Nursing
AANPCB® PMHNP-CPsychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Certified
The AANPCB PMHNP-C is the psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification from the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board, first administered in 2024 as a clinically-focused alternative to ANCC's long-established PMHNP-BC. Diagnostic items are mapped to the DSM-5-TR, and the exam follows AANPCB's four-domain process model — Assess, Diagnose, Plan, Evaluate — applied across the lifespan from children through older adults. Like other AANPCB exams it omits theory, research, and policy items, keeping all 135 scored items on clinical PMHNP practice.
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Exam facts
Everything you need to know about the AANPCB® PMHNP-C exam.
- Passing score
- 500 / 800 (scaled, AANPCB standard)
- Format & length
- 150 questions (135 scored + 15 pretest) · 3 hours
- Voucher cost
- $315 standard / $240 AANP or AAENP members
- Prerequisites
- Active US RN license + MSN, post-graduate certificate, or DNP from an accredited psychiatric-mental health NP program
- Validity
- 5 years (renew by 1,000 clinical practice hours + 100 CE contact hours, or retake the exam)
What’s tested
Key topics on the AANPCB® PMHNP-C exam.
The Cert Climb question bank is mapped to every domain on the official AANPCB® PMHNP-C exam blueprint, so what you study is what the test asks.
- Assess
- Diagnose
- Plan
- Evaluate
- Neurodevelopmental & psychotic disorders
- Mood, anxiety, trauma & stressor-related disorders
- Substance use & other commonly encountered DSM-5-TR diagnoses
Who it’s for
Built for the people taking this exam.
PMHNP program graduates who prefer the AANPCB clinical-only format over ANCC's broader theory/research blueprint, and PMHNPs in states or systems that accept either certification.
Why it matters in 2026
The career signal.
PMHNP is the highest-demand and best-paid NP specialty in the US, driven by the national mental-health workforce shortage and the rise of telepsychiatry. State boards accept either AANPCB or ANCC for licensure, but AANPCB's newer exam is gaining share among 2024+ graduates who want a purely clinical sitting. Many telehealth and outpatient psych employers list either credential.
What you get
Everything you need to actually pass.
Full question bank
1,200 questions covering every objective on the official AANPCB® PMHNP-C exam blueprint, with detailed explanations on every option — right and wrong.
Quiz modes
Timed exam simulation, missed-only review, topic drills, and a daily question of the day. Practice the way you study best.
Flashcards
Spaced-repetition flashcards generated from each topic. Pull them up on a phone in the gap between meetings.
Progress tracking
See per-topic accuracy and answered counts. Find weak areas before they cost you on test day.
Per-category premium
Unlocking AANPCB® PMHNP-C unlocks every other Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog — pay once, stack credentials.
No-fluff explanations
Every wrong answer comes with a 2-3 sentence explanation of why it’s wrong, not just “the correct answer is X.” Pattern recognition is the whole game.
Read while you study
AANPCB® PMHNP-C articles & study guides
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about AANPCB® PMHNP-C
How many questions does the AANPCB® PMHNP-C bank have?
1,200 questions, organized into 7 subject areas mapped to the official exam objectives.
Is the free trial really free?
Yes. 30 questions, no credit card, no email-trap, no “activate by Friday or pay” spam. You either upgrade because the bank’s good, or you don’t.
What does premium cost?
Premium is sold per category and unlocks every Nursing exam in the Cert Climb catalog. Plans are 1-month, 3-month, or 12-month — see the upgrade modal for current pricing.
How current is the AANPCB® PMHNP-C content?
We track exam version updates and refresh the bank within weeks of new objectives. Where the version of an exam matters (e.g. CompTIA SY0-701 vs. SY0-601), question explanations call it out.
Can I cancel my subscription anytime?
Yes. Cancellation is one click from your profile. Your access continues through the end of the period you’ve already paid for.
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