Has anyone recently took the ANCC exam for psych?

chevyv, BSN, RN · Sep 9, 2015

I took the exam last year. There are criteria you have to meet before you can sit for the exam. One part is to have 120 hrs (not sure exact number) of mental health nursing. These need to be documented. Then you have to have a number of of mental health continueing ed credits from an accredited place. I hope this helps

RHIA, RN · Sep 10, 2015

ChevyV, thank you for replying! The hours are 2,000 in psychiatric- mental health, 30 CEUs within the last 3 years. I would have to take the test by December to meet that criteria because I have been away from patient care for almost 2 years. I finally received the ANCC study manual yesterday, thank goodness. I also signed up on Exam edge. I really hope all of this helps me pass!

chevyv, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2015

Boy was I a little off in the hours! I posted a thread about the study guide I used which really cut the fluff. Remember safety is huge and means you did or will do something. Charting is not an action....Good luck and let me know when you go. I didn't think it was too bad.

RHIA, RN · Sep 14, 2015

chevyv, did you have a BSN when you took the exam? One of the textbooks that I was using to study (from my associate degree RN program) specifically states that you have to have a BSN to take the ANCC exam. I don't remember seeing that on the ANCC website but I guess I'll go take another look.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · Sep 14, 2015

You don't need a BSN to be ANCC certified. I don't have a BSN and I held an RN,C in psychiatric and mental health nursing for five years. I didn't renew it, because at renewal time I was very short of cash, and my hospital liked saying that they had certified nurses but they paid nothing extra for it. The exam and the renewal was at my own expense.

The following are the listed criteria for the RN,C in psycjhatric and mental health nursing on the ANCC website:

Psychiatricâ€“Mental Health Nursing Certification Eligibility Criteria

Credential Awarded: RN-BC

Eligibility Criteria

Hold a current, active RN license within a state or territory of the United States or the professional, legally recognized equivalent in another country. International Applicants: Learn about additional requirements for candidates outside the US.

Have practiced the equivalent of 2 years full-time as a registered nurse.

Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of clinical practice in psychiatricâ€“mental health nursing within the last 3 years.

Have completed 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatricâ€“mental health nursing within the last 3 years.

For more information on certification, visit American Nurses Credentialing Center - ANCC

RHIA, RN · Sep 16, 2015

Thank you Orca, I had read that on their website but I still felt like I might be missing something. It is nice to have some reassurance.

Kathy H · Sep 25, 2015

Yes I took the exam in April this year. I needed it to renew since I let it lapse for a few years. I too studied the ANCC review manual.

One nice thing about the manual is you can earn 22 CE's from it by taking a certain test (see the inside of book). You can also find info one the website. If you already have enough CE's to sit for certification, hold off on the 22 CE's so you can use them for your renewal down the road. When you renew you will need 75-150 CE's over the prior 5 years (number of CE's depends on other factors).

As for the certification test, think NCLEX type questions. Know your theorists, medication categories and the major side effects (NMS, rash r/t lamictal, lithium toxicity, eg), patient rights, . Lots of scenarios. ANCC has a practice test for free but also has more resources you can pay for (I did not).

Your experience will help you tremendously but I would say reviewing principles and psych nursing is necessary. I scheduled mine a month or 2 ahead then studied. Best of Luck! You can do this!

RHIA, RN · Sep 29, 2015

Thank you for the information and vote of confidence, Kathy! The more I read the ANCC book the more overwhelmed I feel.