PMH-BC® - Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification
About PMH-BC Certification
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Board Certification (PMH-BC) exam, administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is a specialized credential for registered nurses providing mental health care. This certification demonstrates expertise in assessing, diagnosing, and managing patients with psychiatric and mental health conditions across various settings. It emphasizes evidence-based practice, therapeutic interventions, and crisis management in mental health nursing. Nurses who earn this credential validate their advanced knowledge in psychiatric-mental health nursing and their commitment to delivering comprehensive, patient-centered mental health care.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
Exam Description | A comprehensive certification exam validating the expertise of registered nurses in psychiatric-mental health nursing. |
Credentials Earned | Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse - Board Certified (PMH-BC). |
Eligibility Requirements | Active RN license, two years full-time nursing experience, 2,000 clinical hours in psychiatric-mental health nursing in the last three years, and 30 hours of continuing education. |
Completion Time | 3 hours to complete exam. |
Subjects Covered in the Exam | Includes assessment and diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation. |
Number of Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions, with 125 scored and 25 unscored pretest questions. |
Exam Format | Multiple-choice, computer-based test. |
Exam Proctoring | Administered at Prometric testing centers. Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) is not available. |
Recertification Details | Required every 5 years; includes 75 CE hours and completion of one professional development category. |
Pass/Fail Rates | Pass rates vary annually with an average of 73%. |
Difficulty Level | Hard. |
Study Material | BoardCerts Question Bank provides practice questions that follow the exam blueprint. |
BoardCerts PMH-BC Question Bank
BoardCerts provides a comprehensive question bank designed to support success on the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Board Certification (PMH-BC) exam. The content is carefully aligned with the PMH-BC exam blueprint, ensuring coverage of key topics relevant to psychiatric-mental health nursing. Each question is developed and reviewed by experienced healthcare professionals, including PMH-BC-certified nurses, to maintain accuracy and relevance. The question bank reflects the exam’s complexity and includes detailed explanations for both correct and incorrect answers, offering a strong foundation for effective exam preparation.
PMH-BC Exam Content Outline
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Board Certification (PMH-BC) exam encompasses four key content areas, each evaluating a candidate’s proficiency in psychiatric-mental health nursing:
- Assessment and Diagnosis (22%) – Covers psychiatric evaluations, mental status assessments, and diagnostic criteria for mental health disorders.
- Planning (21%) – Focuses on developing treatment plans, setting patient-centered goals, and coordinating interdisciplinary care.
- Implementation (46%) – Evaluates knowledge of psychopharmacology, therapeutic interventions, crisis management, and patient education.
- Evaluation (10%) – Assesses the ability to monitor patient progress, adjust treatment plans, and ensure effective therapeutic outcomes.
For a detailed exam blueprint, please review the PMH-BC exam content outline, available here: Preparation and Resources.
Exam Categories: Percentage Distribution
PMH-BC Exam Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the PMH-BC exam, candidates must hold a current, active RN license in a U.S. state or territory or the legally recognized equivalent in another country, have practiced the equivalent of two years full-time as a registered nurse, completed at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in psychiatric-mental health nursing within the last three years, and have 30 hours of continuing education in psychiatric-mental health nursing during the same period.
PMH-BC Application Process
Online Application:
Application Submission:
Scheduling the Exam:
Preparation:
PMH-BC Exam Dates and Costs
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Board Certification (PMH-BC) exam is available year-round, allowing candidates to apply at any time without specific application windows. Once the application is approved, candidates will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) notice, granting a 120-day window to schedule and take the exam through Prometric.
The latest information on PMH-BC exam costs can be found on the official ANCC Certification Website.
PMH-BC Exam Format
Number of Questions: The PMH-BC exam includes 150 questions, of which 125 are scored, and 25 are pretest questions. These are unscored questions and do not affect the final score.
Exam Response Options: Multiple-choice format.
Testing Options: Available at Prometric testing centers. Live remote proctoring (LRP) is not available.
Time Allotted: Candidates have 3 hours to complete the exam.
Passing Score for PMH-BC
Difficulty Level: The PMH-BC certification exam is considered challenging, with annual pass rates averaging 73%.
Passing Score: Examination scores are reported on a scale with a highest possible score of 500. To successfully pass the exam, candidates must obtain a scaled score of at least 350.
Exam Statistics: Comprehensive statistics, including annual pass rates and the number of candidates who took the exam, can be found on the ANCC's Certification webpage.
Score Reporting: Test results are pass or fail. Candidates can view their pass/fail result online via the Prometric Report Validation Portal after completing the exam. If you fail, your score report will include diagnostic information for each content area of the test.
PMH-BC Exam Proctoring
The PMH-BC exam is administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in partnership with Prometric. Candidates can take the exam at one of Prometric's testing centers which are available across various locations. This traditional method involves attending a physical location to complete the exam under supervised conditions. Currently, Live Remote Proctoring (LRP) is not available for ANCC certification exams, including the PMH-BC.
PMH-BC Preparation and Resources
BoardCerts carefully designs its practice questions to align with the PMH-BC exam blueprint, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the topics candidates will encounter on the test. The question bank is developed using the same authoritative resources that form the foundation of the official exam. This structured approach provides candidates with a targeted and effective preparation experience.
Topics on Exam: Understand the topics covered in the PMH-BC exam blueprint, which can be found here: Preparation and Resources.
Review Course: Enroll in a psychiatric-mental health nursing review course to build a strong foundation in exam content and enhance your understanding of key topics.
Question Bank: The BoardCerts PMH-BC Question Bank is a comprehensive resource designed to align with the exam blueprint and ensure thorough preparation. Developed and reviewed by PMH-BC-certified professionals, it offers extensive practice opportunities. Additionally, the inclusion of predictor exams helps candidates assess their readiness and build confidence for the certification exam
PMH-BC Certification Renewal
The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse (PMH-BC) certification, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is valid for five years. To maintain this credential, you must fulfill specific renewal requirements within each five-year period.
Active RN License: Maintain a current, active registered nurse (RN) license in a U.S. state or territory or hold the legally recognized equivalent in another country.
Professional Development: Complete 75 continuing education (CE) hours in psychiatric-mental health nursing. These hours must be relevant to the certification specialty and align with ANCC's guidelines.
Renewal Categories: In addition to CE hours, you must fulfill at least one of the following professional development activities:
- Academic Credits: Complete graduate-level coursework in psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Presentations: Deliver professional presentations related to psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Quality Improvement Projects: Participate in projects aimed at improving psychiatric-mental health nursing practices.
- Preceptor Hours: Serve as a preceptor, providing clinical supervision to nursing students or new nurses in psychiatric-mental health settings.
- Practice Hours: Accumulate a specified number of practice hours in psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Professional Service: Engage in volunteer or leadership roles within relevant professional organizations.
- Publications: Author or co-author articles, research papers, or books pertinent to psychiatric-mental health nursing.
- Retesting: Opt to retake and pass the PMH-BC certification exam.
For detailed information on each renewal category and to ensure you meet all necessary criteria, please refer to the ANCC's official certification renewal page.
PMH-BC Practice Questions
- Practicing sample questions is a crucial part of PMH-BC exam preparation, helping you become familiar with the exam format, question style, and key content areas. The BoardCerts PMH-BC Question Bank offers high-quality, exam-focused sample questions that align with the PMH-BC exam blueprint, ensuring you are well-prepared and confident on test day.
- Access Sample Questions: Practice with sample questions from the BoardCerts PMH-BC question bank here. These questions are crafted to reflect the level of application and difficulty found on the PMH-BC exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
