PMHS Exam Eligibility

Learn about eligibility requirements
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PMHS Exam Eligibility

Learn about eligibility requirements and any supporting documents before you apply:

Please review the detailed information below about all eligibility pathways.

  • Avoid application delays: Transcripts are required for all applicants, including those holding the CPNP-PC credential. If you think PNCB already has your transcript on file, please confirm this by emailing exam@pncb.orgSee transcript requirements and address.
  • Have a disability covered by the ADA Act and will need accommodations during testing? Indicate your need for accommodations on the online application and promptly submit the Special Accommodations Form.
  • Not certified by PNCB? Documentation of current, active certification is required. You must upload a copy of your certification wallet card or certificate during the application process.
  • Ready to apply? Click here. 
  • Need help calculating clinical hours? See our tips.
Requirement Details

1. Licensure & Certification Requirement

Special note: If not certified by PNCB, documentation of current, active certification is required. You will be asked to upload a copy of your certification wallet card or certificate during the application process.

Current, active, unencumbered APRN license issued by a US state, US territory, or Canada, and current certification as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in the role and population foci of one of these certifications:

  • Primary Care PNP (CPNP or PPCNP-BC)
  • FNP (FNP-BC or FNP-C)
  • Child/Adolescent Psychiatric & Mental Health CNS (PMHCNS-BC)
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health NP [formerly Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)]

2. Education Requirement

Graduation from an accredited college or university that offers a ACEN or CCNE accredited nursing master's or doctoral degree, or a post-master's certificate from an accredited college or university, with one of the following concentrations: 

  • Primary Care PNP
  • FNP
  • Psychiatric-Mental Health NP
  • Child/Adolescent Psychiatric CNS
  • Child/Adolescent Mental Health CNS

If you don’t have a master’s degree or above in nursing but you meet the following requirements, you may still apply if currently certified and licensed in the role/population foci described under #1 above and if educated prior to 1992 when a master’s degree in an advanced nursing practice role was not required.

3. Certification Pathway Requirements

 

Traditional Pathway – Document 30 hours of CE/CME or 1 graduate course of at least 2 credits related to pediatric developmental, behavioral, and mental health in the past 5 years and a minimum of 2,000 hours of pediatric, developmental, behavioral, and mental health (DBMH) clinical practice (with or without a preceptor) while holding an APRN license in the past 5 years.

Faculty Pathway – Document 10 points of accepted, alternative activities which can come from teaching, precepting, scholarly projects, CE/CME and/or academic credit. All must be related to pediatric developmental, behavioral, and mental health (DBMH) and earned or completed in the past 5 years. See examples. 

  • Teaching a pediatric DBMH course that fully relates to pediatric developmental, behavioral, and mental health. Courses such as the “3Ps” do not meet this requirement.
  • Precepting an APRN in content related to pediatric DBMH practice.
    • 50-99 hours counts for 5 points.
    • 100+ hours count for 10 points.
  • Continuing Education that includes pediatric DBMH content may count for a maximum of 7.5 points.
    • 15 hours of CE counts for 2.5 points.
  • Scholarly Projects related to pediatric DBMH only, including research, authorship, presentations and others may count for a maximum of 10 points. Each project counts for 5 points.
  • Graduate level academic credit, which is related to pediatric DBMH, may count for a maximum of 5 points. One course which awards at least 2 credits can count for 2.5 points.

In addition, document a minimum of 1,000 hours of pediatric, behavioral, and mental health (DBMH) clinical practice while holding an APRN license in the past 5 years.  

Specialty Program – Document completion of an approved program: Duke PBMH, KySS, or Almost Home Kids, and a minimum of 1,000 hours of pediatric, behavioral, and mental health (DBMH) clinical practice while holding an APRN license in the past 5 years.

For all practice hours, use our Clinical Hour Verification Information. Unsure if you meet the hours? Use our optional tracking spreadsheet, which includes more tips.  

Faces of Certification

PNCB-certified nursing professionals work in a variety of roles and settings throughout the US and beyond. Share your photo today!

Tyneisha Orr, CPNP-PC Children's Hospital & Medical Center Omaha, NE
Amairani Jimenez, CPN Tripler Army Medical Center Honolulu, Hawaii
Gia Nguyen, CPNP-AC St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Arlington, VA
View more Faces of Certification