Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with mental health or substance use disorders or the potential for such disorders. Apply therapeutic activities, including the prescription of medication, per state regulations, and the administration of psychotherapy.
Also called: Adult PMHNP (Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner), Adult Psychiatric Mental Health APRN (Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Advanced Practice Registered Nurse), Advanced Practice Provider (APP), Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse, APN (Advanced Practice Nurse), Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist (BC PMH-CNS)
Median pay
$97,550
Pay for the broader BLS group “Registered Nurses”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$68,940 – $137,470
People employed
3,379,720
Whole BLS group
Holland code
SIC
Social · Investigative · Conventional
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 2.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 3.Do you want the same hours every week?
- 4.Do you work well under tight deadlines?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses pay by state
Annual median pay by state (50 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Registered Nurses”.
Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses salary in every state →
What advanced practice psychiatric nurses do
- 01Assess patients' mental and physical status, based on the presenting symptoms and complaints.
- 02Diagnose psychiatric disorders and mental health conditions.
- 03Document patients' medical and psychological histories, physical assessment results, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, or outcomes.
- 04Educate patients and family members about mental health and medical conditions, preventive health measures, medications, or treatment plans.
- 05Write prescriptions for psychotropic medications as allowed by state regulations and collaborative practice agreements.
- 06Monitor patients' medication usage and results.
Skills that matter most
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
Work styles that stand out
- Cautiousness
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Cooperation
- Social Orientation
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a graduate degree (O*NET Job Zone 5).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from advanced practice psychiatric nurses
- Genetic Counselors86% · —
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary84% · —
- Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers82% · —
- Marriage and Family Therapists82% · —
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary82% · —
Change into advanced practice psychiatric nurses
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Genetic Counselors96% · $100,040
- Clinical Neuropsychologists93% · $110,840
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists92% · $100,580
- Neuropsychologists92% · $110,840
- Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary91% · $80,250
Majors that lead here
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
- Nursing Administration
- Adult Health Nurse/Nursing
- Family Practice Nurse/Nursing
- Maternal/Child Health and Neonatal Nurse/Nursing
- Nursing Science
- Pediatric Nurse/Nursing
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse/Nursing
- Public Health/Community Nurse/Nursing
- Perioperative/Operating Room and Surgical Nurse/Nursing
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Critical Care Nursing
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.