PMHNP-BCCost · prices read Nov 7, 2026
What the PMHNP-BC costs, start to first renewal
Facts read from nursingworld.org and 1 more · last checked Nov 7, 2026
Five price levels apply to the same exam, depending on which association you belong to, and the APNA level is the lowest. The figures below were read on the exam page on Nov 7, 2026; the application screen gives your final price.
Practice questions
60 questions written to the PMHNP-BC outline; each choice is explained once you pick.
Start the PMHNP-BC practice testExam rules and dates- Questions
- 175150 scored
- Time
- 3.5 h
- Cut score
- 350 of 500 (scaled)
- Exam fee
- $395
- Pass rate
- 82% (2025)
- Valid for
- 5 years
Figure 1.Test content outline: 150 scored questions, one mark each
Apr 28, 2023 · checked Nov 7, 2026- I. Scientific Foundation33 Q · 22%
- II. Advanced Practice Skills41 Q · 27%
- III. Diagnosis and Treatment33 Q · 22%
- IV. Psychotherapy and Related Theories17 Q · 11%
- V. Ethics, Legal Principles, and Cultural Care26 Q · 17%
Every fee on one list
sources [1]–[3]| Fact | Value | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exam fee | $395 without a discount; $295 with ANA membership, $220 with APNAMembers of AANP, ISPN or GAPNA pay $340, AANP student members $290. A $140 administrative charge inside each price is not refunded; claim a discount within 5 business days of ANCC getting the application. | PMHNP-BC (across the lifespan) exam page at ANCC [1] | |
| Discount membership | Discounts go to members of ANA (e-membership excluded), APNA, AANP, ISPN or GAPNA; ANCC lists no duesdues are set by each association (read Nov 7, 2026) | PMHNP-BC (across the lifespan) exam page at ANCC [1] | |
| Other charges | $100 for a one-time switch to a fresh 120-day testing period | ANCC certification handbook (Foundations), version 5 dated October 12, 2026, PDF [2] | |
| Retesting | Wait 60 calendar days; no more than 3 tries in any 12-month span, each with a retest application and fee | ANCC certification handbook (Foundations), version 5 dated October 12, 2026, PDF [2] | |
| Renewal fee | $375, or $275 for ANA members and $250 for APNA members | PMHNP-BC (across the lifespan) exam page at ANCC [1] | |
| Keeping it current | Every 5 years: 75 CE contact hours, including 25 in pharmacology, and one or more of 8 professional development categoriesActivities have had to fall within the current 5-year period since January 14, 2026. Applications from February 1, 2027 replace the 8 categories with 3 pathways: more CE, practice or scholarship. | PMHNP-BC (across the lifespan) exam page at ANCC · ANCC renewal handbook in force since September 10, 2025 (v2), PDF [1][3] |
Five price levels for one exam
- No discount: $395.
- ANA members: $295. E-membership does not qualify.
- APNA members: $220, the lowest price for this exam.
- AANP, ISPN or GAPNA members: $340; AANP student members pay $290.
Every price includes a $140 administrative charge that is kept if you withdraw. Discounts have to be claimed within five business days after your application arrives; after that, the full price stands.
When an association membership pays for itself
Against the undiscounted price, APNA membership saves $175 on the exam and $125 on renewal; ANA saves $100 on each. The exam page prints no association’s dues, so compare the saving with the dues on the association’s own site for the years you would hold the membership. If you plan to keep one membership through the 5-year cycle anyway, the discount at both ends is a bonus; if you would join only for the exam, one year of dues has to be less than the saving.
Charges that come later
- Moving the test window: $100 for a one-time switch to a fresh 120-day testing period. The new window has to start within 6 months of the end of the first one. Miss the second window too and ANCC treats you as a new applicant, with full fees and current eligibility rules (handbook, testing window).
- A retest: after the waiting period (60-day wait; 3 per 12 months) you file a retest application and pay a retest fee. The exam page and handbook name the fee but not the amount; it appears in the retest application.
- Renewal every 5 years: $375, or $275 for ANA members and $250 for APNA members. The 75 continuing education hours behind it, 25 of them in pharmacology, carry their own cost unless an employer covers them.
A five-year total, three ways
Exam plus one renewal, before dues, CE and study materials, without a retest:
- No membership: $395 + $375 = $770.
- ANA member at both points: $295 + $275 = $570.
- APNA member at both points: $220 + $250 = $470.
A failed first attempt adds the retest fee and, often, a second review purchase. The study side is optional: the exam page lists a readiness test and sample questions among its study aids, and commercial reviews are compared on the study guide.
The administrative fee is not extra often wrong
The non-refundable administrative charge sits inside each price above; nothing is added at checkout. What a withdrawal costs you is that charge, not the whole fee.
Other NP boards on this site
Member discounts are set board by board. Prices and memberships across the credentialing center’s NP exams: ANCC NP certification. The FNP-C route through NPCB has its own AANP member price: FNP-C cost.
Spend a little before the big fee
Study on a phone
More on this credential
- PMHNP-BCThe lifespan board exam for psychiatric nurse practitioners
- PMHNP-BC practice testMixed questions from all five domains, a reason for every option
- PMHNP-BC exam factsEligibility, outline, format, scheduling, scoring, retests, renewal
- PMHNP-BC pass rateFirst-time results 2023–2025, the 350 cut and the fail report
- PMHNP-BC study guideStudy blocks ordered by domain weight, ANCC study aids, recent changes
PMHNP-BC costs: quick questions
Is there a cheaper way to take the ANCC PMHNP exam?
Only through a member price. APNA’s is the lowest at $220; the exam page lists no fee waivers or vouchers.
Can I join ANA or APNA after applying and still get the discount?
Only if proof of membership arrives within five business days after the application does.
Do I get money back if I withdraw?
Yes, less the administrative charge, if a written withdrawal arrives before you test and before your window ends (handbook, withdrawal).
Does the renewal fee include the CE hours?
No. The fee covers the renewal application; the 75 contact hours are bought separately unless an employer provides them.
Sources
all read Nov 7, 2026- [1]PMHNP-BC (across the lifespan) exam page at ANCC nursingworld.org read Nov 7, 2026
- [2]ANCC certification handbook (Foundations), version 5 dated October 12, 2026, PDF nursingworld.org read Nov 7, 2026
- [3]ANCC renewal handbook in force since September 10, 2025 (v2), PDF nursingworld.org read Nov 7, 2026