Find a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

A psychiatric nurse practitioner (formally, a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, PMHNP-BC) is an advanced practice registered nurse who:

• Holds a graduate degree in psychiatric nursing.
• Is licensed by a state board of nursing as an APRN.
• Has passed the national ANCC PMHNP-BC certification exam.

Unlike a general psychiatric nurse (an RN working on an inpatient unit, for example), a PMHNP can evaluate, diagnose, prescribe medication, and deliver psychotherapy—often serving as the sole mental-health prescriber in community clinics, primary-care offices, or virtual platforms.

Every state gives NPs prescriptive authority; 28 states and D.C. now grant full practice authority (FPA), meaning PMHNPs can practice independently without physician oversight.

• Full practice (FPA) – e.g., WA, CO, AZ, CT, NM: PMHNPs evaluate, diagnose, and prescribe Schedule II–V drugs under the sole authority of the board of nursing.
• Reduced practice – e.g., NY, PA, CA: A collaborative agreement with a physician is required for one or more elements of care (often prescribing).
• Restricted practice – e.g., TX, FL, CA (for controlled substances in certain settings): State law mandates physician supervision for diagnosis or medication management.

Check your state board’s website before booking; the title is the same, but the legal latitude differs.

• Federal baseline: Since 2010, all states allow NPs to prescribe Schedule II–V medications once they obtain a federal DEA registration. telehealth.hhs.gov
• Tele-prescribing: Temporary COVID flexibilities letting NPs start controlled medications via video were extended through 2025 while the DEA finalizes a special telemedicine registration. axios.com
• State overlays: A few states (e.g., Missouri) cap Schedule II refills; others (e.g., Alaska) follow federal rules without extra barriers.

If you live in a restricted state but travel to—or physically sit in—an FPA state during a telehealth visit, the NP may treat you under the FPA state’s rules. Always confirm where you must be located for each session.

Only four states (DE, ND, SD, UT) have enacted the APRN Compact so far; seven are needed for activation. When live, it will let a licensed mental health nurse practitioner hold one multistate license, simplifying regional telehealth.

Until then, your NP must have a separate license (or telehealth waiver) in your state to provide care—critical when searching for an online psychiatric nurse practitioner.

1. Comprehensive evaluation & diagnosis using DSM-5-TR criteria.
2. Medication management, from SSRIs to long-acting injectables.
3. Brief psychotherapy (e.g., CBT, motivational interviewing).
4. Ordering & interpreting labs to monitor side-effects.
5. Care coordination with therapists, primary-care providers, and social services.
6. Crisis intervention and safety-planning, including 988 referrals.
7. Digital therapeutics oversight—prescribing FDA-authorized mental-health apps.
8. Group or family sessions where scope allows.

Most PMHNPs see patients every 2–12 weeks for medication follow-up, supplementing—but not replacing—weekly talk therapy from a counselor or psychologist.

Tele-NPs now deliver more than 25 percent of outpatient psychiatric visits, according to 2024 Medicare claims data (CMS).