A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice nursing professional whose practice focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental health disorders. To be able to fulfill these responsibilities and safeguard their patients’ health and well-being, aspiring PMHNPs need to have the right academic background.

Becoming a PMHNP requires in-depth knowledge of mental health disorders and their treatments. You should begin your education with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), followed by registered nurse (RN) licensing. From there, you may earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or even a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), through either of which you can become certified as a PMHNP.

A dedicated PMHNP degree program will include specialized focus on diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. It should also teach you how to help patients who may have mood disorders, addictions, or severe cases of anxiety or depression.

Note that while a number of PMHNP programs are available on traditional college campuses, plenty of online learning opportunities that allow you to complete your education on a more flexible schedule are also available. If you choose an online program, you will still need to complete clinical hours in a local hospital or inpatient care center that is convenient to you.

Choosing to complete your psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program in an online setting has a number of benefits. A few of the most significant advantages are:

●   Choose from the best schools, regardless of geography. When you choose on-campus learning, you either have to be willing to relocate or choose exclusively from schools that are nearby. Thanks to online learning, you can simply pick the program that’s best for you without having to worry about the school’s geographic location.

●   Prepare for a successful career providing direct patient care. An online PMHNP program can help you cultivate the skills and confidence needed to excel in your career in a growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nurse practitioner field is projected to grow 52% between 2020 and 2030. Additionally, PayScale reports that PMHNPs have a median annual salary of around $113,000 as of 2021.

●   Get more scheduling flexibility. Some PMHNP students work part-time or even full-time hours as RNs. As such, accommodating a traditional school schedule can be difficult. Online learning opportunities give you the ability to choose your own hours and to fit your education around your busy schedule. Many online programs also allow you to pick a timeline that works for you, which may mean completing an accelerated program or slowing things down, as needed.

●   Explore different nursing subspecialties. If you decide that psychiatric health care is not where your passion lies, online nurse practitioner programs typically provide a number of other options, ranging from pediatrics to women’s health .

●   Develop the skills you need for certification. Online PMHNP programs from accredited schools will focus on the knowledge and skills you need to sit for certification exams, and ultimately to begin practicing successfully.

Different types of online psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner programs are available, depending on your current level of education and nursing practice, as well as your career goals. Here are some of the primary options for you to consider as you seek an advanced education in psychiatric mental health nursing care.

Master’s in nursing

Earning a master’s in nursing is the minimum educational requirement for becoming a PMHNP, though you may ultimately decide to go on to a doctoral-level degree. Either way, earning your MSN can help you further hone your clinical skills and your comfort level administering patient care, while also focusing more of your attention on mental health conditions.

Doctorate in nursing, BSN to DNP

If you wish to become a nurse educator or nurse leader, you’ll probably want to get a doctoral-level education. You may be able to bypass the MSN altogether, jumping straight from your RN license to a doctorate through a BSN to DNP program. These programs can help you grow your skills in assessing, diagnosing, and treating various mental health conditions. BSN to DNP programs typically take three to four years to complete.

Doctorate in nursing, MSN to DNP

If you already have your MSN but wish to develop even more advanced knowledge in nurse leadership or health policy, this type of program may be the best approach. Note that the DNP is the terminal degree in nursing, meaning it’s a good option for anyone who’s seeking an advanced level of nursing expertise. MSN to DNP programs typically take one to two years to complete.

Postgraduate certificate

What if you already have a solid nursing background — perhaps even your MSN — but have never had much exposure to mental health care? Postgraduate certificate programs allow you to build on your current level of clinical skill, specializing in mental health disorders and treatments.

Enrolling in a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program can help you gain the necessary skills to help patients with mood disorders, behavioral disorders, addictions, and other mental health issues. The curriculum can vary from one program to the next, but representative examples of coursework include:

●  Advanced Pathophysiology
●  Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
●  Pharmacology/Pharmacotherapeutics
●  Theories of Psychotherapy (Individual and Family)
●  Neuroscience for Mental Health Practitioners

In addition to teaching you about mental health conditions, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program can also help you hone your basic skills in performing physical health evaluations and in understanding how mental health disorders can intersect with physical health conditions.

To begin practicing as a nurse practitioner in the field of psychiatric mental health care, you’ll need to become certified. You can gain psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The specific certification you’ll need is known as the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner board certification, or PMHNP-BC. The certification is valid for five years, after which PMHNPs will need to apply for recertification. Note that this certification will permit you to practice psychiatric and mental health care with patients of all ages.

To obtain this certification, you’ll need to sit for an examination. Eligibility requirements to take the exam include:

●  Having a current, active RN license
●  Completing an accredited MSN, DNP, or postgraduate certificate in a relevant field
●  Completing 500 supervised clinical practice hours
●  Completing at least three graduate-level courses in advanced physiology/pathophysiology, advanced health assessment, and advanced pharmacology (all of which will be included in your PMHNP program)
●  Completing coursework covering health promotion and/or maintenance and differential diagnosis and disease management
●  Having clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities

Completing a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner program can help prepare you for obtaining certification.

The specific timeline for becoming a PMHNP can vary from student to student. It depends on a number of factors, including whether you are able to enroll as a full-time student, whether you seek an accelerated program, and whether you want to get a DNP or an MSN.

BSN to DNP programs usually take three to four years, while an MSN to DNP may take up to two years. The time required to earn a postgraduate nursing certificate can vary quite a bit, but most of them involve one to two years of study.