Getting my Psychiatric mental health certification.What comes next?

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Hello! I am a FNP ending my last semester of a psychiatric mental health postmaster certification. I'll really appreciate if someone provides me guidance of what I should do next. Since I am a family nurse practitioner already I have passed the ANCC exam for the ARNP. Do I need to apply again to obtain a PMHNP title? and to be able to prescribe psychotropic medication? I need what steps I need to follow after getting my psychiatric mental health certification. Please help me out providing me some instructions. Thank you!

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You should take (and pass) the PMHNP exam to become a PMHNP. Completing the coursework and earning a certificate alone doesn't qualify you to practice as a psych provider. There is also no such thing as an "ANCC exam for the ARNP" since there are multiple exams for different specialties. In most states, you will not need a separate license for a new specialty but you should look into your state law (or the state you intend to practice in). For instance, in my state, you would need to obtain an additional license since NP licenses are specialty-specific.

After that, the rest is largely up to you and how you want to practice. Your next steps would depend on if you are looking for a new position or seeking to add mental health care to your current practice.

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if you are planning to bill as a PMHNP, you will have to credential with insurance companies as an PMHNP. This is a pain and takes months.

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Do the schools not even explain the basics of how licensure and certification work anymore? What else are they not covering?

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Specializes in Rheumatology NP.
Do the schools not even explain the basics of how licensure and certification work anymore? What else are they not covering?

Exactly my thoughts.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

It seems they also don't cover BPD vs Bipolar, Delirium vs Schizophrenia, Malingering or drug seeking at all....but lots of polypharmacy and erroneous diagnoses.

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It seems they also don't cover BPD vs Bipolar, Delirium vs Schizophrenia, Malingering or drug seeking at all....but lots of polypharmacy and erroneous diagnoses.

Not possible to do this in just a handful of clinical hours. As we know.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
Not possible to do this in just a handful of clinical hours. As we know.

and no RN experience with meds or presentations.

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Hi, I am very surprised that the school you went to did not cover this as part of their curriculum. In order to bill as a PMHNP you'd have to be certified as one which means you have to sit another board exam specifically for PMHNPs. I believe the ANCC offers the psych exam. Hope this helps.

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