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Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification (PMHNP-BC)
Find the current format, timing, scoring, fees, eligibility, and testing options for PMHNP-BC, with direct links to official sources.
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Questions175 questions (150 scored + 25 unscored pretest)
Testing time3.5 hours
ScoringPass/fail; scaled score of 350 or higher (scale maximum 500) required to pass; minimum passing score set using the Modified Angoff Method
Exam feeUSD 395 nonmember / USD 295 ANA member initial certification (includes USD 140 non-refundable administrative fee; other initial rates: AANP member USD 340, AANP student member USD 290, APNA member USD 220, ISPN member USD 340, GAPNA member USD 340; renewal USD 375 nonmember / USD 275 ANA member)
Prep options
Study resources for PMHNP-BC
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- ANCC
- Category
- Nurse Practitioner Certification
- Current version
- 2023 Test Content Outline (effective April 28, 2023; file updated July 28, 2026)
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- Scale with a maximum possible score of 500 (passing scaled score 350)
- Testing provider
- Prometric
- Format
- Computer-based at Prometric test centers
- Availability
- Year-round application; test at a Prometric test center during a 120-day window after Authorization to Test
- Results
- Results provided to ANCC within 24-48 hours after testing; pass/fail reported
- Credential validity
- 5 years (credential valid 5 years; renewal required to continue using it)
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
5 scored content domains (150 scored items): Scientific Foundation 33 (22%); Advanced Practice Skills 41 (27%); Diagnosis and Treatment 33 (22%); Psychotherapy and Related Theories 17 (11%); Ethics, Legal Principles, and Cultural Care 26 (17%); APRN Consensus Model secondary classifications by body system, drug agent, and age group
Where rules vary
Exam content reflects U.S. practice; nurses holding a legally recognized equivalent RN license in another country are eligible.
Eligibility
Current, active US RN license (or legally recognized equivalent in another country); PMHNP (Across the Lifespan) master's, post-graduate certificate, or DNP from an accredited program including a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours; three separate graduate-level APRN core courses (advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology); health promotion/differential diagnosis content; clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities
Retake policy
Retest permitted after 60 calendar days; no more than 3 attempts in any 12-month period