How to Become a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

With the need for care growing nationwide, psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs) are in higher demand than ever. Advancing your nursing career as a PMHNP can help you play a role in bridging critical gaps in mental health care.

Interested in learning how to become a psychiatrist nurse practitioner? This blog will help you understand important topics like psychiatric nurse practitioner education requirements, ANCC psych certification, career outlook, and more.

You will also learn how to find a high-quality program, such as the online psychiatric/mental health NP programs offered by Wilkes University.

What Is the Role of a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?

Psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners work with patients to promote and maintain their mental health. They also prevent and treat psychiatric disorders.

PMHNPs often collaborate with providers in primary and specialty care.

Over the past decade, PMHNP enrollments have grown the most across all graduate degree types (e.g., MSN, post-MSN, DNP), compared to primary care and acute care tracks.

How Many Need Mental Health Care in the U.S.?

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In 2024, over 60 million adults in the U.S.—approximately one in four— experienced a mental health condition. Among young adults, the rate increases to one in three. Today, the number of Americans seeking mental health care rivals the total populations of California and Texas combined.

What Does a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Do?

A psychiatric nurse practitioner assesses, diagnoses and treats the mental health needs of patients.

On a typical day, a PMHNP might:

• Lead group or individual therapy sessions
• Prescribe medications
• Perform physical and psychosocial assessments
• Provide emergency psychiatric care
• Develop and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment plans

Full-time PMHNPs see an average of approximately 15 patients per day.

Illnesses & Disorders Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners Treat

Psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioners are educated to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide variety of mental health disorders. They do so by following the standards of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

PMHNPs employ a combination of psychopharmacological treatments and psychotherapeutic interventions to address these conditions, striving to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Some mental health conditions PMHNPs treat include:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Psychotic disorders
• Feeding and eating disorders
• Sleep-wake disorders
• Mood disorders
• Personality disorders
• Substance abuse and dependency

According to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the top health issues managed by PMHNPs include depression, anxiety, insomnia and dementia.

Read more about the role of a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner.

Practice Settings

A psychiatric nurse practitioner has a broad scope and is equipped to practice in many health care settings. You will find PMHNPs in:

• Private practice
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Community health centers
• Inpatient and outpatient treatment programs

Most work in psychiatric mental health facilities.

Who Needs a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner?

Anyone can be impacted by a mental health disorder—regardless of sex, race, ethnicity, or age. That is why PMHNPs are educated to treat individuals across the lifespan. They may see children, adolescents, adults and the elderly coping with a variety of conditions.

PMHNPs treat a spectrum of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance use, trauma, and cognitive disorders.

People may see a PMHNP in settings such as hospitals, community clinics, primary care offices, or through telehealth, making their expertise accessible to diverse populations with varying mental health needs.

What Is the Demand for Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners?

The demand for mental health providers, including PMHNPs, is tremendous. Healthcare leaders believe that it will continue to grow.

By 2030, the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) projects an 18% increase in the demand for PMHNPs.

The Shortage of Mental Health Providers

The need for mental health services is rising, but the country has a critical shortage of providers.

By 2037, the U.S. is projected to face significant shortages in behavioral health professionals, according to the HRSA:

• 113,930 addiction counselors
• 87,840 mental health counselors
• 79,160 psychologists
• 50,440 psychiatrists
• 34,170 marriage and family therapists
• 39,710 school counselors

These shortages are already being felt nationwide. More than 122 million Americans—roughly one-third to two-fifths of the population—live in areas officially designated as Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).

As a result, many individuals continue to experience an unmet need for mental health care. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly 1 in 4 adults with any mental illness reported an unmet need for mental health services in the past year—a rate that has remained consistently high in recent years.

What Is the Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Career Outlook?

The career outlook is bright for the psychiatric nurse practitioner role. PMHNPs will continue to enjoy high employment growth and salaries.

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Employment

PMHNPs have strong employment prospects.

The National Council for Behavioral Health has called for expanding the use of NPs in psychiatry. With a comprehensive education in mental health, PMHNPs can help fill gaps in the psychiatric workforce.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of nurse practitioners will grow 40% through 2034—much faster than average. Healthcare occupations overall are projected to grow over the next decade, with about 1.9 million openings per year.

HRSA projects substantial workforce shortages in behavioral health through 2037, including psychiatrists and other mental health roles—underscoring continued demand for PMHNP services.

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Salary

BLS data shows nurse practitioners earn a median salary of $132,050 a year.

PMHNP is one of the highest-paid specializations, landing at $137,000 for total annual income, according to AANP.

Here's how other NP specializations compare:

• Neonatal: $140,000
• Family Health: $115,000
• Adult-Gerontology Acute Care: $113,000
• Adult-Gerontology Primary Care: $112,000
• Pediatric: $110,000
• Women’s Health: $100,000

How Do I Become a PMHNP?

To become a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner, you will need certain education, experience, and credentials.

1. RN License

The first requirement for the psychiatric nurse practitioner role is an RN license. It must be current and unencumbered.

A valid RN license is also needed for admission to PMHNP education programs.

2. Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Degree

Another requirement is to obtain a PMHNP degree.

A psychiatric nurse practitioner can hold a master’s, doctoral degree or post-graduate certificate. These options give aspiring PMHNPs multiple entry points into the field.

Here are the different degrees that you can pursue, based on your educational background:

Whichever degree you choose, it must come from an accredited program. Two organizations grant nursing accreditation in the U.S.: the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).

The program should also meet the four coursework requirements outlined by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). ANCC grants the board certification for the psychiatric nurse practitioner role.

ANCC-approved coursework includes:

• At least 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours
• Three graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment and advanced pharmacology
• Content in health promotion or maintenance, differential diagnosis and disease management
• Clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities

3. Board Certification

Licensed RNs who hold a PMHNP degree can apply for the ANCC board certification in psychiatry/mental health.

The ANCC grants certification through a competency-based test. The exam will evaluate your clinical knowledge and skills in five domains:

1. Scientific Foundation
2. Advanced Practice Skills
3. Diagnosis and Treatment
4. Psychotherapy and Related Theories
5. Ethical and Legal Principles

When you pass the test, you will earn the PMHNP credential: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PMHNP-BC).

4. State License

As a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, you can seek licensure in the state where you plan to practice.

The eligibility requirements vary by state. At a minimum, you will need to verify your education, nursing licensure and board certification.

How Do I Find a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program?

You can find psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner programs by searching the CCNE and ACEN databases of accredited institutions.

Wilkes University offers three CCNE-accredited online NP programs with a concentration in psychiatry/mental health:

• Associate Degree in Nursing (RN.) to Master of Science in Nursing ­– Nurse Practitioner
• Master of Science in Nursing – Nurse Practitioner
• Post-Graduate/APRN Certificate

Designed for working nurses, the programs will help you fulfill the nation’s growing need for psychiatric and mental health care. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of mental health assessment, psychotherapy, medication management, and health promotion.

All of Wilkes University’s PMHNP programs include dedicated clinical placement support. Our experienced placement team works with you to secure a high-quality clinical site that meets program requirements and helps you build the real-world skills you’ll need as a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner.

Wilkes’ commitment to student success shows, with a record of securing clinical sites at rates above the national average. For online PMHNP graduates like Craig Patton, that personalized support made all the difference:

• Having to find my own preceptor and clinical placement site was an immense stressor, so knowing they would take care of that was one of the biggest perks that attracted me to Wilkes."
  -Craig Patton (Online MSN–PMHNP)