Becoming a PMHNP-BC (Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner-Board Certified) used to be ONLY completed via the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and in 2004, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) has decided to start offering the exam. However, some people expressed issues afterwards with obtaining a PMHNP certification via AANP. To give people a warning, I made this post after reading this 2024 Google Review of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners:
The AANP is a selfish, greedy, unethical and unprofessional organization as it relates to providing Board Certifications for NP candidates, they hijack the scores and test results of the examinees for months to benefit themselves while depriving the candidates of the income and opportunities they’ve worked hard to earn, using the excuse of getting their credentials to be approved to provide certain NP exam. Though they were quicker in scheduling my Psych NP/ PMHNP Exams than the AANC. I later had the most terrible experience with them. Apparently it’s not just the ANCC that offers the PMHNP Certification, the AANP is now pretty much entrapping New Graduate Psych NP students into helping them get accreditation to provide the PMHNP Exam without their full knowledge & agreement. Only after they sit the exam are they sent an automatic refund of a portion of their money telling them its an incentive to wait 3 months or more for their results, whether they had agreed to that or not in the first place. The worst part is that they initially told me I passed my Psych NP Boards with them, then later, after I reluctantly waited 3 months for the results, they then told me I had not. Needless to say I found this to be cruel, unprofessional, and unethical, especially since I spent so much time studying for my exams. money and driving 2 hours to sit my boards. Not to mention several job offers in hand and employers who’ve been waiting patiently for me to complete my credentialing, as well my family and friends who were all excited and happy, only to be told otherwise. NP students should be aware of this scheme from the AANP, in order to avoid a similar encounter on their part. This to prevent the mental, financial and emotional trauma, caused from this experience. We expect the AANP as an Certification Board to know and do better, to hold themselves to a much higher standard, just as they expect from the NP candidates.
Another main concern is how, almost most agencies and logistics are not aware of the AANP/PMHNP option. I actually forgotten about AANP until I was reading complaints on Facebook about the difficulties of the credentialing, dealing with insurances/coverages, etc. and what’s also (personally) odd is how ANCC is completely silent like really?? So that’s disappointing because it adds to the general confusion… For example, are certain qualifications, updates, trainings, preparations more important than what ANCC offers and how does it affect the process of being qualified or certified. If none of it really matters, then why did this change happen in the first place, other than possibly to make more money? But if it ultimately leads to better access to care, then hopefully it raises more awareness about EVERYTHING. People who just passed their boards continue to check out After the Boards to help with the process. Per Chat GPT, here’s a breakdown of the certifying governing bodies:
Core Differences of AANC VS. AANP
| Feature | AANP-PMHNP | ANCC-PMHNP |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions / length | 150 questions (135 scored + ~15 pretest). 3 hours. (Nursejournal.org) | 175 questions (150 scored + ~25 pretest). ~3.5 hours. (Nursejournal.org) |
| Question format variety | All multiple‐choice. (Walden University) | Multiple formats: multiple choice plus multiple response, drag-and-drop, hotspot, etc. (UWorld Nursing) |
| Content focus | Strong clinical focus: assessment, diagnosis, planning, evaluation. Less emphasis on professional role, theory, policy. (Walden University) | Broader: includes theory / scientific foundation; ethics, legal/practice issues; more “professional role” content in addition to clinical practice. (Nursejournal.org) |
| Cost | Lower. For non-members around $315; discounted if you’re member. (Spring Arbor University) | Higher. Nonmember fee around $395; member discounts apply. (Spring Arbor University) |
| Renewal / Maintenance | Requires continuing education (CE) hours, clinical/practice hours, or retaking of the exam; tends to have more flexible renewal options. (Indeed) | Also requires CE, practice hours, and often professional development (research, publications, education, etc.). Slightly more emphasis on the “non-clinical” maintenance. (Nursejournal.org) |
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each, especially as they might apply to someone deciding which to use:
AANP-PMHNP
Pros
- More clinically focused—if your work is mostly direct patient care, diagnostics, treatment, etc., this tends to align well. (Walden University)
- Simpler question format: all multiple choice. Less variety = fewer surprises, potentially easier to study for. (Indeed)
- Shorter exam duration. Slightly less time burden. (Walden University)
- Lower cost (especially if member discounts apply) and maybe lower renewal overhead depending on what you choose. (Spring Arbor University)
Cons
- Doesn’t cover as much in the “professional role” side (e.g. policy, ethics, legal, leadership, theory) — may leave gaps if you move into roles that require those competencies. (Nursejournal.org)
- Less question-format variety means less preparation for “trickier” formats (if you ever decide to take ANCC or another exam).
- Some employers, academic settings, or specific states may prefer or give more weight to ANCC certification because of its broader scope.
- If you want to move into leadership, research, education, or policy, the more limited “non-clinical” content may require additional self-study anyway.
ANCC-PMHNP
Pros
- Broader content: theory, professional role, ethics, legal issues, etc., which can provide stronger foundational knowledge, especially if you might shift into roles beyond direct care (education, policy, leadership). (Nursejournal.org)
- More types of question formats; some say this reflects more realistic, complex scenarios and may test adaptability and higher order thinking. (Indeed)
- Potentially more recognition in certain academic, institutional, or leadership settings—some employers may prefer the “BC” (Board Certified) credential by ANCC.
- If interested in specialties or sub-areas that ANCC offers but AANP does not (depending on your career path), ANCC gives more flexibility. (Spring Arbor University)
Cons
- More expensive exam fee. (Spring Arbor University)
- Longer exam, more questions, more possible formats — so potentially more prep time, more stress around unfamiliar question types.
- More “non-clinical” content may feel like extra burden if your focus and strengths are purely clinical.
- The maintenance / renewal requirements may be more involved, especially if you’re required (or want) to maintain leadership/academic‐oriented competence (publishing, etc.).
What Matters Depends on Your Goals
Here are some questions for future considerations:
- What kind of work do you plan to do now and in the future?
- If you’re going to stay in direct patient care, outpatient or inpatient psychiatry, medication management, etc., AANP may be enough.
- If you think you might move into administration, policy, leadership, teaching, or research, ANCC may serve you better long term.
- What are employer or state preferences?
- Some institutions (especially teaching hospitals, or “Magnet” hospitals) might favor ANCC credentials.
- Also, check your state’s Board of Nursing and any insurance/payor credentialing; sometimes they list preferred certifying bodies or acceptances.
- Testing style & your comfort level
- Are you comfortable with mixed question types (hotspots, drag-and-drop, multiple responses)? If not, the AANP exam format might be less stressful.
- Time pressure: more questions and longer exam with ANCC means pacing is more critical.
- Cost & renewal burden
- Upfront costs (exam fee + preparation) and ongoing costs (CE, possibly more professional development) differ; you may want to balance those against expected return (pay, job opportunities, satisfaction).
- Flexibility & prestige
- For some, ANCC carries a certain prestige or recognition in academic/policy circles.
- But prestige matters only if it translates into better job opportunities, higher pay, or roles you want.
Conclusion
There is no universally “better” certification version, but I would continue to lean towards ANCC because it may take longer for insurers and the logistics to occur with AANP. If you don’t mind waiting longer or if you already have a job, patients, or have super front/back end support, then it shouldn’t be an issue to complete the PMHNP boards with AANP. However, it could change and be easier with time or additional consideration, but I tried to write out a process that has been useful @ After the Boards and hopefully it’s not too much of a difference to get things situated.
