How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Are you passionate about helping people with mental health conditions? If you’re an empathic and personable individual who has a knack for problem-solving, then you may enjoy a career as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP). As a PMHNP, you’ll have the opportunity to diagnose and treat a range of psychiatric illnesses across a variety of care settings.
With over 50 million people in the U.S. living with a mental health condition, there’s an ongoing need for more mental health services. Since nurse practitioners play an important role in filling this gap, it’s a great time to enter this in-demand specialty. If you’re wondering how to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, this article will outline five steps that will help you jump-start your career.
What Is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner?
A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner is a specialized advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who provides care for patients with mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. PMHNPs assess, diagnose, and treat diverse patient populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
In some states, PMHNPs have full autonomy with the ability to open up an independent mental health practice. Other states require PMHNPs to be supervised by a physician under a type of contract known as a collaborative practice agreement.
What Does a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Do?
Before you take the leap and learn how to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you’ll likely want to know what the job entails. You may be wondering things like, can a psychiatric nurse practitioner prescribe medication? Or, can a PMHNP provide counseling? While the specifics to the job can vary by state and setting, the general responsibilities of a PMHNP include:
- Assessing and diagnosing patients with behavioral and mental health conditions.
- Providing education and guidance to patients and their families.
- Prescribing treatments, including medications, to help patients manage their conditions.
- Conducting psychotherapy sessions to individual patients or groups.
- Collaborating with other professionals, such as social workers, psychiatrists, and therapists, to coordinate care for patients.
To get a closer look at this role, check out our sample PMHNP resume.
How to Become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: 5 Steps
Now that you’ve gotten an overview of what the job entails, you can follow these five steps to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner. If you’re already working as a registered nurse (RN), then you can start at step three.
1. Obtain a Nursing Degree
To become a nurse, you’ll first need to graduate from an accredited school of nursing. It takes two years to obtain an associates degree in nursing (ADN) and four years to obtain a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN). While you can choose to pursue either degree, it’s important to note that a BSN is often preferred in a lot of acute care settings.
2. Pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX)
After you graduate from nursing school and obtain your degree, you’ll need to become licensed to work as a nurse. The NCLEX-RN is the national licensure exam for registered nurses (RNs). You can register to take this exam through Pearson VUE. Once you pass the NCLEX, you can apply for licensure and legally start practicing as an RN.
3. Gain Experience in Psychiatric Nursing
To familiarize yourself with psychiatric nursing, it’s important to gain experience working as an RN in mental health settings. This will help you build a stronger foundation and make you more competitive when it’s time to apply to graduate school. In fact, many NP programs even require an applicant to have one to two years of bedside experience before applying.
4. Apply to Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Programs
After you gain some experience as an RN, you’ll need to apply to and complete a PMHNP graduate program. You can either apply to a master’s program (two years) or doctoral program (four years) to finish your psychiatric nurse practitioner schooling. Just make sure that the program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
5. Obtain PMHNP Certification and Licensure
After completing graduate school, you’ll need to become certified and licensed to work as PMHNP in your state. You’ll need to obtain at least 500 supervised clinical hours during or after your graduate program to become eligible for the PMHNP certification exam.
After you meet your clinical requirements, you can register for the PMHNP-BC exam, which you’ll need to pass to become board certified. You can then apply for licensure through your state’s board of nursing. Each state has different requirements for the NP licensure process. So, it’s always a good idea to double check your eligibility with your respective board of nursing.
Finished with these steps? Now, you’re ready to check out the available psychiatric NP jobs in your area.
Becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner: FAQs
How long does it take to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner?
The time it takes to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner will depend on where you are in your nursing career and the educational path you decide to take. If you’re starting from scratch, it will take at least six years total to obtain your RN and PMHNP license. If you’re already a nurse, you’ll need about two to four years of additional schooling and training.
How much do psychiatric nurse practitioners make?
What you can make as a psychiatric nurse practitioner varies based on location, experience, and education level. But on average, the national psychiatric nurse practitioner salary is reported to be about $120,160 per year.
Open to relocating for your next job? Check out openings in some of the highest paying states for nurse practitioners:
Where do psychiatric nurse practitioners work?
If you’re learning how to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you’re probably also wondering what types of places you can work in. Psychiatric nurse practitioners provide care in a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. Some of the most common care settings for PHMNPs include:
- Private practices
- Behavioral health clinics
- Addiction clinics
- Psychiatric facilities
- Community mental health centers
- Educational institutions
What is the job outlook for psychiatric nurse practitioners?
For nurse practitioners across the board, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 45% growth rate in job openings throughout the next 10 years. With mental health conditions on the rise, the job outlook for psychiatric nurse practitioners specifically reflects an increasing demand for this specialization. Check out all of the nurse practitioner jobs on IntelyCare to see open roles in a range of specialties.
Psychiatric nurse practitioner vs. psychiatrist: What’s the difference?
Psychiatric nurse practitioners are APRNs while psychiatrists are physicians who have completed medical school and residency. Both professionals have similar duties, but the scope of practice for a psychiatric nurse practitioner may be more limited than that of a psychiatrist in some states. Learn more about the difference between doctors and NPs.
Explore and Find Nursing Jobs That Are Right For You
Now that you know how to become a psychiatric nurse practitioner, you may want to start scoping out the job market in your ideal location. Learn how IntelyCare can connect you with quality nursing jobs that are tailored to your skills, qualifications, and preferences.