Skip to Main Content

Quality Continuing Education for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses

APNA offers evidence-based, high quality continuing education for psychiatric-mental health nurses that meets ANCC and CNE requirements. Whether you need this education to keep your practice current, earn contact hours for licensure/certification, or gain expertise in a specific psychiatric-mental health nursing topic, APNA is your trusted source for expert vetted, quality continuing education for psychiatric-mental health nurses.


How to earn..

Key APNA Education

Earn ANCC accredited contact hours (formerly CEUs) with these nurse-led options. APNA Members enjoy exclusive free and discounted access.

APNA Annual Conference

Contact Hours: 90+
Earn up contact hours live and on demand with the hundreds of presentations at the premiere event for psychiatric-mental health nursing, held each year in a new destination.

APNA Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute

Contact Hours: 20+ pharmacology
Earn pharmacology contact hours at this flagship event that provides a deep dive into the science and clinical application of psychopharmacology, planned for nurses, by nurses.

APNA eLearning Center

Contact Hours: Varies
Browse on-demand sessions on psychiatric-mental health nursing topics across the spectrum of care and start earning contact hours now.

APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program

Contact Hours: 5
A structured, evidence-based program to help you apply the essential competencies for nurse assessment and management of suicide risk to your practice, plus focused supplemental courses.

APNA Transitions in Practice Certificate Program

Contact Hours: 15.25
For PMH-RNs new to the field or looking for a refresher, this certificate program provides a structured, evidence-based training on skills essential to psychiatric-mental health nursing.

Motivational Interviewing: Practical Strategies for Nurses

Contact Hours: 3.5
FREE for APNA Members! Learn how to effectively use this foundational skillset in your practice with this 5-part program that offers practical strategies.

Medications For Substance Use Disorders (MSUD) Training

Contact Hours: 8.0
FREE! This 8-hour training for nurses meets the DEA educational requirement to prescribe medication for opioid use disorder.

Competency Based Training for Conducting the One-Hour Face-to-Face Assessment for Persons in Restraint or Seclusion

Contact Hours: 1.5
Learn the key components for assessing a patient placed in restraint or seclusion, including regulatory bodies' parameters and the four main assessment elements.

Effective Treatments for Opioid Use Disorders

Contact Hours: 1.5-3.5
FREE! Two on-demand courses each targeted to RN & APRN scope of practice to support you as you provide care to individuals with Opioid Use Disorders.

Transforming Addiction Care Webinar Series

Contact Hours: 2.0
FREE! Discover how psychiatric-mental health nurses can lead the way in reshaping addiction care through education and clinical practice.

Practical Nursing Strategies in Suicide Prevention

Contact Hours: 1.5
This course provides practical skills to nurses in non-mental health settings, providing an alogithm to screen and provide life-saving interventions for individuals at risk for suicide.

Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (JAPNA)

Free Access to Articles & Contact Hours for APNA Members!

Earn nursing continuing professional development contact hours from articles in JAPNA – new issues available bi-monthly! Here’s how to access the current CE articles available to you:

  • Click the button below and use your APNA account info to log in.
  • Click on the Current Issue button or go to the Nursing Continuing Professional Development Collection.
  • Scroll through the articles to find the FREE CE icon to find articles eligible for continuing education.
  • Click on the article title to read it.
  • Scroll down to the bottom of the page to the section labeled “Continuing Education.”
  • Follow the instructions to take a post-test and complete an online evaluation. You’ll then be able to print or email your CE certificate!

LOG IN TO JAPNA

jap_72ppirgb_1600pixh

Frequently Asked Questions

Expand All

Does APNA education meet CNE/ANCC standards?

Yes, APNA education meets CNE/ANCC standards. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

How many contact hours do I need for initial certification or renewal?

Psychiatric-Mental Health Registered Nurses (PMHRN) and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) requirements vary for initial certification and renewal. Discounts for both certifications are available to APNA members. Remember, each state board of nursing also has continuing education requirements for licensure. Check your state board of nursing’s website for specific information.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification CE Requirements

  • Credential earned is PMH-BC
  • Available to nurses at the RN level who meet eligibility requirements and pass the ANCC certification exam.
  • Must be renewed every five years.
  • Initial certification requires 30 hours of accredited continuing education in psychiatric-mental health nursing within the last 3 years.
  • Renewal requires 75 mandatory continuing education contact hours PLUS the completion of at least one other professional development category outlined in the ANCC Certification Renewal Handbook.

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (Across the Lifespan) Certification CE Requirements

  • Credential earned in PMHNP-BC
  • Available to nurses at the APRN level who meet eligibility requirements and pass the ANCC exam.
  • Must be renewed every 5 years.
  • Initial certification requirements include completion of an accredited academic program, supervised clinical hours, and certification application.
  • Renewal requires 75 continuing education contact hours, including 25 contact hours in pharmacology, PLUS at least one of the eight certification renewal professional development categories (CE hours, academic credits; presentations; EBP/QI project, publication, or research; preceptor hours; professional service; practice hours; or test or portfolio) in your psychiatric-mental health nursing certification specialty.

How do I get all these contact hours (CH) fulfilled for my recertification?

Plan ahead so that you can complete all of your accredited contact hours through live or enduring education before your renewal date. APNA options include:

  • Live education – annually through the APNA Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute (20+ pharmacology contact hours) and the APNA Annual Conference (20+ contact hours
  • On-demand enduring education – through the hundreds of sessions available in the APNA eLearning Center
  • FREE CE – APNA members receive 4 FREE on-demand sessions per month, journal articles with FREE contact hours, and grant-funded FREE education including pharmacology hours and contact hours to apply for or renew your DEA license.

Where do I find pharmacology contact hours for licensure or certification?

Pharmacology contact hours (CH) are available through APNA live and enduring education.

  • APNA Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute: Earn 20+ pharmacology ANCC-accredited contact hours when you attend this conference held each June in-person and virtually.
  • On-demand enduring education: APNA houses a variety of on-demand education eligible for pharmacology contact hours in the APNA eLearning Center.
  • FREE CE – 4 FREE on-demand ANCC-accredited sessions per month (including at least one with pharmacology contact hours) for APNA members PLUS grant-funded FREE education including pharmacology hours and CH to request or renew your DEA license.

 

I am interested in purchasing an APNA course or program for a group of nurses. How do I do that and are there discounts available?

APNA offers discounted pricing for organizations and schools that provide educational programs to multiple nurses. When you purchase 10 or more seats, you receive the member price per learner (or an additional discount for programs that offer bulk purchases).


To begin your order, please reach out:

And include:

  • The course or program name(s) you’d like to purchase
  • The number of nurses who will participate
  • Your organization name and contact information

APNA staff will reach out to you to provide a quote, answer any questions, and guide you through next steps. Once payment is received, you’ll receive a unique code to distribute to your learners so each participant can access the program and receive their own certificate.


Commonly Requested Group Courses

APNA Transitions in Practice (ATP) Certificate Program

15.25 Contact Hours

About: A structured program designed to help nurses transition from classroom to clinical practice, or from another area of nursing into psychiatric-mental health nursing. Includes foundational PMH nursing content, case scenarios, quizzes, and reflection activities.
Bulk Purchase Pricing: Purchase seats in blocks of 10 for discounts that increase up to 42% off depending on quantity (as low as $175 per learner for 100+)


APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program

5 Contact Hours

About: A four-module self-paced program that meets Joint Commission requirements and improves nurse confidence and competence in suicide prevention. Provides a competency-based understanding of the nurse’s role in assessment and management of suicide risk.
Bulk Purchase Pricing: Purchase seats in blocks of 10 for discounts that increase up to 41% off depending on quantity (as low as $59 per learner for 100+).

Tailored Suicide Prevention Courses – Additional Strategies

About: Self-paced modules that expand on the core Suicide Prevention Certificate Program, offering specialized strategies for diverse populations. Learners are encouraged to complete the core certificate before taking these.
Group Pricing: Purchase 10 or more seats for the member price on all courses.


Competency-Based Training for Conducting the One-Hour Face-to-Face Assessment for Persons in Restraint or Seclusion

1.5 Contact Hours

About: Evidence-based training designed to meet regulatory standards for conducting the required one-hour face-to-face assessment for persons in restraint or seclusion.
Group Pricing: Purchase 10 or more seats for the member price on all courses.


Motivational Interviewing: Practical Strategies for Nurses

3.5 Contact Hours

About: A five module course on the foundational communication approach that strengthens motivation for change and enhances therapeutic relationships.
Group Pricing: FREE for APNA members; Purchase 10 or more seats for $13 off the $48 nonmember price.


Practical Nursing Strategies in Suicide Prevention

1.5 Contact Hours

About: Designed for nurses in non-mental health settings, provides practical, evidence-based nursing strategies to support the identification and care of individuals at risk for suicide.
Group Pricing: Purchase 10 or more seats for the member price on all courses.


Next Steps

Contact APNA to get your group purchase started!

Email:
APNA Transitions in Practice Certificate Bulk Purchases: atp@apna.org
APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Bulk Purchases: grouporders@apna.org
Group Pricing on APNA Courses: grouporders@apna.org

Phone: (855) 863-2762

Once we hear from you, APNA will:
  • Send you an invoice based on the number of seats requested.
  • Upon payment, provide your discount code and registration instructions for learners.
  • Help address technical difficulties and learner questions, as well as provide status updates upon request.

Can LPNs use APNA education for license renewal?

Yes, LPNs who are licensed in states that require continuing education for license renewal can use ANCC-accredited contact hours such as those offered by APNA to meet that requirement. Education courses must be relevant to the practice of nursing. Check your state specific CE requirements.

Is it contact hours, CE, CEUs? What do all these mean?

Many nurses use these terms interchangeably, but each has a different meaning. All ANCC-accredited activities, such as APNA programs, award nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) contact hours.

  • Contact hours measure actual time spent in a learning activity. One contact hour equals 60 minutes of educational activity and is generally used to award education credit in nursing activities.
  • CE is a general term and an abbreviation for continuing education.
  • CEU  stands for Continuing Education Unit. 1 CEU equals 10 contact hours. CEUs are required for continuing education by several professions including psychology, teaching, architecture and by some Boards of Nursing.

How do I learn best practices for nurse assessment and management of suicide risk?

You can learn best practices for nurse assessment and management of suicide risk through resources developed by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA).

The APNA Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Essential Competencies for Assessment and Management of Individuals at Risk for Suicide establish best practice standards for the nurse’s role in assessment and management of suicide risk.

The APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program and supplemental courses, designed to operationalize these competencies, provide nurses with the practical skills, clinical judgment, and confidence needed to apply these competencies in clinical settings.

How do I get help with questions?

Reach out to APNA at 855-863-2762 or email inform@apna.org to be connected with a staff member who can help.