UC Davis graduate nursing programs earn accreditation

This week marked the start of a new educational journey for students in two recently accredited graduate programs at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis.

They are members of the Class of 2025 for the UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Certificate Program and the Class of 2028 Doctor of Nursing Practice — Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) Degree Program.

Both programs earned full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) Board of Commissioners following a site visit and formal review last fall. In addition, the California Board of Registered Nursing approved the School of Nursing’s programs, affirming they meet state-specific licensing and practice requirements.

CCNE accreditation is a trusted mark of quality for graduate nursing programs. It confirms the program meets national standards, qualifies students for financial aid and licensure, and enhances its reputation with employers and peers. It also reflects a commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in nursing education.

“This accreditation reflects what we value most — an environment where faculty and staff are deeply invested in student success, where academic excellence is the standard and where every graduate is empowered to be a change agent in health care,” said School of Nursing Dean Stephen Cavanagh. “It’s not just about meeting benchmarks. It’s about transforming lives and advancing the future of how and where care is delivered to meet the needs of California and beyond.”

Primary care delivered by FNPs for all areas of California

The DNP-FNP program, launched in 2022, marked the first DNP program at UC Davis. Faculty developed the curriculum from the ground up, weaving into every facet the elements of leadership, innovative clinical practice and health equity. The result: a new curriculum that actively develops meaningful solutions to provider shortages in rural and urban areas.

The hybrid program combines distance-based education with four on-campus immersions across three years. The inaugural cohort will graduate on June 12, ready to implement evidence-based innovations and develop expertise in their clinical practice.

I often asked myself if I am leading the team in the right direction to fulfill the mission of the school. As the inaugural cohort graduates, I believe we did.—Charleen Singh, DNP-FNP Program Director

Program Director Charleen Singh says faculty have learned as much from the first students as those soon-to-be graduates have learned through their coursework.

“As a result, we’ve created not only a program that we are extremely proud of but one that is a rewarding journey that starts with exploring the Central Valley and ends with the DNP symposium to celebrate their projects with colleagues, family and friends,” Singh said. “I often asked myself if I am leading the team in the right direction to fulfill the mission of the school and meet the vision of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. As the inaugural cohort graduates, I believe we did.”

Inaugural graduate Samiksha Dhakal credits the program with transforming her perspective as a nurse and expanding how she sees her future impact.

“This program has been a truly transformative experience, really life-changing,” Dhakal explained. “This program helped to equip me with the advanced leadership skills, critical thinking abilities and expertise to apply these evidence-based solutions in clinical practice.”

Expanding access to mental health care through NP certification

While residents in many areas of the state lack access to primary care services, more than half of Californians living with mental illness do not receive the psychiatric care they need. To answer the call, University of California schools of nursing at UC Davis, UCLA, UC Irvine and UCSF launched the multicampus, hybrid mental health certificate program to prepare nurse practitioners across California as psychiatric mental health specialists. 

The one-year program, which welcomed its first class in 2021, grew out of a course of study developed by UCSF. UC Davis became the administrative home of the program in 2023 with a focus on expanding the impact on people in desperate need of mental health services and identifying ways to expand the curriculum and placement opportunities.

“This accreditation marks more than a milestone. It reflects our intentional decision to lead an established program and reimagine its potential. We saw an urgent need in our communities and made it our mission to reach those too often left behind,” said Lynda Creighton-Wong, PMHNP program director. “Accreditation affirms that we’re on the right path in building a program rooted in equity, innovation and real-world impact.”

More than 120 students from across the state have graduated from the program, including 30 from the first cohort from the program since UC Davis assumed its operations, who will celebrate their accomplishment at a commencement ceremony on June 12.

Among those graduates is Roxanne Abella. She credits the faculty, preceptors and curriculum with not only preparing her to become a psychiatric mental health provider but a leader in health care.

“Coming from an underserved background and having worked as a nurse practitioner in resource-limited communities, many aspects of this framework initially felt intuitive,” Abella said. “However, the program expanded my approach — not just as a clinician, but as someone committed to equity, collaboration and lasting impact.”

Accreditation for both programs lasts for five years. The next on-site evaluation will take place in fall 2029.