How To Become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
How To Become a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
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If you’re wondering how to become a PMHNP, it’s important to first understand the educational path you would pursue. The basis of this career is first becoming a registered nurse (RN). Read through the steps below to gain a better understanding of reaching PMHNP status.
Earning a high school diploma is the first step toward a PMHNP career. It provides the basic academic preparation in areas such as science, math and writing that you’ll build on in nursing school. During high school, you may also consider gaining experience in the field by completing a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program.
To become a PMHNP, you must first become an RN, which involves earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Nurse practitioners must be RNs who have completed specialized graduate education.3 After your BSN, you must earn your Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree to become an APRN. Ideally, you would complete a master’s in nursing program with a focus on psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.
Hands-on experience and internships during your undergraduate program can play a role in preparing you for your graduate nursing education. Graduate NP programs may require applicants to have nursing experience and clinical exposure to help ensure readiness for advanced studies.
After earning your BSN, working as an RN in a clinical setting is a common entry-level role that provides practical experience and exposure to diverse patient populations. This experience helps you develop assessment, communication and critical-thinking skills that are crucial for advanced practice.
After obtaining your MSN and meeting clinical hour requirements, you must achieve national certification and state licensure to practice as a PMHNP. The American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC) administers a PMHNP certification exam that you must pass in order to gain certification in that area. There are different state-specific requirements for certification, so be sure to check the requirements of your state.
The psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner master’s program is designed to provide nurses with specialized knowledge in that area of practice. You will be taught course material relevant to the assessment, treatment and all-around compassionate care of those with mental health concerns.
A PMHNP nursing master’s program will typically cover the following topics:
Physiology and pathophysiology
Psych pharmacology
Health assessment
Psychiatric mental health foundations
Integrative management
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners rely on a combination of skills to provide quality mental healthcare. They must balance assessment and diagnostic abilities with interpersonal skills that help them build trust and support patients through complex challenges.
Various skills that these professionals need to perform their best include:3
Communication
Critical thinking
Compassion
Detail oriented
Interpersonal
Leadership
A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is a type of advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who specializes in assessing, diagnosing and treating patients with mental health conditions. They combine clinical expertise in nursing and psychiatry, allowing them to provide holistic care that addresses the emotional, behavioral and physical aspects of mental well-being.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than 1 in 5 adults are affected by a mental illness.1
Browse some additional readings on mental health and nursing to learn more about the field.
Explore the connection between nursing and mental healthcare and how nurses play a key role in supporting patients’ emotional well-being.
Discover why prioritizing professional development in nursing can keep you at the forefront of healthcare; understand its importance and how to get started.
Explore practical strategies to guide you in your RN-to-BSN journey. From study habits to staying organized, gain insights that can help you maximize your program's potential.
GCU offers master’s-level nursing programs for BSN-educated nurses looking to advance their education toward becoming a PMHNP, including a PMHNP-specific MSN. If you have not yet completed your BSN, we also offer BSN programs to help you kickstart your journey in the nursing field. Explore these options to learn more about the curriculum and program format.
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners play a vital role in promoting mental wellness and patient-centered care. They help patients of all ages manage conditions such as anxiety, depression, substance use disorders and other psychiatric concerns.
Their responsibilities often include:2
Performing physical exams and assessments
PMHNPs conduct physical and mental exams and assessments to evaluate a patient’s overall health and identify potential concerns.
Conducting and ordering diagnostic tests
They conduct and order tests to gather essential information that supports accurate diagnoses and treatment planning.
Tracking medical histories and symptoms
It’s necessary for PMHNPs to track medical histories and symptoms to monitor patient progress and provide more effective, personalized care.
Prescribing medical treatments
They can also prescribe medical treatments to help manage symptoms and support long-term wellness, when necessary.
Consulting with other medical professionals
These practitioners often consult with other medical professionals to ensure patients receive coordinated, multidisciplinary care.
Treatment plans
They create individualized treatment plans that outline goals and interventions designed to promote recovery and stability.
Following up on patient’s condition
PMHNPs follow up on their patients’ conditions to evaluate treatment effectiveness and make any adjustments for continued improvement.
Career advancement for PMHNPs may include pursuing clinical specializations in areas such as geriatric psychiatry, trauma-informed care or adolescent mental health. Experienced PMHNPs may also consider pursuing leadership or academic positions, contributing to research and policy development or expanding their certifications into areas such as family practice or nurse executive roles.7
Psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners can work in a wide range of settings where mental health services are needed across the lifespan.
Some work environments where PMHNPs are often found include:4
Hospitals
Some practitioners may provide mental health services to those requiring psychiatric help in state, local and private hospitals.
Outpatient care centers
An example may be a clinic established within another health system, where PMHNPs can conduct evaluations, provide therapy or offer other treatments.
Other health practitioner offices
Some PMHNPs may work through other healthcare providers’ offices, providing specialized psychiatric care that they would not receive from another practitioner.
Educational services
These professionals may also work in various levels of schools, addressing and helping treat students’ mental health challenges.
Median annual wage for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners as of May 20245
Estimated job growth for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners from 2024 to 20346
1. APEA Staff. (2024, Oct. 14). 2025 PMHNP Career Outlook: High Need, High Demand, Rising Salaries. Advanced Practice Education Associates. Retrieved October 2025.
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). What Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners Do. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved October 2025.
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d). How To Become a Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Midwife or Nurse Practitioner. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved October 2025.
5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved October 2025.
4. The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, as of May 2024, retrieved October 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners, nor does it reflect earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
6. COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Practitioners, retrieved October 2025.
7. Bouchrika, I. (2025, Oct. 13). What Can You Do With a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate for 2025. Research.com. Retrieved October 2025.
Make a difference in the lives of those struggling with mental health. Take the steps to become a PMHNP.