Becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is an exciting and rewarding career path, but before you can hang your diploma and start working with patients, there’s one big hurdle: the PMHNP board exam. This test ensures that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to provide top-notch care to individuals dealing with a wide range of psychiatric and mental health disorders.
The landscape of the PMHNP exam has changed, and as of 2024, there are two separate exams you need to be aware of:
- the ANCC exam (from the American Nurses Credentialing Center)
- and the newer AANP exam (from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners).
Both are important, but they have some key differences. If you're wondering which one to take or what the exams entail, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in and explore everything you need to know about the PMHNP exams.
The Two PMHNP Exams: ANCC vs. AANP
First things first, let’s talk about the two exam options.
ANCC PMHNP Exam
The ANCC PMHNP exam is the original and still the most widely recognized certification for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners. Most job descriptions will explicitly mention ANCC certification, and this exam is generally seen as the industry standard. If you're preparing for the ANCC exam, you're aligning yourself with the tried-and-true path.
AANP PMHNP Exam
In 2024, the AANP launched its own PMHNP exam, which is new on the scene. As with anything new, there are still some kinks being worked out. The AANP is recognized and respected, but it hasn’t yet achieved the same level of recognition as ANCC—at least not in job descriptions. While the AANP PMHNP exam is certainly valid and legitimate, you may want to keep in mind that the ANCC certification is what many employers are still looking for.
It’s important to note that choosing the AANP exam doesn’t make you any less of a PMHNP—it’s just that the ANCC is the “OG” in this space. Think of the ANCC exam as the seasoned veteran and the AANP as the rookie with potential. In time, the AANP will likely become as well-recognized, but for now, the ANCC remains the go-to for most employers.
ANCC vs AANP PMHNP Exam Comparison Table
| ANCC PMHNP Board Exam | AANP PMHNP Board Exam | |
|---|---|---|
| Organization | American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) | American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) |
| Exam Content | Comprehensive exam covering psychiatric-mental health nursing theory, practice, and research | Broad-based exam covering all aspects of advanced practice nursing |
| Application Process | Online application through the ANCC website | Online application through the AANP website |
| Number of Questions | 175 total (150 scored, 25 pre-test) | 150 total (135 scored, 15 pre-test) |
| Passing Score | 75% | 75% |
| Retake Policy | Wait 60 days after failed attempt | 2 attempts per year |
| Question Breakdown | The ANCC exam breaks down into different domains or content areas. These are the major topics you’ll need to be familiar with:
|
The AANP PMHNP exam is newer, so it’s a little different from the ANCC in terms of content focus. The breakdown includes:
|
| Exam Length | 3.5 hours | 3 hours |
| Renewal Period | Every 5 years | Every 5 years |
PMHNP Exam Preparation: What You Need to Review
Regardless of whether you choose the ANCC or AANP exam, there are some core topics and content areas that you’ll need to be familiar with. Here are some of the most important things to review:
1.Pharmacology
Pharmacology is a cornerstone of nurse practitioner knowledge, essential for both the ANCC and AANP exams. Here are some core pharmacological concepts to review:
- Pharmacokinetics: How medications are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted.
- Pharmacodynamics: The mechanisms of drug action and their effects on the body.
- Half-life: The time it takes for half of a drug to be eliminated from the body.
- Steady-state concentration: Achieving consistent therapeutic drug levels with repeated dosing.
- Metabolism: How the liver and other organs break down medications.
2. Therapy Techniques
Therapy techniques are a fundamental aspect of psychiatric care and a key area of focus for both the ANCC and AANP exams. Here are some core therapeutic modalities to review:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.
- Interpersonal therapy (IPT): Addresses interpersonal issues to improve communication and relationship skills.
- Psychodynamic therapy: Explores unconscious processes and how past experiences influence current behavior.
- Family therapy: Works with families to address dynamics and improve communication within the unit.
- Group therapy: Involves treating multiple patients in a supportive, interactive group setting.
3. Ethics & Legal Issues
Ethics and legal considerations are crucial for ensuring patient safety and professional integrity. Here are some key areas to review:
- Informed consent: Understanding the process of obtaining and documenting patient agreement for treatments and procedures.
- Confidentiality: Knowing the principles and exceptions to maintaining patient privacy.
- Mandated reporting: Recognizing when and how to report concerns like abuse or neglect.
- Ethical dilemmas: Navigating complex scenarios where moral principles may conflict.
- Scope of practice: Being aware of the legal boundaries of your role as a PMHNP.
4. Eating Disorders
Understanding the characteristics and treatment approaches for eating disorders is critical for patient care and exam success. Here are some key topics to focus on:
- Anorexia nervosa: Signs, symptoms, and treatment strategies for patients with extreme food restriction and weight loss.
- Bulimia nervosa: Recognizing patterns of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors such as purging.
- Binge eating disorder: Identifying recurring episodes of uncontrolled eating without compensatory behaviors.
- Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder: Exploring eating disturbances unrelated to body image concerns that result in nutritional deficiencies.
- Body image issues: Addressing the psychological aspects influencing self-perception and their connection to disordered eating.
5. Personality Disorders
Developing a clear understanding of personality disorders, their classifications, and diagnostic criteria is essential for the PMHNP exam. Here are the key areas to review:
- Cluster A personality disorders: Includes paranoid, schizoid, and schizotypal personality disorders; characterized by odd or eccentric behaviors.
- Cluster B personality disorders: Covers antisocial, borderline, histrionic, and narcissistic personality disorders; marked by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behaviors.
- Cluster C personality disorders: Comprises avoidant, dependent, and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders; defined by anxious or fearful behaviors.
- Borderline personality disorder: Focus on symptoms such as emotional instability, impulsivity, and unstable interpersonal relationships.
- Histrionic personality disorder: Review patterns of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors.
Am I eligible to take the PMHNP exam?
Before you set out to take the PMHNP board exam, make sure you meet ANCC or AANP eligibility criteria. Not only are these requirements for the certifying organizations, but they’re also great steps to gaining experience that will support your success on the PMHNP certification exam. Below is a brief overview of eligibility requirements, but you can also visit the ANCC and AANP websites for more detailed information.
ANCC Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the ANCC PMHNP exam must hold a current, active RN license. They must have a PMHNP master’s, post-graduate certificate, or DNP from an accredited institution. This must include a minimum of 500 faculty-supervised clinical hours, and three separate, graduate-level, APRN Core courses in designated topics. Finally, you must hav e completed clinical training in at least two psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.
AANP Eligibility Requirements
Applicants for the AANP PMHNP exam must have completed a nationally accredited graduate, postgraduate, or doctoral PMHP educational program, including a minimum of 500 clinical practice hours. They must complete the APRN Core, including advanced physical assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology. A current professional nursing license is requ ired to process your application.
How hard is the PMHNP exam?
So how many people pass the PMHNP exam? Since AANP just began accepting applications for the new PMHNP exam in January 2024, we don’t yet have access to the score statistics and pass rates. However, here’s a look at two different years of ANCC PMHNP exam stats, provided by ANCC.
| Year | Total Tested | Total Passed | Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1,550 | 1,364 | 88% |
| 2022 | 7,476 | 6,789 | 91% |
As you can see, the majority of well-prepared candidates achieve a passing score–and you can too!
External Resources for PMHNP Exam Prep
For more information on these exams, you can visit the official sites of both the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). These sites offer detailed breakdowns of the exams, study guides, and other essential resources.
Conclusion
In summary, passing the PMHNP exam—whether through ANCC or AANP—is your gateway to becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. The exams are rigorous, but
