Psychiatric Nurses

Certification or Licensing

Psychiatric nurses who are registered nurses who meet experience and education requirements can become certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Advanced practice psychiatric nurses who have completed post-master's degree supervised clinical practice can become certified as specialists in adult or in child and adolescent psychiatric-mental health nursing. Certification is available through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

All states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories require a license to practice nursing. To obtain a license, graduates of approved nursing schools must pass a national examination. Nurses may be licensed by more than one state. In some states, continuing education is a condition for license renewal. Different titles require different education and training levels.