This guide offers helpful info for anyone interested in becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) in the Navy during Fiscal Year 2025.
We’ll be focusing on the Navy’s scholarship program, which helps both civilian and military nurses pursue a PMHNP degree through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences graduate program.
There are several steps and requirements involved, but the generous financial support makes it well worth looking into.
Let’s dive into the details.
What Does a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Do in the Navy?
A Navy PMHNP is a Navy Nurse Corps Officer who assesses, diagnoses, and treats the mental health needs of military and civilian patients.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) in the Navy do more than prescribe meds—they counsel, assess, and provide critical psychiatric care for service members struggling with mental health or substance abuse.
They handle psych and physical exams, monitor treatment effectiveness, and deliver emergency psychiatric care—always working alongside a larger healthcare team.
Most PMHNPs in inpatient settings follow standard hours, with occasional on-call night shifts. But beyond patient care, they lead, manage, and take on administrative roles as commissioned Nurse Corps officers.
How to Become a Navy Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Becoming a Navy psychiatric nurse practitioner involves two distinct layers of competition and selection.
First, applicants must have been accepted to the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Education Program at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU).
Second, applicants must compete for selection to become a commissioned officer in the Navy.
Below are the detailed requirements.
Admission Requirements for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Education Program
Applicants must be a commissioned officer or service-sponsored civilian in the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, or Public Health Service with a Bachelor’s (or master’s degree with a Nursing focus) from an authorized institution.
Educational Requirements
- The USU application requires evidence-based writing
- Current curriculum vitae
- Current service-specific officer brief (e.g., SURF, ORB, OSR)
- Competitive GRE Scores
- Transcripts from all colleges and institutions attended, demonstrating:
- Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Combined science GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, etc.)
- Grade of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or better in a scientific course from an authorized institution within the last 5 years
- Anatomy, physiology, combined anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, or pharmacology are recommended, with graduate level courses preferable but courses at the 200-400 level accepted
- Statistics course from an accredited university within the last 5 years recommended (may be taken at the undergraduate or graduate level)
- Shadow a Mental Health nurse for at least 20 hours. If you need help, contact your chief nurse/senior nurse executive.
- Three letters of reference with unconditional admissions recommendations for the applicant from:
- Senior nurse executive/chief nurse (or another officer in immediate chain of command)
- APRN in the specialty for which you are applying
- Direct supervisor
What to Expect
No tuition. No fees. Just a commitment to serve.
Year 1:
- Core advanced practice nursing science
- Foundations of evidence-based practice & behavioral health
- Simulation center clinical experiences—heavy on-campus training
Year 2:
- Deeper dive into evidence-based research, addiction treatment, and operational psych
- Advanced pharmacologic & nonpharmacologic therapies
- Summer shift—shorter classes (4-6 weeks) followed by intensive clinical rotations (9-10 weeks) at TDY/TAD sites
Final Move:
At the end of Year 2, students relocate (PCS) to a designated clinical residency facility to complete remaining coursework and hands-on training.
Follow this link to apply for the Graduate School of Nursing at the USU.
Requirements for Commissioning Through the Navy Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Program
| Citizenship | Applicants must be citizens of the United States. |
| Age | Applicants must be commissioned in the Navy before reaching the age of 42. Waivers will be handled on an individual basis. |
| Education | A baccalaureate or advanced degree in nursing from a nursing school certified by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. |
| Physical | Under NAVMED P-117 (MANMED), Chapter 15, and as specified in DoD Instruction 6130.03 (Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction into the Military Services). |
| Clinical Experience | All candidates must have at least two years of experience as a licensed, baccalaureate-degree (or higher) Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States, its territories, or an overseas U.S. military or naval hospital. (Direct nursing care) |
| License | Applicants must have a current, unrestricted license to practice as a registered nurse granted by a state, territory, or commonwealth of the United States or the District of Columbia and must have passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). (RN license) |
All applicants must have applied and been admitted to the USUHS Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Doctoral Education Program. USUHS admission processes may be found at https://www.usuhs.edu.
Select “Admissions,” followed by “Graduate School of Nursing Admissions.” To apply, go to the website and download an online application.
The application, together with all relevant documentation, must be submitted by the 15th of August of the year before attendance. Transcripts and reference letters from universities should be sent to the applicant and not directly to the USUHS Graduate Education Office.
Waivers
If the candidate is beyond the age restriction for commissioning but has an extraordinary record or showed skill set necessary by the Navy, a waiver may be granted in restricted numbers.
When reviewing an age waiver request, specialties that are understaffed and have a history of unmet recruiting objectives will be prioritized.
Age exemptions for candidates aged 42 to 47 shall be reviewed and processed under OPNAVINST 1120.7A.
Who Can Apply to this Program?
The Navy Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program is open to:
- Commissioned officers from any branch (Active or Reserve) who can’t transfer directly but secure a conditional release (other branches) or contingent release (USN/USNR). All program requirements must be met.
- Qualified civilians
- Enlisted personnel from any military branch (Active or Reserve) with an approved conditional release. Prior Navy enlisted members must submit an enlisted performance summary record and three years of performance evaluations.
Service Obligation Upon Selection
Navy PMHNP Service Commitment
- Minimum active-duty service: 3 years from the date of appointment (runs concurrently with any other active-duty education commitment).
- Total military obligation: Up to 8 years (remaining time can be served in the Reserves).
- Special pay, bonuses, and education benefits may extend service obligations.
Program Requirements & Obligations
- Selectees must meet all eligibility standards under DoD Instruction 6000.13 while in the PMHNP program at USU.
- Failure to meet these standards may result in removal from the program at the discretion of the Director, Navy Nurse Corps.
- Service commitment: 3 years for the first year of study + 6 months for each additional 6 months of study.
- Non-completers will serve as general nurses in the Navy Nurse Corps with a minimum 3-year active-duty commitment.
More Information
If you want more information about becoming a Navy Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, the next logical step is to contact a Naval Officer Recruiter.
Let us figure out how you can benefit from becoming a Navy Nurse—or if it is even the right career move for you.
Nursing students who are still in college should consider the Navy Nurse Candidate Program, which is another Navy scholarship that is designed for college students in nursing school.
Hope you find this useful in your career planning.
