PMHNP residencies and fellowships are 12-month paid postgraduate training programs designed for newly certified psychiatric nurse practitioners. They include supervised clinical experience, didactic education, and mentorship. The stipend is below what an equivalent staff role pays, and each program publishes its own figure. They're optional, but increasingly recommended for building confidence and clinical expertise.
Unlike physician residencies, PMHNP residencies and fellowships are not required to practice. You can begin seeing patients immediately after certification. However, these programs provide structured training, mentorship, and a supported ramp-up that many new graduates find invaluable.
Here's everything you need to know, including a directory of current programs.
PMHNP Residency vs Fellowship: What's the Difference?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle distinctions:
| Feature | Residency | Fellowship |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Broad psychiatric care across settings | Usually more specialized (e.g., child/adolescent, addiction) |
| Duration | 12 months (typically) | 12 months (typically) |
| Structure | 80% clinical, 20% didactic | Varies, and may include research |
| Salary | Set by the sponsoring employer; below staff rates | Set by the sponsoring employer; below staff rates |
| Accreditation | CAPP or ANCC | CAPP or ANCC |
| Typical employer | VA, CMHC, health system | Academic medical center |
In practice, the two terms mean essentially the same thing: a structured postgraduate training program for early-career PMHNPs.
2025-2026 PMHNP Residency & Fellowship Directory
These programs have been verified through institutional websites and the Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers (CAPP) directory, last updated February 2025.
VA Health System Programs
The Department of Veterans Affairs operates several PMHNP residency programs focused on veteran mental healthcare:
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS)- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Duration: 12 months
- Structure: 80% clinical, 20% didactic across inpatient and outpatient settings
- Focus: PTSD, substance use, severe mental illness in veteran populations
- Status: Second cohort graduated August 2025
- Apply: Through the VA careers portal
- Location: Durham, North Carolina
- Duration: 12 months
- Partner: Duke University School of Nursing
- Focus: Veteran mental healthcare across the lifespan
- Apply: USAJobs.gov
University-Affiliated Programs
Duke University: Psychiatric Mental Health NP Postgraduate Training Program- Location: Durham, North Carolina
- Duration: 12 months
- Setting: Academic medical center + community rotations
- Highlights: One of the most established programs in the country. Strong research component.
- Location: Columbia, Missouri
- Duration: 12 months
- Focus: Adult psychiatry and child/adolescent psychiatry
- Highlights: Applications accepted year-round. Intensive clinical training with faculty mentorship.
- Location: San Diego, California
- Duration: 12 months
- Focus: Adults with moderate to severe mental illness in underserved communities
- Accreditation: ANCC Commission on Accreditation
- Highlights: Serves vulnerable populations; strong training in psychopharmacology
Health System Programs
Atrium Health: Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship- Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
- Duration: 12 months
- Setting: Large health system with multiple practice sites
- Focus: Behavioral health across the care continuum
- Location: Falls Church, Virginia (Washington D.C. metro)
- Duration: 12 months
- Setting: Major health system in the D.C. area
- Focus: Behavioral health integration
Community Health Center Programs
Thundermist Health Center: PMHNP Fellowship- Location: Rhode Island
- Duration: 12 months (salaried with benefits)
- Focus: Community mental health / FQHCs
- Accreditation: Achieved CAPP national accreditation in May 2025
- Highlights: Specifically prepares PMHNPs for FQHC careers. Eligible for NHSC loan repayment.
- Location: Greater Boston, Massachusetts
- Duration: 12 months
- Focus: Community health center setting
- Target: Recent graduates or newly certified PMHNPs
- Location: Connecticut (with national reach)
- Duration: 12 months
- Focus: Psychiatric mental health track within a national NP residency framework
- Highlights: Part of a well-established national residency model
- Location: Ohio
- Duration: 12 months
- Setting: Community mental health
- Focus: Mentorship and clinical experience for newly board-certified PMHNPs
- Highlights: Strong focus on dual-diagnosis and addiction treatment
Fully Remote Programs
Modyfi Health: PMHNP Residency Program- Location: Fully remote
- Duration: 12 months
- Target: Newly board-certified PMHNPs
- Highlights: One of the few fully remote PMHNP residency programs.
- Apply: modyfihealth.com
The Jewish Board: Psychiatric NP Residency Program
- Location: New York, New York
- Duration: 12 months
- Setting: Behavioral health services across NYC
- Focus: Community psychiatry in diverse urban populations
What Do PMHNP Residencies Pay?
Residency salaries are lower than staff positions, but you're being paid to learn:
| Program Type | How the Stipend Is Set | Benefits Included? |
|---|---|---|
| VA Programs | Federal pay scale | Yes (federal benefits) |
| Academic/University | Set by the school or medical center | Usually yes |
| Health Systems | Set by the employer | Yes |
| Community Health | Set by the health center | Yes (+ possible loan repayment) |
| Remote Programs | Set by the employer | Varies |
Each program publishes its own stipend, so take the figure from the program rather than from a range online. After completing a 12-month residency, you move onto a normal staff salary for your state and setting, often with a competitive advantage over non-residency-trained peers. See the 2026 PMHNP Salary Guide for median advertised pay by state.
Should You Do a Residency? Honest Pros & Cons
Pros
- Structured mentorship with experienced psychiatrists and PMHNPs
- Gradual caseload increase, with no sink-or-swim
- Exposure to multiple settings (inpatient, outpatient, crisis, addiction)
- Competitive advantage for future jobs, since some employers prefer residency-trained
- Networking with colleagues and faculty who become lifelong references
- Reduced malpractice anxiety, because you're supported while building confidence
Cons
- Lower salary for 12 months than an equivalent staff position
- Opportunity cost: a full year of that difference, so price it against the offers you actually hold
- Limited locations: only a small number of programs exist nationwide
- Not required: you can practice immediately after certification without one
- Some programs are disorganized, and quality varies significantly
Our take
If a program is accredited (CAPP or ANCC), pays reasonably, and has strong clinical mentorship, it's likely worth it. The confidence and competence you build in year 1 pays dividends for your entire career. But avoid taking a residency just to delay starting: if you're ready and have mentorship at a regular job, that works too.
How to Apply
Timeline
Most programs recruit 6-12 months before start dates. Fall cohorts (starting August-September) typically accept applications from January to April.
Typical Requirements
- Current PMHNP certification (ANCC) or board-eligible
- Active RN license in the program's state
- MSN or DNP from an accredited program
- 0-2 years post-certification experience (most prefer new grads)
- Personal statement explaining interest in postgraduate training
- 2-3 letters of recommendation (clinical faculty, preceptors)
- CV/resume
Where to Find Programs
- CAPP Directory: apppostgradtraining.com, the most comprehensive directory of NP/PA postgraduate programs. Updated regularly.
- ANCC Accredited Programs: search the ANCC website for accredited NP residencies
- VA Careers: USAJobs.gov, searching "PMHNP residency" or "psychiatric NP fellowship"
- Our Job Board: browse new grad PMHNP positions including fellowship-track roles
Alternatives to Formal Residencies
Don't have access to a residency program? These alternatives provide similar structured support:
- Employer-sponsored onboarding: many health systems offer 3-6 month structured orientations with reduced caseloads and mentors. Ask about this during interviews.
- Collaborative practice agreements: in reduced practice authority states, your collaborating physician serves as a built-in mentor.
- Peer consultation groups: online communities and local NP groups where you can discuss complex cases with experienced colleagues.
- Post-master's certificates: for career-changers who want formal academic training (Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, Drexel, WGU, Purdue Global all offer programs).
- CE-based training: APEA, Psych NP Review, and other organizations offer structured continuing education programs focused on building clinical skills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are residencies required?A: No, they're optional. You can practice after ANCC certification. But they provide excellent mentorship and confidence-building.
Q: How much do they pay?A: Less than a staff position, with benefits. Each program publishes its own stipend, so ask the program directly. You're being paid to learn.
Q: How many programs exist?A: Only a small number of PMHNP-specific programs nationwide. See our directory above or the CAPP directory for the current count.
Q: Can I do one remotely?A: Yes. Modyfi Health offers a fully remote program. Most others are in-person or hybrid.
More PMHNP Residency and Fellowship Programs
Here are more PMHNP postgraduate training programs to research:
| Program | Location | Duration | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| VA Mental Health Residency | Multiple VA sites nationwide | 12 months | Federal pay scale, VA benefits, PTSD/trauma focus |
| Vanderbilt PMHNP Fellowship | Nashville, TN | 12 months | Academic medical center, research opportunities |
| Rush University PMHNP Residency | Chicago, IL | 12 months | Urban population, diverse patient mix |
| Yale PMHNP Fellowship | New Haven, CT | 12 months | Academic setting, psychotherapy integration |
| Duke PMHNP Fellowship | Durham, NC | 12 months | Comprehensive psychiatry, research pathway |
Application timelines vary. Check each program's website for specific deadlines and requirements. For more programs, search the CAPP directory.
Is a Residency Right for You?
Not every new PMHNP needs a residency or fellowship. The decision depends on your clinical confidence, career goals, and financial situation. Consider a residency if: you completed your clinical hours in a limited setting and want broader exposure; you are transitioning from a non-psychiatric nursing background; you want to specialize in child/adolescent, addiction, or forensic psychiatry; or you value structured mentorship and are willing to accept a lower starting salary for 12-18 months in exchange for accelerated professional development.
Skip the residency if: you had outstanding clinical rotations with diverse populations and strong preceptors; you have extensive psychiatric RN experience that gives you clinical confidence; you have significant student debt that requires a full salary to manage; or you have a specific job opportunity with an experienced clinical mentor who will provide informal supervision. Many employers now offer structured onboarding with mentorship that provides residency-like support without the salary reduction.
The Financial Calculation
A PMHNP residency pays less than a direct-hire new grad role for the 12 to 18 months it runs. To size the gap honestly, take the stipend the program publishes and subtract it from the median advertised pay for your state in the 2026 PMHNP Salary Guide: that difference, over the length of the program, is what the training actually costs you. Weigh that cost against what the program gives you: structured mentorship, broader clinical exposure, and, with employers who prefer residency-trained candidates, a stronger application for your next role.
Looking for your first PMHNP role?
Browse new grad positions • All PMHNP jobs • How to become a PMHNP
Sources
- Consortium for Advanced Practice Providers, postgraduate training program directory: https://apppostgradtraining.com
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, USAJOBS: https://usajobs.gov