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200+ Free ANCC PMHNP Practice Questions

Pass your ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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83% Pass Rate
200+ Questions
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Questions by Category

Pmhnp-Scientific-Foundations50 questions
Pmhnp-Advanced-Practice-Skills50 questions
Pmhnp-Diagnosis-Treatment50 questions
Pmhnp-Ethical-Legal-Principles30 questions
Pmhnp-Psychotherapy-Theories20 questions
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: ANCC PMHNP Exam

175

Total Questions

ANCC PMHNP page

3.5h

Exam Time

ANCC PMHNP page

83%

First-Time Pass Rate (2024)

ANCC PMHNP page

27%

Advanced Practice Skills

ANCC PMHNP outline (2025-09-09)

23.1%

US Adults with Any Mental Illness

NIMH 2022

59.3M

Adults with Any Mental Illness

NIMH 2022

ANCC lists PMHNP-BC as a 175-question exam with 25 unscored pretest items and 3.5 hours of testing time. The 2025 outline weights are Scientific Foundation 22%, Advanced Practice Skills 27%, Diagnosis and Treatment 22%, Psychotherapy and Related Theories 11%, and Ethical/Legal Principles 17%. ANCC reports an 83% first-time pass rate in 2024. NIMH estimates 59.3 million U.S. adults (23.1%) lived with any mental illness in 2022.

About the ANCC PMHNP Exam

The ANCC PMHNP-BC exam validates advanced psychiatric-mental health NP competency across lifespan psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, treatment, psychotherapy, and ethical/legal care delivery.

Questions

175 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours 30 minutes

Passing Score

Pass/Fail (ANCC scaled score)

Exam Fee

$295-$395 (ANCC)

ANCC PMHNP Exam Content Outline

22%

Scientific Foundation

Neurobiology, psychopathology concepts, and evidence integration for psychiatric-mental health care

27%

Advanced Practice Skills

Interviewing, mental status examination, risk formulation, and therapeutic alliance development

22%

Diagnosis and Treatment

DSM-5-TR reasoning, psychopharmacology planning, and integrated treatment decision-making

11%

Psychotherapy and Related Theories

Psychotherapeutic modalities, indications, and referral/co-management strategy

17%

Ethical and Legal Principles of Care

Confidentiality, duty to protect, informed consent, scope, documentation, and equity

How to Pass the ANCC PMHNP Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Pass/Fail (ANCC scaled score)
  • Exam length: 175 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Exam fee: $295-$395

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ANCC PMHNP Study Tips from Top Performers

1Start each vignette with safety: suicidality, homicidality, psychosis severity, intoxication/withdrawal, and level-of-care needs
2Use DSM-5-TR criteria actively, but anchor diagnosis in longitudinal course and functional impairment
3Map every medication decision to monitoring: baseline labs, metabolic effects, EPS risk, and adherence barriers
4Link psychotherapy modality to presenting problem and patient readiness instead of defaulting to one approach
5Document legal and ethical reasoning explicitly for minors, involuntary treatment, and confidentiality exceptions

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the ANCC PMHNP exam?

ANCC lists 175 total questions with 150 scored and 25 unscored pretest items, administered over 3 hours and 30 minutes.

What is the ANCC PMHNP pass rate?

ANCC reports an 83% first-time pass rate for PMHNP-BC in 2024. Strong case-based preparation in diagnosis/treatment and advanced practice skills is essential.

What are the PMHNP-BC content weights?

ANCC's PMHNP test content outline (updated September 9, 2025) weights domains as: Scientific Foundation 22%, Advanced Practice Skills 27%, Diagnosis and Treatment 22%, Psychotherapy and Related Theories 11%, and Ethical/Legal Principles 17%.

How much does ANCC PMHNP certification cost?

ANCC publishes a tiered fee model. Common posted rates are $295 for ANA members and up to $395 for nonmembers, with eligibility costs depending on applicant pathway.

How should I study for PMHNP board scenarios?

Practice integrated cases that force sequencing: safety triage, differential diagnosis, medication strategy, psychotherapy choice, and legal/ethical documentation decisions.

Why is PMHNP demand high?

NIMH estimates 23.1% of U.S. adults experienced any mental illness in 2022. Combined with rapid nurse practitioner workforce growth projected by BLS, psychiatric NP roles remain a high-demand pathway.

ANCC PMHNP Resources