PMHS - Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist

Eligible Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) can take the Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist (PMHS) exam offered by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) to enhance their career opportunities. Certification validates their advanced skills, knowledge, and expertise in the early identification, intervention, and care of infants and children with mental and behavioral issues.

Eligibility

Eligible candidates include Pediatric Nurse Practitioners - Primary Care (PNP-PC), Pediatric Nurse Practitioners - Acute Care (PNP-AC), Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP), Board Certifed Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialists (PMHCNS-BC) and Board Certified Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC).

Exam Format

The PMHS certification exam includes 125 scored and 25 unscored multiple-choice questions. It focuses on developmental, behavioral, and mental health promotion, evaluation, diagnostic decision making, management, and the professional role.

Candidates should review the PMHS exam content outline, which describes all subject areas of the exam and question category. The PMHS exam is comprehensive and relies on the DSM-5 reference manual.

Exam topics include: 

• Developmental, behavioral, and mental health promotion - 31 questions

• Evaluation - 30 questions

• Diagnostic decision-making - 28 questions

• Management - 29 questions

• Professional role - 7 questions

Focus areas include:

• Pharmacologic and Non-pharmacologic Management

  • Pharmacologic Agents

  • Therapies and Interventions

• Screening and Assessment Tools

  • Universal Screening Tools

  • Risk-Related Tools - Behavioral and Mental Health

Candidates choose the best answer among the answer choices to test their ability to apply knowledge and critical thinking. They may take the exam in person at a Prometric Testing Center or take it via remote proctoring administered by Examity.

Determining Testing Windows

PMHS candidates can utilize the PMHS Certification Timeline to determine testing windows based on application deadlines. Candidates receive an Approval and Scheduling Notice that informs them of the testing window assigned to them based on when they applied. PNCB offers month-long testing windows in April, June, September, and November.

PMHS candidates may extend their testing window one time to the next testing window by requesting an extension within the PNCB Portal. The following policies apply when requesting a testing extension:

• Online extension applications must be completed no less than five business days before the current testing window expires

• An additional non-refundable registration fee applies

• The extension begins once PNCB processes the application for an extension

• Online extensions made after the testing window won’t be honored and the candidate must complete a new exam application

Candidates forfeits all fees and must reapply if they:

• Don’t complete their exam application with all supporting documents within 12 months of submitting their payment

• Don’t schedule an exam appointment within their assigned testing window

• Don’t report for a scheduled exam appointment

• Aren’t allowed to sit for their exam due to being more than 15 minutes late to their appointment

• Aren’t allowed to sit for their exam because they don’t have appropriate identification

• Don’t cancel their exam at least 5 days before the exam appointment

• Doesn’t submit a withdrawal request to PCNB at least 16 days before their testing window expires

• Doesn’t submit an online application to PCNB requesting an extension at least 5 days before their testing window expires

Completion Time: Candidates have 2.5 hours to complete the PMHS certification exam

Cost: $300 (includes $130 non-refundable registration fee) / Re-exam free if taken in the next testing window or $225 if taken after the next testing window / Extensions $150 non-refundable

Exam Scoring

Candidates receive unofficial preliminary Pass/Fail notification immediately after the completion of the exam They receive official results within 2 to 3 weeks of testing.

PNCB emails a congratulatory letter with the candidate’s certification number. Candidates may access their wallet card through the PNCB Portal PCNB mails wall certificates within 4 to 6 weeks.

Candidates who fail receive a detailed exam performance that explains each major content area they didn’t pass. Unsuccessful candidates must submit a re-examination application and pay a retesting fee if they want to attempt the exam again.

However, PCNB waives the retesting fee if they apply to retest in the next available testing window. Candidates receive a promo code to use in lieu of payment. If they choose not to test in the next available window, the retest fee is $225. All subsequent attempts don’t include the free retest option and automatically incur the $225 retesting fee.

Eligibility

Professionals interested in the Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist certification exam may apply to take the exam if they meet all the following requirements:

• Graduate from an ACEN or CCNE accredited college/university with a master’s or doctoral nursing degree or a post-master’s certificate with a concentration in one of the following:

  • Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP or PPCNP-BC)

  • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC or FNP-C)

  • Child/Adolescent Psychiatric and Mental Health CNS (PMCNS-BC)

  • Psychiatric-Mental Health NP [Previously termed Family Psychiatric Mental health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)]

  • Applicants educated before 1992, when a master’s degree in an advanced nursing practice role wasn’t required may still apply

• Hold a current, valid, unrestricted, and unencumbered APRN license

• Complete at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in pediatric development, behavioral, and mental health (DBMH) while licensed as an APRN within the last five years

  • PNCB offers a tracking form for clinical practice hours

• Complete at least 30 hours of pediatric DBMH continuing education or one pediatric DBMH graduate-level course of at least two credits in the last 5 years

The Application Process

• Confirm eligibility

• Review the PNCB Exam Candidate Handbook

• Submit an online application within PNCB account

• Select Exam Applications to find the appropriate exam type

• Use the PMHS Certification Timeline to review testing window dates and application deadlines

• Request a final transcript from the school’s registrar's office or transcript service and send it directly to PNCB

  • A fee may be required

  • Transcript must include degree awarded, degree conferred date, the role (NP), and the population focus (Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Family Nurse Practitioner, Family Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Child/Adolescent Psychiatric CNS, or Child/Adolescent Mental Health CNS

• Submit required documents, transcripts, and forms

• Submit eligibility documents of either an unofficial transcript of one graduate-level DBMH course or certificates for 30 hours of DBMH CE

• Pay the $300 certification exam fee

• Track the application in real-time to ensure PCBN receives and reviews all necessary documents 

• Watch for Approval and Scheduling Notice from PNCB containing the testing window 

• Schedule the exam accordingly

The Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist certification is valid for three years. Regardless of when a pediatric mental health specialist becomes certified, the expiration month and day is always February 28. Certificate holders must submit recertification applications between November 1 and January 31 before the expiration date on their current wallet card. There is a late fee of $100 if applicants misses the January 31 deadline for online renewal application and renews before February 28. PNCB sends postcard and email reminders unless the applicant opts out. For assistance with the recertification process call the PNCB office at 1-888-641-2767 or email [email protected].

Renewal Requirements

• Maintain any advanced certifications (NP or CNS) required for PMHS eligibility

• Maintain a current, valid, and unencumbered APRN license

• Complete 45 continuing education contact hours in pediatric DBMH

• Review the Recertification Guide for complete details of renewal requirements.

Cost

• 15 DBMH/Psychopharm hours

  • Early (November): $45

  • Standard (December 1 - January 31): $65

  • Late (February 1-28): $165

• 15 DBMH/Psychopharm hours that includes at least one Psychopharmacology module from the PNCB:

  • Early (November): $45

  • Standard (December 1 - January 31): $65

  • Late (February 1-28): $165

• Record Review - allowed once every 7-year recertification cycle:

  • Early (November): $45

  • Standard (December 1 - January 31): $65

  • Late (February 1-28): $165

Use ReCErt Tracker throughout the year to archive contact hours and other activities. Pediatric mental health specialists may reference the tracker when filling out their recertification applications. Recertification requires 45 continuing education (CE) contact hours in pediatric DBMH. CE must:

• Be earned within the 36 months preceding renewal

• Include 15 contact hours of pediatric psychopharmacology

  • Accredited CE or CME from online modules, conferences, or journals

  • Max of 10 contact hours from academic credit consisting of fully pediatric psychopharm content

• Include 30 hours of accredited CE/CME contact hours or other equivalents accepted by PNCB

  • Max of 15 pediatric DBMH contact hours may be Professional Practice Learning (PPL) related to PMHS certification

  • 1 PPL equals 5 contact hours

  • Max of 10 pediatric DBMH contact hours may be academic credit relevant to pediatric behavioral/mental health or pediatric psychopharmacology that resulted in a grade from college/university/institution

  • 1 semester or quarter hour of academic credit equals 10 contact hours

PNCB offers a psychopharmacology module and several other pediatric modules worth 7.5 contact hours for $85 per module.

The PMHS Readiness Checklist helps candidates determine when they’re ready to take the exam.

PNCB has a 50-question practice test with in-depth rationales for answer choices. The practice test costs $35 for unlimited attempts for 150 days. It offers a short list of sample questions on its resources page.

The PMHS Detailed Content Outline provides a test blueprint, including a breakdown of the types of questions included in the exam.

PNCB offers a free PowerPoint for Test-taking Strategies to better understand exam preparation tips, multiple-choice strategies, and techniques to manage test anxiety.

The Ethics in Testing: A Personal Responsibility Toolkit teaches candidates about allowed and prohibited behaviors and practices regarding sharing exam questions. Utilizing this resource also qualifies for one continuing education credit.

PNCB also provides an extensive list of respected resources to aid in studying the exam material.

To be eligible for PMHS certification, candidates must have a current, unrestricted APRN license and certification in one of the following practice roles:

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioners - Primary Care (PNP-PC)

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioners - Acute Care (PNP-AC)

• Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioners (FNP-BC)

• Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C)

• Board Certifed Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialists (PMHCNS-BC)

• Board Certified Adult Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP-BC)

Other certificates related to pediatric nursing include:

• Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN) is a specialty accreditation designation for RNs with a diploma, associate's degree, BSN, MSN, or a higher nursing degree.

• The CCRN (Pediatric) certification accredit nurses that provide direct care to acutely/critically ill pediatrics patients.

• CCRN-K (Pediatric) certifies nurses influencing the care delivered to acutely/critically ill pediatrics patients but don’t provide direct patient care. 

• CCNS (Pediatric) is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) accreditation for those specializing in caring for acutely/critically ill pediatric patients.

• Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC) accredits Master’s or DNP level primary care pediatric nurse practitioners.

• Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC) provides certification to acute care pediatric nurse practitioners holding a Master’s, DNP, or postgraduate certificate.

• ACCNS-P (Pediatric) is an entry-level advanced practice accreditation for graduate-level clinical nurse specialists providing advanced nursing care to pediatric patients across the continuum of care.