PMHS Exam FAQs

About This Certification
1. What are the benefits of earning this certification?

2. Is this exam linked to licensure?

3. Will this certification impact reimbursement in a positive way?

4. What is the cost of the exam?

Eligibility
5. What are the eligibility requirements for this exam? Will I have to complete additional coursework?

6. My preparation for providing child and adolescent behavioral and mental health care consists of on-the-job training, continuing education conferences and self-study. Is this exam for me?

7. As a nurse practitioner practicing in a primary care setting, I don't see patients with behavioral and mental health care problems every day. Is this a requirement to sit for the exam?

8. I don't work in a typical primary care setting, but I do provide behavioral and mental health care to children and adolescents as a regular part of my job. Is this exam for me?

9. I am a Developmental Behavioral NP. Is this exam right for me?

10. Do I have to be certified by the PNCB as a CPNP to be eligible?

11. I am a Child Psych/Mental Health APRN but do not practice in a primary care setting. Is this exam right for me?

Preparing for the Exam
12. What is the best way to prepare for the exam?

Recertification
13. What recertification requirements will this credential entail?

About This Certification

1. What are the benefits of earning this certification?
Benefits include:

• Formal recognition of your expertise. This exam will validate pediatric providers and clinicians who have added knowledge, skills and expertise in the early identification, intervention and collaboration of care of children and adolescents with mental and behavioral health concerns in primary care.

• Increased marketability. Earning this certification can positively influence employers.

• Reassurance for consumers. Those certified can share their achievement with patients and/or their families to let them know your expertise is nationally recognized and validated, thus increasing patient confidence.

2. Is this exam linked to licensure? No. PNCB certification in pediatric behavioral/mental health will not impact an APRN's (NP or CNS) current licensure status.

3. Will this certification impact reimbursement in a positive way?
Third party payers do often look at the credentials of those providing the intended service, but at this point, we cannot say that reimbursement of child and adolescent behavioral and mental health services will improve as a result of this specialty certification.

4. What is the cost of the exam?
The cost is $300. Please visit Fees & Procedures for more information, including re-test fee and the cost to extend your 90-day testing window.

Eligibility

5. What are the eligibility requirements for this exam? Will I have to complete additional coursework?
Review the eligibility requirements developed by our expert panel of pediatric mental health APRNs and the PNCB Board of Directors. Candidates must have completed an accredited graduate Master's, Post-Master's, or Doctoral advanced practice nursing program, and be licensed and certified in one of the APRN roles listed in these requirements. As an "added specialty" exam which will focus on validating knowledge and skills related to the care of children and adolescents, clinical experience in the area of child and adolescent behavioral and mental health will be expected and inherent in obtaining added expertise. Additional coursework beyond the original graduate program is one strategy for gaining added knowledge, but is not specifically required.

6. My preparation for providing child and adolescent behavioral and mental health care consists of on-the-job training, continuing education conferences and self-study. Is this exam for me?
Yes. The exam candidate typically has a self-identified interest in behavioral and mental health care for children and adolescents and has gained additional knowledge and expertise in this specialty. As an APRN, the candidate regularly evaluates, diagnoses, manages and collaborates care to patients experiencing behavioral mental health problems. Formal academic preparation is one method of gaining additional knowledge but is not required.

7. As a nurse practitioner practicing in a primary care setting, I don't see patients with behavioral and mental health care problems every day. Is this a requirement to sit for the exam?
No. The typical exam candidate might care for patients with behavioral mental health needs anywhere from one-half day per week to 3 or more days per week. There is no requirement for daily or weekly patient volume.

8. I don't work in a typical primary care setting, but I do provide behavioral and mental health care to children and adolescents as a regular part of my job. Is this exam for me?
It is recognized that children receive behavioral mental health care in a variety of settings, including crisis intervention in emergency departments, juvenile detention services, community clinics, schools and other private practice settings. This exam is designed to validate the knowledge and skills of APRNs who provide initial primary care intervention, ongoing collaboration and management of children and adolescents experiencing behavioral / mental health problems.

9. I am a Developmental Behavioral NP. Is this exam right for me?
The role delineation research survey that was developed to identify critical content areas for the exam incorporated essential pediatric developmental and behavioral concepts. Following analysis of the responses to this national survey, a detailed exam content outline was developed which includes both developmental and behavioral health concepts. We encourage you to review this information to determine if this specialty exam would be appropriate for you.

10. Do I have to be certified by the PNCB as a CPNP to be eligible?
No. Any APRN meeting the exam's eligibility requirements may apply for this APRN specialty exam.

11. I am a Child Psych/Mental Health APRN but do not practice in a primary care setting. Is this exam right for me?
Child psych/mental health APRNs have been certified to provide expert care to children and adolescents with mental health diagnoses, including serious and persistent mental illness. The PNCB's new specialty exam will focus on the wider range of concerns commonly seen in the primary care setting, including prevention, early screening of developmental and behavioral patterns of concern, the use of brief solution-focused interventions suitable for primary care settings, collaborative management of children with mental health diagnoses, and the integration of mental health care within the primary care health care home. Child psych APRNs may choose to take this exam to demonstrate a wider focus that includes primary mental health care of children and adolescents.

Preparing for the Exam

12. What is the best way to prepare for the exam?
Review the content outline to see what types of items will be on the exam, and compare this to your preparation and experience, as well as our Study Resources page. This content outline has been prepared from research that described the practice characteristics of CPNPs and other APRNs across the country as they provide specialty behavioral / mental health care to children and adolescents. Exam candidates should assess their knowledge and expertise for each exam content area.

Recertification

13. What recertification requirements will this credential entail?
Visit the PMHS Recertification web page for full details.