice as an RN. This online program offers part-time and full-time study options, allowing you to graduate in five to seven semesters.
The program offers a 48-semester hour plan of study. The curriculum includes 22 hours of core nursing courses and 26 hours of specialty coursework. In the MSN-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program, you will take classes, including Advanced Medical & Psychiatric Care for Children, Theories of Advanced Psychiatric Nursing, and Integrative Management of Complicated Psychiatric Cases. All students complete a minimum of 500 clinical hours in the MSN-PMHNP program.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: The Post-Master's Certificate program offers master’s prepared RNs in another specialty the opportunity to obtain the knowledge and skills needed to become certified as Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. The program is designed as a web-enhanced/distance-learning program. The first class of each semester is on-campus and mandatory. One class each month is synchronous. The Advanced Health Assessment course requires students to attend classes four days for laboratory demonstration/intensives. Past credits and clinical hours are evaluated to determine the number of eligible transfer credits. Depending on the number of transfer credits, as determined by a GAP analysis, the program typically takes three semesters to complete. Students may transfer up to 17 credits. Applicants who meet all core course requirements complete 26 Specialty course credits and 500 clinical hours. The coursework for this pathway includes Advanced Psychiatric Care for Adults & Older Adults, Integrative Management of Complicated Psychiatric Cases, and Advanced Psychopharmacology.
3. Valdosta State University - Valdosta
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School: Valdosta State University is home to two more excellent online PMHNP programs in Georgia. The university is dedicated to reducing health disparities in the state by offering advanced practice nursing education options and equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to step into professional practice. Valdosta has been ranked by
U.S. News & World Report for more than ten consecutive years as one of the top schools for Best Online Degree Programs.
The VSU School of Nursing prepares students to connect with and help improve health outcomes for patients, families, and communities. The university offers state-of-the-art learning labs where you experience opportunities to practice skills and develop clinical decision-making abilities with simulated patient encounters.
MSN Program Details: The Valdosta State University Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program in Georgia is delivered in a hybrid format. The program has two start dates yearly, in the spring and fall semesters. Full-time students typically complete the program in eight semesters. Most coursework is delivered online; however, students attend weekend class meetings during each semester.
This MSN-PMHNP program features a 56-credit hour curriculum. Classes include Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Practice, Family Systems & Group Process for Advanced Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, and Advanced Evidence-Based Practice. Students complete 645 clinical hours throughout the program.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: The Post-Master's Certificate program is an excellent option for MSN registered nurses seeking PMHNP programs in Georgia. The program, which features a hybrid learning format, offers study plans for nurses with and without current nurse practitioner Certification.
Students in the Post-Master's PMHNP Certificate program receive an individualized plan of study based upon previous education. Depending on whether you have a master’s degree in nursing or are currently certified as a nurse practitioner in another specialty, you will complete between 27 and 44 credits. The number of credits needed determines how long it takes to complete the program, but most students graduate in as few as three or four semesters.
The Post Master's curriculum for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner includes clinical core, family health, and PMHN coursework. Classes include Advanced Psychopharmacology, Advanced Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing for Individuals Across the Lifespan, and a six-cred Advanced Practice Nursing: Capstone Project. All PMHNP students complete at least 645 clinical hours.
4. Georgia College - Milledgeville
Programs Offered: MSN and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School: Georgia College is a public liberal arts university offering practical education combined with real-world, transformational experiences. The school is dedicated to helping PMHNP students develop the knowledge and skills needed to establish and advance a professional career. Georgia College offers low student-to-faculty ratios, making individualized attention a priority for all students.
The dedication of expert nursing faculty is reflected in the School of Nursing’s high retention rates and excellent national certification exam pass rates. These factors suggest Georgia College is a great place to pursue a degree as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
MSN Program Details: One of the excellent options for online psychiatric nurse practitioner programs in Georgia at Georgia College is the MSN-PMHNP program. Although most of the coursework is completed online, students in the MSN-PMHNP program participate in a limited number of required campus-based intensives.
The MSN program can be completed in six semesters full-time or nine semesters part-time. The program features a 39-credit hour curriculum and includes 570 clinical hours. Some of the classes you’ll take in the MSN-PMHNP program include Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Advanced Psychopharmacology & Neurobiology, and Nursing Theory: Principles & Applications. Because Georgia College is a public university, students must complete clinical hours within the state.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: The Post-Master's PMHNP program in Georgia at Georgia College offers a pathway for registered nurses with an MSN degree to become Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. Whether you are a board certified APRN or not, there is a plan of study to help you accomplish this goal.
Non-APRNs in the PMC-PMHNP program complete 32 credit hours, including supporting core courses, clinical courses, and clinical practicum. Certified APRNs typically complete 29 credit hours. Some of the classes in the Post-Master's program include Foundations for Psychiatric Nursing, Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing I & II (with corresponding labs), and Advanced Psychopharmacology & Neurobiology.
5. Georgia Southern University - Statesboro
Programs Offered: BSN-to-DNP and
Post-Master’s Certificate
About the School: Georgia Southern University is known for creating a culture of engagement combining theory with practice and extending learning environments beyond the classroom. Students at the university experience the attention of dedicated staff who are experts in their fields.
GSU offers two options for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner programs in Georgia. Graduates of the university’s PMHNP programs consistently have excellent pass rates when taking national certification exams and most report finding employment in their field within six months of completing the programs. This is a strong indication that students at GSU are well-prepared to begin their careers as practitioners.
BSN-to-DNP Program Details: The BSN-to-DNP program features a 78-credit hour curriculum delivered in a hybrid format. The program consists of synchronous and asynchronous classes. The program can be completed in four years of full-time study or five years part-time.
The curriculum includes classes such as Population-Focused Collaborative Initiatives, Pathophysiology & Differential Diagnosis, Complex Care of Special Populations, and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner I, II. & III. The BSN-to-DNP program includes 720 MSN clinical hours and 630 MSN-to-DNP clinical hours, for a total of 1,350 clinical hours.
As a student in the BSN-to-DNP program, you have the option of an MSN Opt-Out through which you can complete 43 credit hours and 720 hours of clinical, obtain an MSN and exit the program. You may return to the program and complete the DNP within four years.
Post-Master’s Certificate Program Details: Georgia Southern University also offers a great Post-Master's Certificate Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program in Georgia. The program admits students twice yearly with classes beginning in the spring and fall semesters.
The Post-Master's PMHNP Certificate program is a 19-credit hour pathway including classes such as Psychodynamics of Health, Care of the Individual & Family with Substance Abuse, and Vulnerable Populations. The program is delivered in a hybrid format, with online classwork and in-person clinical experiences. Students complete a minimum of 630 clinical hours.
VIEW OUR RANKING METHODOLOGY
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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