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Best psychiatric nurse practitioner certifications

Psychiatric nurse practitioner certifications allow job seekers to demonstrate their competency as an psychiatric nurse practitioner to employers. However, not all psychiatric nurse practitioner certifications provide the same value for job seekers.

The best certifications for a psychiatric nurse practitioner are Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Below is a list of the best psychiatric nurse practitioner certifications. Obtaining an psychiatric nurse practitioner certification will give you a leg up when you apply for jobs and increase your potential salary.

8 best psychiatric nurse practitioner certifications

1. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)

The ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of nurse practitioners. This certification aligns with the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PMHNP-BC).

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying organization
ANA Enterprise

2. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)

The ANCC Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of clinical nurse specialist. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (PMHNP-BC).

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying organization
ANA Enterprise

3. Family Nurse Practitioner

The ANCC Family Nurse Practitioner board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of nurse practitioners. This certification aligns with the Consensus Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Family Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified (FNP-BC).

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying website
Family Nurse Practitioner
Certifying organization
ANA Enterprise

4. Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP)

The CPRP examination tests competencies in seven research-based practice domains, identified and validated through rigorous research by experts in the field. Agencies can rely on the CPRP exam to help determine the essential competencies of staff in the specialized field of psychiatric rehabilitation.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? 

5. Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP)

The FNP certification examination is an entry-level competency-based examination that tests clinical knowledge in family/individual care.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying website
Family Nurse Practitioner
Certifying organization
American Association of Nurse...

6. Adult Nurse Practitioner (ANP-BC)

Eligibility Criteria Hold a current, active RN license in a state or territory of the United States or hold the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country. International Applicants: Learn about additional requirements for candidates outside the US. Hold a master's, postgraduate, or doctoral degree* from an adult nurse practitioner program accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) (formerly NLNAC | National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission). A minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours must be included in the adult nurse practitioner role and population. Three separate, comprehensive graduate-level courses in: -Advanced physiology/pathophysiology, including general principles that apply across the life span -Advanced health assessment, which includes assessment of all human systems, advanced assessment techniques, concepts, and approaches -Advanced pharmacology, which includes pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacotherapeutics of all broad categories of agents Content in: -Health promotion and/or maintenance -Differential diagnosis and disease management

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying organization
ANA Enterprise

7. Certified Medical Interpreter - Spanish (CMI)

The mission of the National Board is to foster improved healthcare outcomes, patient safety and patient/provider communication, by elevating the standards for and quality of medical interpreting through a nationally recognized and accredited certification for medical interpreters.

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)

8. Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (RN-BC)

The ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing board certification examination is a competency based examination that provides a valid and reliable assessment of the entry-level clinical knowledge and skills of registered nurses in the psychiatric-mental health specialty after initial RN licensure. Once you complete eligibility requirements to take the certification examination and successfully pass the exam, you are awarded the credential: Registered Nurse-Board Certified (RN-BC).

Certification details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or written exam required? Yes
  • Renewal required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying organization
ANA Enterprise

What is the best certification for a psychiatric nurse practitioner?

The best psychiatric nurse practitioner certification is Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is awarded by the ANA Enterprise. This certification corresponds to a specialty within a recognized occupation.

Here's a bit more background on how to obtain this psychiatric nurse practitioner certification:

  • To become a certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), you need to pass the exam.
  • This certificate requires more than two years of work experience.
  • Renew certification every 5 year.

What are some of the most in-demand certifications for psychiatric nurse practitioners?

The most in-demand psychiatric nurse practitioner certification is Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner based on all active job postings. Having this psychiatric nurse practitioner certification will give you access to more psychiatric nurse practitioner jobs with higher salaries.

Best certifications

The most common combination of psychiatric nurse practitioner certifications include: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC), and Family Nurse Practitioner.

Online courses for psychiatric nurse practitioners to earn certifications

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