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Congratulations, you passed your boards! Now what?

Passing your boards is a huge accomplishment and likely a significant weight lifted from your shoulders. The hardest part is done, now comes the next steps towards practicing as a PMHNP. Many students struggle with what their next steps are, so here is a helpful breakdown:

• Send your board results to the state board of nursing. Log into your ANCC account and navigate to ‘Verify Certification.’ From here you can send your results to the applicable state board. Don’t send your unofficial results, as most state boards won’t accept them.
• Send your transcripts to the state board. If you have multiple degrees, such as an MSN and a post-graduate PMHNP certification, make sure you send both. Most schools use Parchment for this. When you send your transcripts, also send a copy to yourself from Parchment. It’s worth the small cost to know exactly what was sent to the state board.
• Complete the rest of your state’s application and pay the fee. Make sure you save your log in information so you can check on the status of your application.
• Apply for your NPI if you don’t have one already.
• Once you have your NPI, start your PECOS profile. PECOS is a national database of providers registered with Medicare. You don’t have to provide Medicare services in order to register for PECOS. Create an account and start your profile; once you have your license number you can finish your profile.
• Once you have your license number, apply for your DEA. You cannot apply for a DEA without your license, so wait on this step if your license is still pending. This step can be tricky depending on your state. If you live in a restricted practice state, you may need to wait until you have a job offer and collaborating physician before you apply. This step is the most expensive ($888), so if you’re not sure if you meet the requirements to apply look up your field office and call them to discuss requirements.
• Once you have everything in the above list, complete your CAQH profile. This is the database practices us for credentialing. You’ll need your state license, DEA number, W-9 form, and malpractice insurance information. This step isn’t required to practice but may be required by your employer.
• Look up your state’s prescription drug monitoring program and register in their database.