Certifying Body & Credentials
Benefits of Certification
Eligibility Requirements
California Focus: Systems & Incentives
Exam Preparation
100

This organization is the national body offering PMH-BC and PMHNP-BC certifications.

What is the ANCC

100

Certified nurses are linked to reduced ___ errors.

What are medical errors?

100

This is the minimum nursing license required for PMH-BC.

What is an active RN license?

100

Unlike some state-specific credentials, California hospitals adopt this kind of certification for psychiatric nurses. 

What is a national certification?

100

Total number of multiple-choice questions on the PMH-BC exam.

What is 150 questions?

200

PMH-BC certification is valid for this many years before renewal.

What is 5 years?

200

Certification often leads to increases in this type of compensation

What are wages/salary?

200

RNs must have at least this many years of full-time experience before applying.

What is 2 years?

200

Leading California institutions like UCSF and Kaiser Permanente often provide this specific resource to support certification

What is exam reimbursement or study leave/pay?

200

Recommended time frame to prepare for the exam.

What is 3-6 months of studying for the exam?

300

This credential is specifically for advanced practice psychiatric nurse practitioners

What is PMHNP-BC?

300

73% of patients prefer hospitals with more of these types of nurses and can help with magnet status 

What are certified nurses?

300

PMH-BC requires this many clinical hours in psych/mental health in the last 3 years.

What is 2,000 hours?
300

Hospitals in California that seek Magnet status must integrate these two ANCC programs into their HR and training pipelines.

What is Magnet Recognition?

300

The number of hours required that are required for test preparation 

30 hours

400

This entity accredits the ANCC’s certification programs

What is the ABSNC (Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification)?

400

Nurses report less of this workplace condition when certified.

What is burnout?

400

Number of CE hours in psychiatric-mental health nursing required.

What is 30 hours?

400

PMH-BC certification may be a preferred or required qualification in these types of psychiatric care settings

What are acute inpatient psychiatric hospitals or behavioral health units?

400

This organization provides study guides and preparation for the exam

What is the ANCC or Nurse.com/Mometrix?

500

PMH-BC is a certification focused on this nursing specialty.

What is Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing?

500

This type of advancement is more likely for certified nurses.

What is professional/career advancement?

500

The PMHNP-BC pathway requires these types of graduate-level courses.

What are advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment, and psychotherapeutic courses?

500

California hospitals like Kaiser and UCSF emphasize this certification.

What is PMH-BC?

500

Assessment and Diagnosis makes up this percentage of the PMH-NP exam

21%

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