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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 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..

If you are an institution interested in providing access to any of APNA’s continuing education programs for a group of nurses, please email apnagrouporders@apna.org.

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.

APNA National Conferences

APNA’s two national conferences offer yearly opportunities to earn contact hours, get updates on psychiatric-mental health nursing, and connect with your community at APNA.

APNA Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute

APNA 24th Annual Clinical Psychopharmacology Institute
June 4-7, 2026 | Live in person in Reston, VA or virtually!

Earn contact hours in psychopharmacology at this educational gathering featuring deep dives into timely topics Planned for nurses, by nurses —always.

APNA Annual Conference

APNA 39th Annual Conference
October 15-18, 2025 | Live in person in New Orleans, Louisiana or virtually!

Refresh your spirit, boost your knowledge, and earn contact hours at the largest gathering for psychiatric-mental health nurses in the U.S. annually.

APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate ProgramIncreasing Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Competence & Confidence in the Care of Those at Risk for Suicide

5 NCPD Contact Hours

  • Builds the knowledge, attitudes, skills and critical thinking of psychiatric-mental health nurses caring for persons at risk for suicide.
  • Four self-paced modules presented by psychiatric-mental health nurse subject matter experts, as well as supplemental resources and activities.
  • Increases confidence and competence in the nursing skills of suicide prevention, assessment, and care management of persons at risk for suicide.

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Information about bulk purchases for organizations

APNA Transitions in Practice Certificate ProgramFoundational Strategies & Best Practices to Optimize Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Success

15.25 NCPD Contact Hours

  • Covers foundational evidence-based knowledge and skills for providing safe and effective PMH nursing care.
  • Self-paced and interactice online curriculum that includes presenter videos, interactive quizzes, case scenarios, and reflection.
  • Optimizes PMH nurse success and improves person-centered planning for persons with mental health disorders.

 Learn More

Information about bulk purchases for organizations

Browse Online Education

Access content like podcasts, online courses, and more to keep your PMH nursing knowledge up-to-date on your schedule.

View all Available Courses in the APNA eLearning Center

Poster Presentations

Contact Hours: 0.25
Got a few minutes? Catch up with these quick posters presentations from the APNA Annual Conference.
See Presentations

Transforming Addiction Care Webinar Series

Contact Hours: 2.0
Earn free CE and discover how psychiatric-mental health nurses can lead the way in reshaping addiction care through education and clinical practice.
Register

Additional Strategies in Suicide Prevention: Youth

Contact Hours: 1.5
Building on the practical skills learned in the APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program, this course will increase your knowledge, skills, and critical thinking when providing care to youth at risk
Register Now

Additional Strategies in Suicide Prevention: Older Adults

Contact Hours: 1.5
Building on the practical skills learned in the APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program, this course will increase your knowledge, skills, and critical thinking when providing care to older adults at
Register Now

Additional Strategies in Suicide Prevention: LGBTQIA+

Contact Hours: 1
Building on the practical skills learned in the APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program, this course will increase your knowledge, skills, and critical thinking when providing care to LGBTQIA+ individuals at
Register Now

Additional Strategies in Suicide Prevention: For the APRN Provider

Contact Hours: 1
Building on the practical skills learned in the APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program, this course will increase your knowledge, skills, and critical thinking with a focused lens on the APRN’
Register Now

APNA Suicide Prevention Certificate Program

Contact Hours: 5
What to ask, who to tell, how to document, and what to do next. This online certificate program builds the core knowledge, skills, and critical thinking of psychiatric-mental health
Register Now

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.
Register Now

Video Screening Interviews: APNA Developed Alcohol, Nicotine and Opioid Resources

Contact Hours: 0.5
In this course you will observe short interviews using screening tools provided by the APNA Addictions Council.
Register

APNA President’s Address

Contact Hours: 0.75
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses: Activating Our Voices as We Evolve in Our Profession
Register Now

Effective Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder

Contact Hours: 1.5-3.5
Access free courses to support you and your fellow nurses as you provide care to individuals with Opioid Use Disorder.
Register Now

APNA Transitions in Practice

Contact Hours: 15.25
Onboard new PMH-RNs or build the skills needed succeed with this online certificate program.
Register Now

APNA eLearning Center

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

Psychopharmacology

Contact Hours: 0.5-2.0
Cutting edge clinical updates eligible for pharmacology contact hours.
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Annual Conference Session Archives

Contact Hours: 0.5-2.0
Recordings of PMH Nurse approved sessions from past conferences.
Browse Now

Medications for Substance Use Disorders (MSUD) Training

Contact Hours: 8.0
Two free webinars which together meet the 24 hours of required education to apply to obtain a DEA waiver to prescribe MAT for opioid use disorders.
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APNA eLearning Center

Earn continuing education contact hours by accessing more than 500 sessions.

VISIT THE APNA ELEARNING CENTER

Introduction

This video covers the basics of the eLearning Center, including searching for sessions, using bonus points, and more.

Become an APNA member and share your expertise!

  • Bonus Points Program
    A member benefit, bonus points are used in the APNA eLearning Center to “purchase” content.
  • Mentoring Opportunities
    Mentors and mentees can find and connect with each other based upon experience, specialty, location, knowledge area, or even method of communication.
  • Continuing Education Program Reviewers
    Become a Peer Reviewer! Earn contact hours and bonus points by reviewing sessions and handouts, and completing the post test, evaluation and peer reviewing document.
  • Other Educational Opportunities
    APNA provides links to educational opportunities offered by other associations and governmental agencies at its discretion.

Your dynamic community of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses.

Connect with fellow psychiatric-mental health nurses, be the first to know about evidence-based resources and programs, and participate in exclusive opportunities to advance the care and treatment of those with mental health & substance use needs.

JOIN TODAY MEMBER COMMUNITY

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