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The PMHNP-BC is an advanced practice certification, so eligibility centers on your graduate
education and license, per ANCC.
What you need
- An active RN license in the U.S. or its territories.
- A graduate degree — a master’s, post-graduate certificate, or DNP —
from a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner program. - Accreditation: the program must be accredited by the CCNE or ACEN.
- Required graduate coursework and clinical hours in the PMHNP role and population,
as specified by ANCC.
Bottom line
If you’ve completed (or are finishing) an accredited PMHNP graduate program and hold an active RN
license, you’re on track. Confirm the specific coursework and clinical-hour requirements in the ANCC
eligibility criteria before you apply.
Unlock 2,600+ PMHNP-BC practice questions across 14 full-length simulators — $19.99 lifetime →
Sources & references
The exam facts on this page are drawn from official certifying-body materials, reviewed 2026-06-18 by the DrCertifications exam-prep team (10+ years in exam preparation and publishing).