The Best Psychiatric NP Programs Online of 2023

The demand for mental healthcare is rising along with the need for mental health practitioners. To become a psychiatric nurse practitioner (NP), you must complete a master’s program and get a license. Many online degree programs combine high-quality training with added flexibility and convenience.

Discover the best online psychiatric NP programs to determine the right one for you. Explore what accreditation to look for, how to pay for school, and salary and career outlook for psychiatric NPs.

We evaluated and ranked this list of online psychiatric NP programs based on specific metrics. These factors are also crucial for students when evaluating a nursing program. They indicate how well the program fits the student’s life and educational needs.

Accreditation is important because it ensures a program meets educational and industry standards. The accrediting organization assesses the quality of individual nursing programs by determining, among other things, how many of its graduates can pass the NCLEX, the exam required to obtain a nursing license.

Attending an accredited nursing school helps ensure you’re getting high-quality training. That is why all of our listed programs are accredited.

Other factors to consider include:

Online nursing programs enable students to take classes and complete assignments anywhere, as long as they can access a computer. Although attending live class recordings is recommended, students can watch classes whenever convenient.

Nursing students can communicate with professors and peers via email, video conferences, and school-approved chat software. Online students must complete assignments and exams by their due dates.

Depending on the school, an MSN or DNP may also have lab components and fieldwork experience requiring in-person attendance. Students attending an online program find clinical placement assistance as an online nursing student an important factor in program choice.

Applying to online psychiatric NP programs is similar to the process you’d follow for brick-and-mortar schools. One potential difference is that your admissions interview may be virtual instead of in person.

The admissions process helps prove your desire to become a psychiatric NP, your ability to work legally in the U.S., your sense of integrity, and your expertise on key subject matter. It’s important to make a positive first impression by correctly following directions. Don’t hesitate to contact the school if you have questions.

Common application requirements include:

The relevant experience and license requirements don’t apply to students starting with their BSN. Some schools prefer applicant MSNs to have a concentration in psychiatric nursing, or for the nurse to have met the minimum relevant experience requirement within 1-3 years of applying.

Several factors affect the cost of an online psychiatric NP program, which affects the student’s ability to pay out-of-pocket for nursing degrees. These factors include many of the criteria used in the ranking of the best online Psychiatric NP programs.

For example, the program’s length influences how much money it will cost a student. Students should know the cost per credit hour and the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition costs.

Some students can work to help cover the cost of living during school. Attending an accredited program allows students to apply for federal financial aid, including nursing grants, loans, and federal scholarship programs.

Accreditation also influences the ability to qualify for private grants and loans. Students should search for scholarship programs that help cover the cost of an online psychiatric nurse practitioner program. It is important to seek information about financial aid for nurses to help pay for your program, including loan forgiveness for nurses and programs to help support economically disadvantaged and minority students.

A licensed and nationally board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner can care for patients in various settings. They focus on mental health disorders and most frequently address the needs of patients with:

These professionals are highly analytical and adept at problem-solving. Typical work settings include hospital mental health departments, private clinics, mental health clinics, and mental health departments.

According to Payscale, the median annual salary of a psychiatric nurse practitioner is $119,840 as of April 2024, making it one of the highest-earning NP specialties.